Makerbase MKS TMC2160-OC Motor Driver for 3D printing, big current, super silent ¥77 https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a230r.1.14.168.6cf3338eSsuDNT&id=661704209147&ns=1&abbucket=11#detail
AliExpress is also selling this MakerBase MKS2160 driver, at US$14:
Makerbase - MKS TMC2160 Stepper Motor, 3D Printer Driver, High Torque Parts, Ultra Quiet for Gen L SGen - AliExpress US$14 https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/4001007452776.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2fra
BIGTREETECH - TMC2130 V3.0 SPI TMC2208 UART Stepper Motor 3D Printer Driver Parts For SKR V1.3 V1.4 PRO MKS sGEN L A4988 TMC2209 - US$5.25 https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32970150483.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2fra&spm=a2g0o.search0304.0.0.b74f3ac3bVmclh&algo_pvid=54efcc21-64be-45d1-b2bf-6f71bacea965&algo_exp_id=54efcc21-64be-45d1-b2bf-6f71bacea965-22
Yesterday I wrongly thought that the MKS SGen L board was the TMC2209 official eval board and should be very expensive. Now I know that MKS SGen L board is not too expensive, only US$22.
Makerbase 3D Printer Parts MKS Gen_L 2.1 Control Board Support TMC2209 2208 Uart Gen L Mode - AliExpress US$22 https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32802151924.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2fra
Drivers_MKS_TMC2209 makerbase edited this page on Aug 31, 2020 https://github.com/makerbase-mks/MKS-GEN_L/wiki/Drivers_MKS_TMC2209
It seems 2209 would be a good option but I want to control multiple steppers and be able to select which ones are moving, so SPI seems like the best(only?) way to go.
Ah, actually both the 2209 UART and 2160 SPI method can handle at least 512 motors. Let me start with the 2209 and show you how the 2209 datasheet suggests a way to handle more that 4 motors.
The following two figures from the 2209 datasheet shows how to (a) address 4 motors, (b) address more than 4 motors with one port (GPIO pin) to select one of multiple motors. Actually if you are running out of GPIO pins, you can easily use GPIO port expanders such as MCP23x17 to expand to 16, 32, 64, 128, 256 ports to select one of many motors.
Similarly, for SPI, you can use your own CSn (not Rpi built in) ports (GPIO) pins to select as many motors as you have Cn ports/signal lines.
Ha, that is the problem. 2209 has only UART, and 2160 has only SPI. One problem with SPI is that you cannot do long distance, perhaps less than 2 meters, over which the system would be unstable. One the other hand, UART can usually do 200 feet or longer.
Yes I'd read that previously. I'm happy to use UART but it's slower, right? I want to be able to control 4 motors independantly. Is UART quick enought to make this possible?
SEe you later, thanks agin for the help here. I might order the 2209 to try it out, I'm getting nowhere with the TMC2130 and it's incredibly frustrating
Well, Page 15 pf the datasheet says the following:
A minimum baud rate of 9000 baud is permissible, assuming 20 MHz clock (worst case for low baud rate). Maximum baud rate is fCLK/16 due to the required stability of the baud clock.
So the upper baud limit is fCLK/16, much much faster than you would like.
I've ordered an analogue switch and the 2209. It seems like the best way to go at the moment, and even using UART with the analog switches might be better all round anyway. Better than SPI.
Discussion between john and tlfong01
Discussion between john and tlfong01