Author Topic: anybody use Arduino?  (Read 10072 times)

Offline kev

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anybody use Arduino?
« on: January 07, 2016, 07:57:33 PM »
would love some advice, torn between a clone with all the bells and whistles starter pack or for a little more an original board only.

Might seem an odd subject but thinking of using one as an engine controller for timing and speed control with pulse width and frequency control of timing and dwell.

Offline Firebird

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2016, 09:18:34 PM »
Hi Kev

I can't help you much with the details but see my topic bluetooth DRO

http://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,2865.0.html

An arduino was used but built by my good mate julian.

Have a look here, it may be useful

http://www.yuriystoys.com/p/android-dro.html

Cheers

Rich

Offline Admiral_dk

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2016, 09:31:22 PM »
I bought a few Arduino Nano's - or more correctly - some Chinese copies for a few Euro's. This was partly a waste - not because they didn't work, but because the Chinese decided to upgrade the USB chip => No driver available for the USB interface, unless I write it myself (this is not going to happen - will not spend that much time) ....

I personally has another problem with Arduino's - but that's me ..... I do not program in C (almost exclusively in assembler) ....

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2016, 10:55:04 PM »
I've played with the Mega on a 3D printer.

But I'm not sure what you're asking.

Tools (compilers, etc.) are free. It's fairly easy (but I don't know your own experience).
I can't say I cared for the tools but that's mainly because I'm used to full featured commercial tools.
By your question I have to assume you know 'C' and the development process (write, configure, compile, load, debug, etc.)

For me, the Arduino is like any other evaluation board for development. But the system does provide a number of interesting shields.

I am sure this was of no help to you.  ;D
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Offline kev

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2016, 11:13:23 PM »
Thanks guys, my main worry was the clone compatability (Im fine with C+) but I bit the bullet and bought the full clone kit this evening. If its a problem then no great loss as the bits are worth the money for my lads to play with and if need be I will buy a genuine italian board for what I want to do.

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #5 on: January 07, 2016, 11:28:46 PM »
I think you'll be fine.
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Offline gerritv

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #6 on: January 08, 2016, 12:51:17 AM »
If you don't like the usual compiler used for Arduino, Visual Studio 2015 Community edition is free and supports coding for Arduino's.
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Offline PStechPaul

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #7 on: January 08, 2016, 01:36:45 AM »
I have an Arduino UNO and several Pro-Mini that are the "brain" of a 10-15 kW charger for EV battery packs. I still prefer the Microchip product line, but the Arduino (and the Atmel chips) are decent microcontrollers. You can also use assembler but the C compiler makes things easier and more portable.
 
There are some threads on the DIY Electric Car forum that show the "sketches" for this device, and links to other documentation.
http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php/10kw-60a-diy-charger-open-source-59210p290.html
http://www.diyelectriccar.com/forums/showthread.php/analyzing-troubleshooting-fixing-emw-10kw-diy-158057.html
 
A demonstration of the graphics and text capabilities of the Arduino with a 1.8" TFT display:
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A8L1Q07kmU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-A8L1Q07kmU</a>
 
There is a very strong community of Arduino enthusiasts and many forums where you can get answers to questions. But there are also similar ones for the Microchip PIC.

Offline Pete49

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #8 on: January 08, 2016, 03:59:26 AM »
I am using a Raspberry Pi 2B+ 1G Ram) which also can link and/or program the Arduino and is similar to it but more powerful with 540M Ram (costs about $US5) so plenty options open to you
Pete
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Offline kev

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #9 on: January 08, 2016, 08:36:23 AM »
Thanks for all the feedback guys, whilst im new to all this my very outdated background involves C+ and a host of others including asembler back in the heady days of 8 bit processors like the 1802 and the intel 80 family so will be a case or the old dog relearning old tricks  :killcomputer:

Offline mikemill

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #10 on: January 08, 2016, 09:56:41 AM »
Along with many other M.E.’s I am naturally inquisitive, so when Rasberrry Pi came out followed by Arduino, also wanted to learn how to program. Bought the Arduino and the book but I just don’t’ understand programming It makes no sense to my way of thinking, which is intensely annoying.
I have tried to find courses but they all seem to assume you have basic knowledge.
Anyone got some advice on how to get started where there is some explanation of why the language is constructed.( UK)

Mike

Offline PStechPaul

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #11 on: January 08, 2016, 11:12:24 AM »
Here is some history of the "C" language, which was based on a previous "B" language, and I assume the "A" was for assembler.
http://www.codingunit.com/the-history-of-the-c-language
 
I am amazed that "C" was developed after I had left Johns Hopkins where I studied computer science and EE from 1966-1970. We learned assembler and Fortran and used punch cards for the IBM 7094 which took up much of the basement of the library. We also learned a form of BASIC, called AFBIC, which was an alphabetization of "All Fortran BASIC Interpretive Compiler". Note the acronym "Fortran" which stood for Formula Translation, and the alphabetization BASIC, for Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
 
I studied the design of computers as they were in the 1960s, with simple logic gates and their combinations to produce adders and arithmetic logic units (ALUs). Most memory at that time was in the form of arrays of toroidal magnetic cores which represented binary zero and one by the polarization of the cores.
 
There are some microcontrollers that use BASIC, which may be slightly easier to learn than C, but you can probably just as easily learn C, which is ubiquitous among programmable devices as well as Windows GUI programming. I actually learned Pascal in a structured programming class in 1987, and then switched to Borland Turbo C. But I didn't like C++, and now I am using Borland Delphi, which is a form of Object-oriented Pascal, for Windows programming.
 
I know, too much information! You may do well to take a class in programming, but there are also some excellent on-line tutorials. Just jump in and have fun!

Offline mikemill

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #12 on: January 08, 2016, 11:34:52 AM »
Paul

Could you recomend some on line tutorials!

Mike

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #13 on: January 08, 2016, 11:44:14 AM »
Mike - there is a book referred to as "K&R" that is essentially 'the' reference to C. K&R is Kernighan and Ritchie. Ritchie is the creator of C. I don't recall if it includes the history of the language. Worth searching on them and the book if you want some history.

For learning, I wouldn't necessarily start with that though. It's more a reference than a teaching tool.

There is a slew of books that teach 'C'. Many of them using titles like 'C made easy' or 'teach yourself C in x days'. They are all the same. Sorry I can't recommend one. I learned 'C' well before the books became popular.

The language itself is fairly simple in the sense of having 'few' keywords. The fun is putting them together to accomplish something.  ;D

You can pick up a lot from the internet. There are forums like 'stackoverflow' and 'codeguru'. It can be confusing though. Some people use C and C++ interchangeably but they are not the same. Sometimes you'll also get hits on C# which is even more different.

Ah...good old Hollerith cards. So much fun lugging a box of them around campus. Such disaster if you dropped them.
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Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #14 on: January 08, 2016, 11:45:56 AM »
I don't have a specific recommendation. Perhaps Paul does. In the meantime you can search on 'C tutorial' and get a flavor.
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Offline mikemill

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2016, 12:02:23 PM »
Zee

Thanks for your advice, but as you know all things are easy when you understand them,
For instance I am familiar with CNC and GCode and can write lines for the controller, but as your recent posts regarding choice of mill and CNC you are confused because you don’t understand it.
Now the roles are reversed, I look at a tutorial site and the first line they quote
# gcc –o < output name>  < your-source.c>
but what does it mean? I am not asking you to teach me programming just to make the point that you have to understand before you can do anything.

Mike

Offline Bluechip

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2016, 12:18:23 PM »
I don't use Arduino, did have a bit of a nibble ages ago but found the IDE pretty abstruse and clumsy .. so, slung it.

Years ago I started on pics with 16F84's and the EPE [?] Toolkit2, using Assembler, did OK but no on-board ADC on 16F84 ...

Eventually via Picaxe [ too many limits  :thinking: ] went back to pics with Microchip HTC.

Now on MikroC 'cos I got a free Dongle given to me.  [ The trial download is full-fat but limited to 2k compiled words which seems a lot but doesn't go far with floating point etc.] Dongle unlocks Compiler & costs about £120 IIRC  RS ???

Download for MikroC PIC compiler:

http://www.mikroe.com/mikroc/pic/

MikroC has a free book here:

http://www.mikroe.com/products/view/285/book-pic-microcontrollers-programming-in-c/

Which won't help you much for Arduino ...  :stir:

Dave

« Last Edit: January 08, 2016, 12:46:41 PM by Bluechip »

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2016, 01:13:04 PM »
but as you know all things are easy when you understand them,

Quite right. One of my favorite phrases is "you forget what you didn't know".

As I was advised on my cnc thread (and as Paul mentioned)...you have to jump in.
Slow and frustrating at first...but soon you'll be saying the same phrase  ;D
No doubt you had the same experience with g-code.

P.S. the '#gcc' isn't programming. It's calling a tool (a compiler) to convert source code into object code. Said object code would then be linked (by another tool) to create a program. (I know you didn't ask for that.  ;D )
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Offline PStechPaul

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2016, 07:00:19 PM »
It would be difficult for me to recommend a tutorial because I already know all the basics of C and most of the more advanced stuff. The link I provided on the history of C is actually part of a tutorial, so you might start there.
 
An Arduino board with a prototyping "shield" is inexpensive, and perhaps a good place to start. But you can also get a simulator for the Arduino that allows you to create "virtual circuits" and then you can run simple code that blinks an LED or responds to a switch. Here is a list of what's available and pros and cons of each. I haven't used any of them so you're on your own there, but some are free downloads and others seem reasonably priced:
http://www.smashingrobotics.com/arduino-simulators-lineup-start-developing-without-real-board/
 

 
As you can see, there is a simple "sketch" that is mostly just comments, and the code consists of only a few basic commands. The screen shot above is for one of the more advanced simulators, but it has a free download for the basic version that should get you started. Feel free to ask any questions, especially as you are first "learning the ropes". There may be some concepts that might seem difficult to grasp, but once you get past those hurdles, your learning and proficiency should proceed quickly.
 
Good luck, and have fun!

Offline Andy

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #19 on: January 08, 2016, 09:43:37 PM »
Hi Kev
Not sure if you have looked at the youtube videos by Jeremy Blum.
He starts off with a getting to know the arduino and progresses to bigger sketches.
Probably worth a watch.
 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCxzA9_kg6s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCxzA9_kg6s</a>

Offline Holt

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #20 on: January 08, 2016, 09:49:50 PM »
Regarding Chinese clones, I got this starter kit, http://www.aliexpress.com/item/NEWEST-RFID-Starter-Kit-for-Arduino-UNO-R3-Upgraded-version-Learning-Suite-With-Retail-Box/32240688714.html haven't used it much, but so far, it have done everything I asked it to do.


Holt

Offline kev

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #21 on: January 08, 2016, 10:22:06 PM »
Have been looking at a few sites, all seems pretty easy. I downloaded the "compiler" and the examples say it all really as a starting point. I have ended up buying these :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/301775891662?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=600591877568&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

and three of these nanos for embeded aplications

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141709475640?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Coupled with a hand full of solinoids and some hall effect devices im ready to start playing :)


Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #22 on: January 08, 2016, 10:45:27 PM »
kev - If I can be of any help, my email is listed in my profile.

Holt - I took a look at your link. Hm...a remote control included. What are you doing with the kit?
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Offline kev

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #23 on: January 08, 2016, 11:07:54 PM »
Many thanks Carl but its looking more and more straight forward now im getting further into it all.


Offline mikemill

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #24 on: January 09, 2016, 10:09:43 AM »
Paul

Thanks for your recommendations and input, it must be over 18 months since I gave up on the Arduino there seems to be a lot more beginner help on the web now.
I have just started a new project a Gauge 1 4-6-0 Loco, when I have completed the  engine will have another attempt at programming?

Mike

Offline Holt

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #25 on: January 09, 2016, 02:24:01 PM »
Holt - I took a look at your link. Hm...a remote control included. What are you doing with the kit?

I'm not doing much, I bought the kit to see if it could interest my youngest kid, we made some of the test setups shown on a website, can't remember wich. I might use it for a dividing head setup at a later point.


Holt

PS: I got the Texas Instruments MSP430 for my touchdro setup

Offline rythmnbls

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #26 on: January 09, 2016, 04:18:56 PM »
would love some advice, torn between a clone with all the bells and whistles starter pack or for a little more an original board only.

Might seem an odd subject but thinking of using one as an engine controller for timing and speed control with pulse width and frequency control of timing and dwell.

Hi Kev,

I used a UNO as a tachometer, temp guage and a PWM controller on an old gas turbine project.  I posted details on it on another forum... http://jetandturbineowners.proboards.com/thread/731/general-purpose-tachometer-temp-guage

Initially I used the UNO "as is" but then bought a dedicated ATmega328 chip and build the circuit shown in the link.

Hopefully it will give you some ideas.

Regards,

Steve.

Offline kev

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #27 on: January 09, 2016, 04:59:40 PM »
Many thanks Steve, as it happens I have just been reading up on the interupt functions and the timing functions :)

Offline michelko

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #28 on: February 01, 2017, 08:10:00 PM »
Hi,
Using an arduino mega with speeduino extension as ignition controler for my bugatti  engine.
Will use use it for injection in the future also

Regards michael

Offline Barneydog

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #29 on: March 06, 2017, 08:53:19 AM »
Hi,
I have only bought one genuine Arduino board. All my others have been genuine Chinese clones! I have only had one board fail to programmed. The computer could see it but failed to programmed it every time it tried. This board now serves a better purpose as I use it to hold the pins square while they are soldered onto my homemade shields. I have had problems with the last four i bought when I used my laptop to program them and they failed. I tried them on my office computer and they work just fine. I have had no issues whatsoever with the Arduino IDE.

Julian

Offline gerritv

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #30 on: March 06, 2017, 02:09:44 PM »
Some of the clones use either a non-Uno bootloader or a CH340 serial chip.
The Uno bootloader allows larger programs, otherwise the program fails to load if too large.
The CH340 is known for buffer overflows when pushed hard.

Gerrit
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Offline dajt

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #31 on: March 06, 2017, 08:59:24 PM »
# gcc –o < output name>  < your-source.c>
but what does it mean? I am not asking you to teach me programming just to make the point that you have to understand before you can do anything.

Late to the party, I know.

If you can write gcode then you have a start with programming. I don't know gcode yet but I've seen enough to know it is a simple programming language. I'm pretty sure it even has loops so you can repeat things, and subroutines so you can do the same thing from different places.

Anyway, the above command is using a common convention for showing example commands where the things you choose are surrounded by <>. It seems to be assuming you're working on a linux system where the C compiler is already installed and ready to go. If you're using Windows you have to find and install a C compiler.

So <output name> is the name you want to give the executable file the compiler writes out and <your-source.c> is the source code file where you have saved your C code.

gcc -o myprogram myprogram.c would read the file myprogram.c and write the resulting executable program out to myprogram. You could then run your program by just typing myprogram.

All this is why I think it was so much easier to learn programming back in the days of the 8 bit home micros. You switched them on and 0.5 seconds later you had a BASIC interpreter waiting for you to type in a program.  :old:

Regards, David.

Offline PStechPaul

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Re: anybody use Arduino?
« Reply #32 on: March 07, 2017, 04:55:25 AM »
If you are using a USB to serial converter to program the Arduino, it could be a fake FTDI chip:

http://hackaday.com/2014/10/22/watch-that-windows-update-ftdi-drivers-are-killing-fake-chips/

Now that Atmel has been bought by Microchip, you can get development tools for AVR devices there, and many of them are GNU open source:

http://www.atmel.com/tools/atmelavrtoolchainforwindows.aspx

However, the full Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is easier to use and has more extensive user support.

 

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