the uln2003 does not support the step and pulse and so I guess they are just not compatable.

well, I took magagna's advice and loaded grbl software on my arduino. but I need some help on the wiring.
the grbl pin out is here:
https://github.com/grbl/grbl/wiki/Connecting-Grbl
the motor and uln2003 infor here:
http://www.4tronix.co.uk/arduino/Stepper-Motors.php

could anyone please help here? I am sure that I am just overlooking something simple. I just dont see what that is. thanks all

I guess my best bet is to buy the sparkfun easy driver boards. what do you guys think. I was trying to keep the price down but if I have to. then, well I have to

I think that I should just call this a proof of concept machine
I will make it work with what I got and what I can afford
then I will work on getting the most I can out of the machine.

and I know it will be a work in progress. there will be many things that I will improve over time to make it better or stronger or faster.

what do you mean by "and they have very poor repeatability"?

being slow is just what I get for doing it on the cheap. and I think that more people can get into cnc if we could get the price down.
not everyone can shell out $20 each for motors and then another $20 for driver boards. so even if I have to make accommodations for $5.00 each slow small motors with driver boards, that is ok. even if it can only push a pencil or marker until one day when I can afford bigger more expensive parts.

if it can cut plastic with a dremel. I would be happy even if it is slow.
I am aware that these motors can be very slow. something like 1/64 gear reduction

even if I have to make 10 passes to cut 1/4 in plastic sheet
because of the small motors, I thought about making a lazer cutter setup

project: cheap basic 3 axis desktop cnc machine
goal: extremely cheap first time cnc machine
items collected so far:
arduino uno r3 + extras i.e. wire, switches, sensores. ect, ect...
3x stepper motors 28byj-48 5 wire (cheapest steppers available with uln2003 driver board)
 http://www.amazon.com/28BYJ-48-28BYJ48-4-Phase-Arduino-Stepper/dp/B0089JV2OM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1362273808&sr=8-2&keywords=stepper+motor

what would be the best way to proceed from here?
I thought about using $2.00 cutting boards from the dollar store to make the frame and maby aluminum also if needed.
I also thought about using (no flame please) all thread and rollerskate bearings for the movement on the x,y, and z.
any help is appreciated and welcome here.

so far, the price list is
uno r3 ~$20
stepper motors w/driver boards $4.00 each x3 =$12
off brand dremel ~$20

I have experience with the windows version, but I cant find what I need for the ubuntu 12.04 arduino ide complete install.
I have tried several tutorials but it seems like at least 1 download link in each tutorial is broken.

is there 1 good current up to date ubuntu 12.04 arduino ide install tutorial?
what is this that I keep reading about the ide in the ubuntu software center being a old version and or buggy? if it is, why doesn’t someone update it/fix it?

I guess what I should be asking is if I should just reinstall windows to use the arduino ide?

thanks all

sorry if this is the wrong section, there isn't a section just for processing I don't believe.

but here is my issue/
I downloaded and tried the processing test app from the wiki. each pin input or output or servo move... worked good... I even did some charlieplexing with it.

but I am having issues with the sample code from the playground here
http://www.arduino.cc/playground/interfacing/processing

here is the code:
import processing.serial.*;
import cc.arduino.*;

Arduino arduino;
int ledPin = 13;

void setup()
{
  //println(Arduino.list());
  arduino = new Arduino(this, Arduino.list()[0], 57600);
  arduino.pinMode(ledPin, Arduino.OUTPUT);
}

void draw()
{
  arduino.digitalWrite(ledPin, Arduino.HIGH);
  delay(1000);
  arduino.digitalWrite(ledPin, Arduino.LOW);
  delay(1000);
}
//end code
________________________________and here is the error message________________________________
Stable Library
=========================================
Native lib Version = RXTX-2.1-7
Java lib Version   = RXTX-2.1-7
Exception in thread "Animation Thread" java.lang.IllegalAccessError: tried to access class processing.core.PApplet$RegisteredMethods from class cc.arduino.Arduino$SerialProxy
   at cc.arduino.Arduino$SerialProxy.<init>(Arduino.java:119)
   at cc.arduino.Arduino.<init>(Arduino.java:168)
   at sketch_121124a.setup(sketch_121124a.java:33)
   at processing.core.PApplet.handleDraw(PApplet.java:2103)
   at processing.core.PGraphicsJava2D.requestDraw(PGraphicsJava2D.java:190)
   at processing.core.PApplet.run(PApplet.java:2006)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:662)


after seeing this, I assumed there was some sort of java error so I updated java on my computer too.... but that did not help at all

any advice or help would be great

thanks in advance

well I broke down an bought the parallax gyro  L3G4200D
and I already had the mx2125 accelerometer

I tried the self balance with a ping sensor (fail)
I tried the self balance with only a accelerometer (fail)

now after reading ALOT I got the gyro...(parallax  L3G4200D )

any suggested reading?
tips?
sample code?
links?


goals:
make a self balance robot that can stay up on its own with radioshack parts!
note to self---- radio shack price minus 50% = online price!!!!!

add these terms to your google search list:
breadboard
arduino uno
transistors and how they work

and as robtillaart said you need to also goto youtube and search for
arduino
arduino led matrix
arduino sketch

on this site search for:
arduino led matrix sketch

all of this is just scratching the surface of what you want to do. you have a long way to go before you can get that far... now you are at the point the rest of us were at, at one point in our lives. you are sure that you want/need a arduino. now you need to get one and a starter kit. and do at least 10 or more  smaller projects so you can become familiar with it. it is not an issue of just throwing it together. you have to work for this like the rest of us are doing here on this site. lots and lots of reading. radio shack carries arduino uno and arduino mega and the starter kits now. and you can make your first led blink tonight. yes, that is the first lesson is making a led blink. for what you want to do, I suggest you get a protoboard or breadboard also.

If you want to drive LEDs the '595 is good.  For a more general shift register I've used the 8-bit 74HC299 - it doesn't latch like the 595 (so would
flicker if driving LEDs), but does do either serial->parallel or parallel->serial conversion and can shift in either direction - so plenty to play with.

this flicker that you speak of, can it be overcome with capacitors to keep them lit instead of "flickering" during the high or on output of each pin?

you got a long way to go buddy.
you will need to look into led matrixing
do some searches on this site and google for:
 led matrix
shift registers
arduino arrays
and that will give you an idea of what you think that you about to do..
you have to learn alot about arduino before you can just make a led matrix.
and also, how good are you at soldering?
if you are brave, you can also look into charlieplexing
lots and lots of reading you will have to do. especially if you are new to arduino like me!
there are premade sketches and plans for them out there but, well, um... you just have to find out for yourself.. best of luck to you!

radio shack shows these shift registers on their web site.
 what one would be best for a noob like me to use / learn with?
and is there any good tutorial for the ic you recomend?

NTE4094BT CMOS 8−Stage Shift/Storage Register
NTE4035B CMOS, 4−Bit Parallel−In/ -Out Shift Register
NTE4031B IC-CMOS, 64−Stage Static Shift Register
NTE4094B CMOS 8−Stage Shift/Storage Register

I am using uno and I also have 2 breadboards and a small pile of electronic parts and the sidekick basic add on kit

thanks all for the help!

Does the display also have buttons on it as datasheet shows ability to interface 16x buttons to the chip?
You will need 3 pins to transmit data to the display chip STB, DIN & CLK and a forth DOUT if your reading the keys attached to the display. It looks like SPI_MODE0 so using the SPI library will take a lot of the grunt work out of programming. Most everything else you need will be in the datasheet but it may be a lot of trial and error to determine how the display is wired up. First thing is to determine what type of display the chip is connected to...

Display Mode Settings:
0000: 4 digits, 12 segments
0011: 5 digits, 11 segments
0100: 6 digits, 10 segments
0101: 7 digits, 9 segments
0110: 8 digits, 8 segments

Maybe a picture will help here.

there are 5x 7 segments, and several other pertaining to the dvd, timmer, vcr, and it looks like 2 rows of leds, 1 at the top and 1 at the bottom.

thank you riva for the help... you put me on the right path... you hinted me in the exact right direction.

yes it is a vacuum enclosed display. and there is only 1 button on the printed circuit. and it was labeled open close for the dvd player.

ps.. this was a dvd/ vcr combo unit