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[on:]

I am trying to control a unipolar stepper with two buttons, one on either side of a salvaged typwriter cage. The sketch will run it one one direction but the
button does not reverse the motor. Thanks for advise.

Code:

#include <Stepper.h>
Stepper s(20,8,9,10,11);
int button1 = 1;
int button2 = 2;
int buttonState1 = 0;
int buttonState2 = 0;

void setup()
{
 pinMode(1,INPUT); //buttons
 pinMode(2,INPUT);
 
pinMode(8,OUTPUT);
pinMode(9,OUTPUT);
pinMode(10,OUTPUT);
pinMode(11,OUTPUT);

s.setSpeed(500);
s.step(1500);//200
//delay(5000);
}

void loop()
{
 buttonState1 = digitalRead(button1);
 buttonState2 = digitalRead(button2);

if (buttonState1 == HIGH)
{
s.setSpeed(-500);
s.step(1500);//200
//delay(1000);
}

if (buttonState2 == HIGH)
{
s.setSpeed(500);
s.step(-1500);
delay(1000);
}


}

[Reply #1 on:]

Code:

pinMode(1,INPUT); //buttons
 pinMode(2,INPUT);

No internal pullup resistors. So, you need external resistors. How are the "buttons" wired? Why not uses switches, instead?

Indenting
is
a
good
thing.

[Reply #2 on:]

Forget the buttons for now. 

Write a sketch that turns the motor in one direction for a period then reverses it for a period and repeats.  You will then know that you can control the motor and can introduce the buttons.  Your sketch is considerably more complicated than the example from the stepper library.  Do you really need to set the pinMode of pins 8 to 11 for example ?

[Reply #3 on:]

Yes, I have external, 10K pull down resistors. I edited the code a bit but it originally was running a back and forth pass at the proper speed. When I manually push the buttons, it will only advance the motor, not change direction.

[Reply #4 on:]

Your method of reversing the motor seems very complicated
The example from the stepper library manages to do it like this

Code:

void loop()
{
  myStepper.step(stepsPerRevolution);
  delay(500);
  myStepper.step(-stepsPerRevolution);
  delay(500);
}

When you do this

Code:

    s.setSpeed(-500);
    s.step(1500);

Is it by any chance equivalent to

Code:

    s.setSpeed(500);
    s.step(-1500);

Negative speed and positive steps.  Positive speed and negative steps

[Reply #5 on:]

Yes, that seems simple enough but how do I plug in the buttons?

[Reply #6 on:]

The buttons and direction is moving correctly but this sketch will only move a limited number of steps rather than back and forth. A sonar sensor input will initiate and stop the motor.

Code:

#include <Stepper.h>

int button1 = 1;
int button2 = 2;
int buttonState1 = 0;
int buttonState2 = 0;

const int stepsPerRevolution = 100; 

Stepper myStepper(stepsPerRevolution, 8,9,10,11);           

void setup() {
  pinMode (button1,INPUT);
  pinMode (button2,INPUT);
  // set the speed at 60 rpm:
  myStepper.setSpeed(80);
  myStepper.step(stepsPerRevolution);
  //delay(500);
   
}
void loop() {
  buttonState1 = digitalRead (button1);
  buttonState2 = digitalRead (button2);
  if(buttonState2 == HIGH)
  {
  // step one revolution  in one direction:
  myStepper.step(stepsPerRevolution);
  //delay(500);
  }
 
  if (buttonState1 == HIGH)
  {
   // step one revolution in the other direction:
  myStepper.step(-stepsPerRevolution);
  //delay(500);
  }
}

[Reply #7 on:]

A sonar sensor input will initiate and stop the motor.

How?

but this sketch will only move a limited number of steps rather than back and forth.

That sketch would only go back and forth (whatever than means for a motor that rotates) if you alternated which switches you pressed.

You still haven't said how the switches are wired. You need to state exactly what happens when you press ONE of the switches, and exactly what happens when the press the other switch (and when you press that switch - while the stepper is moving or after it completes a rotation).

Please keep in mind that we are not trying to harass you. We can't see the hardware you have, or what it (or you) is/are doing.

[Reply #8 on:]

Sorry, my description of the problem is often another problem! Here is a photo of the setup http://www.flickr.com/photos/50454200@N06/8508893686/ You can see the blue button at the far left of the carriage. The stepper is mounted on the slide which presses the buttons on either end. I want the mechanism to slide back and forth, limited only by the buttons which send it in the opposite direction.  Now it will only go as far as  "myStepper.step(stepsPerRevolution);"

[Reply #9 on:]

What you need to do is know which way you are stepping. On each pass through loop, see if the "Stop, you've hit the end" switch is pressed. If not, step ONCE. If so, change the direction.

That way, each pass through loop you read one of the switches (the one that the carriage is moving towards) and step or change direction without stepping.

[Reply #10 on:]

I understand what you are explaining but am at a near complete loss how to program the solution. How does the sketch determine the current direction?

[Reply #11 on:]

How does the sketch determine the current direction?

Because you tell it.

Code:

loop
  start moving right
  while rightSwitch not pressed
    move a step to the right
  end of while
start moving left
  while leftSwitch not pressed
    move a step to the left
  end of while
end of loop

[Reply #12 on:]

I tried to adapt the example stepper sketch without success.

Code:

#include <Stepper.h>


const int stepsPerRevolution = 48;  // change this to fit the number of steps per revolution
                                     // for your motor
int buttonOne = 1;
int buttonTwo = 2;
int buttonValOne = 0;
int buttonValTwo = 0;

Stepper myStepper(stepsPerRevolution, 8,9,10,11);           

int stepCount1 = 0;
int stepCount2 = 0;// number of steps the motor has taken

void setup() {
  pinMode (buttonOne, INPUT);
  pinMode (buttonTwo, INPUT);
 
}

void loop() {
  buttonValOne = (digitalRead, buttonOne);
  buttonValTwo = (digitalRead, buttonTwo);
 
  while (buttonValOne !=HIGH)
  {
   // step one step:
  myStepper.step(1);
  stepCount1++;
  delay(500);
}

  while (buttonValTwo !=HIGH)
  {
   // step one step:
  myStepper.step(1);
  stepCount1--;
  delay(500);

}
}

[Reply #13 on:]

I can't see anything in your code that reverses the direction of the motor.

[Reply #14 on:]

Forgot to add the "-" --------myStepper.step(-1);  If I change "if" to "while", the buttons don't respond but if continually pressed manually, they do operate as intended. Of course they should I want just a momentary switch to send in in reverse.  Thanks for the help!