OldSalt1945:
This is for experimentation to learn how to do a CNC machine. At a later date, I will go for NEMA 17 or 23 steppers. In the meanwhile, what I have is free. It won't do much of anything useful, but like I said free while I am learning.The motors I have have 5 wires.
I want to be able to operate all of the motors simultaneously so that I can cut diagonal lines along the x-axis and y-axis while varying the z-axis.
I will use an Arduino Mega 2560, so I/O pins shouldn't be a problem. It has lots.
I am lightly familiar with State Machine concepts.
I have written several sketches and modified several example sketches. I am very good at "copy, paste, & modify", except when I am not.I have been unsuccessful at finding a sketch that operates all axis simultaneous. Or, I am, but I don't recognize it. Most of what I've found are littered with "Delay" statements. I know that's not good in a State Machine environment.
John
5 wire means unipolar only really. Normally you'd use ULN2803 or similar to drive
widings to ground and have the common wire connected to the motor supply.
For multi-axis control there are projects like GRBL, although these usually only
support step+direction bipolar drivers.
If your motors are quite old they won't have NdFeB magnets in them and probably
have quite modest torque specs, note.