controlling servo with a button, code not working.

Projects Programming
1

I'm working a project where I need a stepper motor to move a certain range, only when someone presses on a pressure sensor. I'm prototyping it with a button at the moment. I have this code below working, currently, adapted from example code. Currently, when you press the button, the motor spins in one direction. The LED blinks at the rate of the spin. What I need it to do is:

  • when the button is not being pressed, do nothing
  • when the button is pressed, move forward a specified amount
  • move backward the same amount
  • do nothing until button is pressed again

Unfortunately, I don't really understand why the stepper code works well enough to make it do this. I dont really get the channels and how they work.

any help?

thanks

/*

For more information see: https://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Motor-Shield-Tutorial/

*/

int delaylength = 20; 
const int ledPin = 13;
const int buttonPin = 2; 
int buttonState = 0;

void setup() { // initialize the LED pin as an output: 
pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
// initialize the pushbutton pin as an input: 
pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);

//establish motor direction toggle pins 
pinMode(12, OUTPUT); //CH A -- HIGH = forwards and LOW = backwards??? 
pinMode(13, OUTPUT); //CH B -- HIGH = forwards and LOW = backwards???

//establish motor brake pins 
pinMode(9, OUTPUT); //brake (disable) CH A 
pinMode(8, OUTPUT); //brake (disable) CH B

}

void loop(){ 
// read the state of the pushbutton value: 
buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);

// check if the pushbutton is pressed. If it is, the buttonState is HIGH: 
if (buttonState == HIGHad) { digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

digitalWrite(9, LOW); //ENABLE CH A 
digitalWrite(8, HIGH); //DISABLE CH B

digitalWrite(12, HIGH); //Sets direction of CH A 
analogWrite(3, 255); //Moves CH A

delay(delaylength);

//digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

digitalWrite(9, HIGH); //DISABLE CH A 
digitalWrite(8, LOW); //ENABLE CH B

digitalWrite(13, LOW); //Sets direction of CH B 
analogWrite(11, 255); //Moves CH B

delay(delaylength);

digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); 
digitalWrite(9, LOW); //ENABLE CH A 
digitalWrite(8, HIGH); //DISABLE CH B

digitalWrite(12, LOW); //Sets direction of CH A 
analogWrite(3, 255); //Moves CH A

delay(delaylength);

//digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
digitalWrite(9, HIGH); //DISABLE CH A 
digitalWrite(8, LOW); //ENABLE CH B

digitalWrite(13, HIGH); //Sets direction of CH B 
analogWrite(11, 255); //Moves CH B

delay(delaylength); 
} else { 
// turn LED off: 
digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW); }

}
2

First off, instructables is a horrible site for code. It is terrible so don't take it as gospil.

If you define a few constant variables at the top of your sketch, things will maybe be clearer.

/*

  For more information see: https://www.instructables.com/id/Arduino-Motor-Shield-Tutorial/

*/

const int delaylength = 20;
const int ledPin = 13;
const int buttonPin = 2;
const int EnAPin = 9;
const int EnBPin = 8;
const int DirAPin = 12;
const int DirBPin = 13


int buttonState = 0;

void setup() { // initialize the LED pin as an output:
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  // initialize the pushbutton pin as an input:
  pinMode(buttonPin, INPUT);

  //establish motor direction toggle pins
  pinMode(DirAPin, OUTPUT); //CH A -- HIGH = forwards and LOW = backwards???
  pinMode(DirBPin, OUTPUT); //CH B -- HIGH = forwards and LOW = backwards???

  //establish motor brake pins
  pinMode(EnAPin, OUTPUT); //brake (disable) CH A
  pinMode(EnBPin, OUTPUT); //brake (disable) CH B

}

void loop() {
  // read the state of the pushbutton value:
  buttonState = digitalRead(buttonPin);

  // check if the pushbutton is pressed. If it is, the buttonState is HIGH:
  if (buttonState == HIGH) {
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

    digitalWrite(EnAPin, LOW); //ENABLE CH A
    digitalWrite(EnBPin, HIGH); //DISABLE CH B

    digitalWrite(DirAPin, HIGH); //Sets direction of CH A
    analogWrite(3, 255); //Moves CH A

    delay(delaylength);

    //digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);

    digitalWrite(EnAPin, HIGH); //DISABLE CH A
    digitalWrite(EnBPin, LOW); //ENABLE CH B

    digitalWrite(DirBPin, LOW); //Sets direction of CH B
    analogWrite(11, 255); //Moves CH B

    delay(delaylength);

    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(EnAPin, LOW); //ENABLE CH A
    digitalWrite(EnBPin, HIGH); //DISABLE CH B

    digitalWrite(DirAPin, LOW); //Sets direction of CH A
    analogWrite(3, 255); //Moves CH A

    delay(delaylength);

    //digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
    digitalWrite(EnAPin, HIGH); //DISABLE CH A
    digitalWrite(EnBPin, LOW); //ENABLE CH B

    digitalWrite(DirBPin, HIGH); //Sets direction of CH B
    analogWrite(11, 255); //Moves CH B

    delay(delaylength);
  } else {
    // turn LED off:
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
  }
}

It will also allow you to very easily change pin assignments since you will need to do that. Pin 13 has a built-in LED and you have assigned that to ledPin as well as one of the motor direction pins. You need to change that.