Controlling Speed and Direction of stepper motor using push buttons

Projects Programming
1

I want to control the direction of a stepper motor using a push button. I would like it that when I press the push button that the stepper changes direction. The code I have written here makes the stepper complete one rotation then instantly changes direction and completes another rotation when the button is pressed.
I don't understand why it doesn't change direction as soon as I press the button.

switch_button_control_with_stepper.ino (716 Bytes)

2

Please post your code

3

You appear to be checking if the button is pressed/unpressed in your first if statement. This will only work for the one loop between you having the button unpushed and then pushed and vice versa. If you want it to reverse direction when you push the button (release having no effect) then you would have it instead be:

#include <Stepper.h>

int stepsPerRevolution = 2048; // number of steps for one rotation
Stepper stepper (stepsPerRevolution, 8, 9, 10, 11);  //pin number for stepper

const int directionButtonPin = 6; //button to control direction
int directionButtonState;
int directionLastButtonState;
bool turnRight;

void setup()
{
  pinMode(directionButtonPin, INPUT);
  stepper.setSpeed(5);
}
void loop() {
 directionButtonState = digitalRead(directionButtonPin);

 if (directionButtonState == HIGH) 
 {
  if (turnRight == false)
  {
    turnRight = true;
  }else{
    turnRight = false;
  }
 }

 if (turnRight == false)
 {
   stepper.step (stepsPerRevolution);
 }else{
   stepper.step (-stepsPerRevolution);
 }

}

If I remember correctly with Stepper.h, this will complete a full revolution before reversing direction. For an instant change of direction, just have it step a single step each loop (stepsPerRevolution should be changed to 1).

4

OP's program from the Original Post

#include <Stepper.h>

int stepsPerRevolution = 2048; // number of steps for one rotation
Stepper stepper (stepsPerRevolution, 8, 9, 10, 11);  //pin number for stepper


const int directionButtonPin = 6; //button to control direction
int directionButtonState;
int directionLastButtonState;

void setup() {
  pinMode(directionButtonPin, INPUT);
  stepper.setSpeed(5);
}

void loop() {
 directionButtonState = digitalRead(directionButtonPin);

 if (directionButtonState != directionLastButtonState) {
  if (directionButtonState == HIGH) {
    stepper.step (stepsPerRevolution);
  } 
  if (directionButtonState == LOW) {
    stepper.step (-stepsPerRevolution);
  }
 }
 directionLastButtonState = directionButtonState;
}

...R

5

Rl4ndom:
just have it step a single step each loop (stepsPerRevolution should be changed to 1).

The piece in bold is incorrect. The value of stepsPerRevolution should be set to match the motor - in this case 2048.

If you just want the motor to move one step then all you need is

stepper.step (1);

...R

6

Yeah, I meant further down in the code. Steps per revolution cannot be changed for a given stepper motor.

7

thank you so much, it works perfectly :slight_smile: