Hello!
I need help with a question about stepper motors. I am planning to create a multi-filament feeder for my 3D printer. There are already some projects, however, they are very expensive, surpassing the cost of my 3D printer, and those change the firmware of the printer. I want to make my own, keeping the printer in factory condition, using an Arduino. My plan is to monitor the stepper motor of the extruder with an Arduino. When the printer returns the filament, the Arduino feeds in the next one. My main question is, how can I monitor it? I would like to know if the stepper motor runs and in what direction. I sketched out roughly what I have in mind. Is it even possible to know this from the A+, A-, B+, and B- pins?
I'm grateful for any responses.
How will you be able to do that without affecting the stepper controller?
Most likely You can't. Reading the stepper coil current/voltage will be extremly difficult, likely not realistic to do.
An encoder wheel of some sort on the axle monitoring magnets, slots, switches, et c.
actually stepper motors follows instruction of µC, so it is simpler to monitor the µC itself
I go to sleep with the uC in the OFF state and the stepper gets abused by gnomes all.. night.. long.. I need slots.
Given the low power of steppers , I would look to use a geared motor and sensors ( optical ?) to detect position .
You can overdrive a stepper against a stop to establish a start position
Thanks for the answers. I was hoping it could be done more simply. I have a plan B, which is a bit trickier, but I can definitely figure it out, leaving the stepper motor alone.
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