Monitor Progres of Sketch

Using Arduino Programming Questions
1

I want to monitor the progress of the attached sketch that is controlling step motors with delay loops of 10 minutes and 1 hour.
How can I place monitoring points in the sketch using the Serial Monitor tool to monitor count down of timers and other events so I dont have to watch all the time to confirm things are working?
The programming is very difficult for me to understand and I have only crudely cobbled together a sketch by modifying sample sketches so I could use some help with the serial monitor.
thank you

/*
 * cheapStepper_simple.ino
 * ///////////////////////////////////////////
 * using CheapStepper Arduino library v.0.2.0
 * created by Tyler Henry, 7/2016
 * ///////////////////////////////////////////
 * 
 * 
 * 
 * //////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 */

// first, include the library :)

#define SECOND 1000UL
#define MINUTE (SECOND * 60UL)
#define Hour (MINUTE * 60UL)

#include <CheapStepper.h>

CheapStepper stepper;
// here we declare our stepper using default pins:
// arduino pin <--> pins on ULN2003 board:
// 8 <--> IN1
// 9 <--> IN2
// 10 <--> IN3
// 11 <--> IN4

 // let's create a boolean variable to save the direction of our rotation

boolean moveClockwise = true;

//Here set the Jiggle delay for all loops, e.g., jiggle every 10 min. 
long jiggle = (MINUTE * 10);

//Here set the delay for a 180 degree rotation. Typically 75 min after the prior 5 jiggles.
// Set for 75 minutes
long halfrotation = (MINUTE * 75);

//Here set the delay to start motor after powered up. To allow motor to stabilize. Same value set in all locations.
// 1000=1s.  Using 2 seconds 
int motorstabilize = (SECOND * 2);

void setup() {
  stepper.setRpm(18); //18 RPM appears to be the fastest without motor stalling
  }

void loop() {

  // let's move a full rotation (4096 mini-steps)
  // we'll go step-by-step using the step() function
  
  for (int s=0; s<9800; s++)  {
    // this will loop 9800 times.  With 7:2 circumferance pulley to diameter ratio, 
    // 9800 is ~180 degrees or 1/2 rotation
    // 4096 steps = full rotation using default values
    /* Note:
     * you could alternatively use 4076 steps... 
     * if you think your 28BYJ-48 stepper's internal gear ratio is 63.68395:1 (measured) rather than 64:1 (advertised)
     * for more info, see: http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=71964.15)
     */
    // let's move one "step" (of the 4096 per full rotation)
    
    stepper.step(moveClockwise);
    /* the direction is based on moveClockwise boolean:
     * true for clockwise, false for counter-clockwise
     * -- you could also say stepper.stepCW(); or stepper.stepCCW();
     */ 
  
  }

  // now we've moved 1/2 rotation
  // and switch directions before starting loop() again
  // here is where we need to add jiggle
  // 

  // Turn off Hold current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW);

  // JIGGLE1, Delay set as variable and changes all Jiggles loop to the same delay
   delay(jiggle);
  // Turn on current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
   // 2 sec delay for motors to stabalize
   delay(motorstabilize);

  // Here is the jiggle, 3 times and back to where it was
   for (int x = 0; x < 3; x++)
{
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCCW();
    }
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCW();
    }
}
  // Turn off hold current
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW);

  // JIGGLE2 .  
   delay(jiggle);
  // Turn on current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
   // 2 sec delay for motors to stabilize
   delay(motorstabilize);

  // Here is the jiggle, 3 times and back to where it was
   for (int x = 0; x < 3; x++)
{
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCCW();
    }
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCW();
    }
}
  // Turn off hold current
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW); 

  // JIGGLE3 
  delay(jiggle);
  // Turn on current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
   // 2 sec delay for motors to stabilize
   delay(motorstabilize);

  // Here is the jiggle, 3 times and back to where it was
   for (int x = 0; x < 3; x++)
{
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCCW();
    }
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCW();
    }
}
  // Turn off hold current
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW); 

// JIGGLE4
   delay(jiggle);
  // Turn on current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
   // 3 sec delay for motors to stabilize
   delay(motorstabilize);

  // Here is the jiggle, 3 times and back to where it was
   for (int x = 0; x < 3; x++)
{
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCCW();
    }
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCW();
    }
}
  // Turn off hold current
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW); 
 
  // JIGGLE5
   delay(jiggle);
  // Turn on current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
   // 3 sec delay for motors to stabilize
   delay(motorstabilize);

  // Here is the jiggle, 3 times and back to where it was
   for (int x = 0; x < 3; x++)
{
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCCW();
    }
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCW();
    }
}
  // Turn off hold current
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW); 

//Here is a delay to turn 180 again and reset the sand for a total of 6 hour
// 
  delay (halfrotation);
// Turn on Motor
  digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
//3s delay for motors to stabilize before rotating
  delay(motorstabilize);
moveClockwise = !moveClockwise;
}
2

Add serial,.println("my message"); at the point you initiate a timer, and when the timer ends.
Your sketch may not work with the delay statements, you will likely need to use millis() timing. Find the forum post for 'doing many things at once'

3
  • Besides the serial monitor, you can use I2C or SPI displays to print out variable values.
4

You'd have less work to do monitoring or improving this code if you noticed things like

  // JIGGLE1, Delay set as variable and changes all Jiggles loop to the same delay
   delay(jiggle);
  // Turn on current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
   // 2 sec delay for motors to stabalize
   delay(motorstabilize);

  // Here is the jiggle, 3 times and back to where it was
   for (int x = 0; x < 3; x++)
{
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCCW();
    }
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++)
    {
      stepper.stepCW();
    }
}
  // Turn off hold current
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW);

that are repeated, it seems, five times, and turn it into a function you could call five times…

// jiggle the joggle
void doThatJiggleThing()
{
   Serial.println("jiggling... ");

   delay(jiggle);

// Turn on current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(9, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(10, HIGH);
   digitalWrite(11, HIGH);
 
   delay(motorstabilize);

   for (int x = 0; x < 3; x++)  {
     for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++) {
      stepper.stepCCW();
    }
    for (int s = 0; s < 1024; s++) {
      stepper.stepCW();
    }
  }

// Turn off current to motors
   digitalWrite(8, LOW);
   digitalWrite(9, LOW);
   digitalWrite(10, LOW);
   digitalWrite(11, LOW);
}

a7

5

thank you. I knew there would be a better way. Ill copy and give it a try.
Does the Print function need to be turned on in the beginning of the sketch or is just adding that Print command send the message to the Monitor?

6

You need to place

  Serial.begin(115200);

in you setup() function.

Be sure to set the band rate in the serial monitor window to match 115200 is a decent 21st century rate.

HTH

a7

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