Stepper motor won't stop running

Projects Programming
1

I'm trying to run a stepper motor for three runs and then stop so that the fixture it's running can be reset. I've built the code to run the motor, and it runs properly, but it won't stop (it just runs until I unplug it basically). How can I make it stop after the three runs? I've tried if statements, for loops, when statements, etc. but nothing is working. Below is the code I currently have:

#define stepPin A4
#define dirPin A5
#define enPin A3

#include <AccelStepper.h>


AccelStepper stepper(1,stepPin,dirPin);


void setup()
{  
    stepper.setEnablePin(enPin);
    stepper.setMaxSpeed(1100.0);
    stepper.setAcceleration(1200.0);
    digitalWrite(enPin,LOW);
}

bool running = false;

void loop ()
{
    stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
    delay(100);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
    delay(1000);
    //run 1
    stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
    delay(100);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
    delay(1000);
    //run 2
    stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
    delay(100);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
    stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
    delay(1000);
    //run 3
    running = !running;
    //should flip the switch and turn off the motor?
}

Any help would be appreciated!

2

If you really only want the code to run once (i.e. 3 iterations of the motor) then put all the code in setup() and leave loop() empty.

The more realistic solution is to have a variable that counts how many time the code runs and have it stop calling the stepper code when the count reaches 3.

There is no need to have 3 repeats of the same code in loop(). The whole purpose of loop() is to make it easy to repeat things.

...R
Stepper Motor Basics
Simple Stepper Code

3

Hi Robin2- thanks for responding!
I tried doing that with a for loop, but it wouldn't run the motor at all when I upload that code. Do you have any suggestions for that?

4

mwartan:
I tried doing that with a for loop, but it wouldn't run the motor at all when I upload that code. Do you have any suggestions for that?

Yes. Post the program so we can see exactly what you did.

...R

5

Right! Sorry.

Everything was the same as above, but I used this in the loop:

void loop ()
{
for (int c = 0; c > 3; ++c) {
stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
delay(100);
stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
delay(1000);
}
}

Should I have something before the for loop to initialize the motor? I'm used to a different programming setup and I know what I want it to do, just can't seem to get the follow-through. Thanks so much for helping!

6

mwartan:
Right! Sorry.

Everything was the same as above, but I used this in the loop:

Please post the complete program. Sorry, but I am too lazy to join your bits together - and I might make a mistake.

...R

7

mwartan:
for (int c = 0; c > 3; ++c) {

A for statement loops while the condition is true. 0 is not greater than 3, so your loop condition is false.

8

AH! I see. Thank you, that makes so much sense. I was seeing it as once the condition is true, the loop stops. I've changed it to run in decrement, and now it's working. For some reason, now it won't stop running, though. Is that just a condition of the loop or should it be stopping? Here is the code I have written.

Thanks so much for your help!

#define stepPin A4  //GPIO hooked to step
#define dirPin A5   // GPIO hooked up to dir
#define enPin A3 // GPIO hooked to enable

#include <AccelStepper.h>

// Define a stepper and the pins it will use
AccelStepper stepper(1,stepPin,dirPin); // Defines a separate stepper driver and step/dir pins


void setup()
{  
    stepper.setEnablePin(enPin);
    stepper.setMaxSpeed(1100.0);
    stepper.setAcceleration(1200.0);
    digitalWrite(enPin,LOW);
}


void loop ()
{
    for (int c = 3; c > 0; c = --c) {
          stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
          stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
          delay(100);
          stepper.runToNewPosition(10000);
          stepper.runToNewPosition(0);
          delay(1000);      
    }
}
9

This

for (int c = 3; c > 0; c = --c) {

should be

for (int c = 3; c > 0; c--) {

And it would behave just the same with this

for (byte c = 0; c < 3; c++) {

Note that I used a byte rather than an int to save memory.

The reason it keeps running is because loop() starts it all over again. You should not be using a FOR loop in this case. Just do it like this

void setup() {
   // other stuff

   repeatCounter = 0;
}

void loop() {
   if (repeatCounter < 3) {
     // stepper code
     repeatCounter ++
   }
}

...R

PS, when posting code please use the code button </>

10

THANK YOU!