Using setEnablePin and setPinsInverted in Accellstepper

[llsg]

I am trying to control the enable line on a stepper motor. Although I have closely copied several examples I have not been able to get these to work.

#include <AccelStepper.h>

AccelStepper stepper(1, 12, 13); // (Use A4988 physical driver with 2 pins, STEP, DIR)

// #define enablePin 9

void setup() {

  stepper.setEnablePin(9);
  stepper.setPinsInverted(false, false, true);
  stepper.setMaxSpeed(200);
  stepper.setAcceleration(1000);
  stepper.setCurrentPosition(0);
 
//  pinMode(enablePin, OUTPUT);
//  digitalWrite(enablePin, LOW);
}

void loop() {

  stepper.moveTo(200); 
  stepper.runToPosition(); 
  delay(1000);

// more of the same in here
  
  }

If I comment out
stepper.setEnablePin(9);
stepper.setPinsInverted(false, false, true);
and uncomment the commented lines it works as expected

Clarification of what I have misunderstood will be greatly appreciated.

Mike

[johnwasser]

@llsg

// digitalWrite(enablePin, LOW);

This bypasses the AccelStepper library. If you want to enable the stepper with the AccelStepper library you should use: stepper.enableOutputs();. To disable the stepper you should use stepper.disableOutputs();

[llsg]

Thank you johnwasser, I will try that. Having said that, I have read that stepper.runToPosition() should enable the outputs and that stepper.enableOutputs() should only be used if the stepper has been disabled by stepper.disableOutputs()
Mike

[johnwasser]

@llsg

I have read that stepper.runToPosition() should enable the outputs

I don't see that in the documentation. The documentation implies that if you call disableOutputs() you have to call enableOutputs() before you can move.

https://www.airspayce.com/mikem/arduino/AccelStepper/classAccelStepper.html

[llsg]

Thanks again, that worked well and you have helped to fill in a bit of my misunderstanding.

For info, where I failed is that I thought that " ....Called automatically by the constructor. If the enable Pin is defined, sets it to OUTPUT mode and sets the pin to enabled." meant that it would be enabled implicitly.

Mike

[johnwasser]

@llsg

"Called automatically by the constructor"

That won't do much good since you can't call "stepper.setEnablePin(9);" or "stepper.setPinsInverted(false, false, true);" until AFTER the 'stepper' object is constructed.

For safety I would add:
stepper.enableOutputs();
after:

  stepper.setEnablePin(9);
  stepper.setPinsInverted(false, false, true);