Since I aquired an Losmandy G11 mount without any goto provision I decided to create my own solution. I was a bit reluctant to use a Gemini, mainly because of the cost, but also due to the reliability since the servo motors are somewhat prone to failure. I also like to have complete control over the software/firmware so that no "show stopper" issues will ever be a problem for me. Looking around the 'net I saw other goto systems that seemed capable, but either they had needlessly complex hardware or were commercial systems that cost about twice what they should.
OnStep is a computerized goto system, usually for stepper motor equipped mounts though any step/dir interface motor driver (including servo) should work. It was designed, from the beginning, as a more or less general purpose system and provisions were made in the firmware to allow for use on a variety of mounts including Equatorial and Alt/Az (GEM, Fork, Dobsonian, etc.) It uses an LX200 like computer command set with a few extensions to suit hand controller-less operation.
There's a telescope hand controller App for Android (free in the Google Play Store,) an option to control through a website (Smart Web Server,) and a dedicated physical hand controller (Smart Hand Controller.) Or, on a PC there's ASCOM and INDI drivers for control. These options allow you to setup and control OnStep using a wide range of software including my Sky Planetarium, Cartes du Ciel, Stellarium, SkySafari, KStars, PHD2, etc. You can see most of the control possibilities in the diagram below:
Also, please visit my StellarJourney.com site for updates, links to OnStep resources, my other astronomy software, or to see some Images taken with the assistance of my OnStep operated mounts.
If you find OnStep useful and would like to show your appreciation consider donating code to the project (if capable,) or perhaps a language translation, or new celestial object catalog for the SHC, or a small monetary donation which can be put toward covering my expenses associated with this project.
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Recommended initial config settings
#tmc2130
#bluepill
#configuration
ed@...
I'm currently building my second Onstep conversion, and would like to ask for some suggested config settings as a start point.
Background: The mount is an old G11. Having read through the topics I could find here, I've tried to select the physical components that have been tried and recommended by others, so I have:
Question: Can someone with experience of a similar setup suggest good starting values for?
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Re: Stepper motor size
Jerry
I’d probably want a nema23 on that.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
-Jerry
On Dec 1, 2021, at 10:18 PM, waynegalaxytab@... wrote:
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Re: Stepper motor size
waynegalaxytab@...
Here are some pictures. It is a brass 6inch Fullerscopes worm gear I will need to do some work in the next day or so to figure out the ratios. I want to replace the existing motor and drive system with onestep
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Re: Sky Safari GOTO limits
Robert Benward
Khalid,
Weather is going down the tubes for the next few days. But I got started on the config file. I did a :ENVREST# and then I loaded up a new config.h from your online generator. The FAQs say I should get response from reset command, but I got nothing. I tweaked a thing or two (driver currents and serial rates) and uploaded. I now know what that 10uF cap on the reset line is for, it so you don't have to press the Boot button. To be doubly sure on the NVM, I used the alternate procedure, setting the wipe flag, uploading, and then resetting the flag and uploading again. The alternate procedure was my last upload. From the serial monitor and the command protocol, I tried to retrieve the overhead and horizon values but I got zero in both cases. I then set some figures via the commands, but still retrieved zeros. I then programmed some values from the SWS, but still no luck. The only thing I get for the horizon and overhead limit values are zeros. I can retrieve a bunch of other parameters, so it's not a failure in the communications, I am connected, and it is talking back to me. I was hoping I could retrieve other values directly, such as the steps/rev, but those commands are not available. I guess the SWS will have to do. The RA and DEC limits are retrievable via the SWS and agree with that programmed in the config.h (+/-180° and +/-90°). Any clues why the overhead and the horizon limits are not coming up for me? Thanks, Bob
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MaxESP 12v Reg & TMC5160 connections
#maxesp
simpsonj@...
I am assembling a MaxESP32 kit and have a couple of questions. The first seems simple. There's a 12v regulator in the design; as far as I can tell, it only supplies power to the motor power inputs of U4 & U5 and the cathode of D5. This leads to two questions. First - why 12v? Shouldn't this be based upon the steppers U4 & U5 are driving? Second, what is the function of D5? It has 3.3v on one side and 12v on the other (if the 12 v regulator is installed).
Second question is a bit harder. The Silent5160 - FYSETC WIKI states that the clock (CLK) input should be tied to GND for an internal clock. (Install a short piece of wire between the two pins.) I've also seen this in the OnStep messages that the clock needs to be grounded in order for this version to work. My question is that according to the OnStep MaxESP diagram (EASYEDA rev 3.03) doing that also grounds the adjacent 5160 pin (SDO on the controller description, RST on the EDA) and MIS0. I don't understand the function of these pins, particularly MIS0. Should these all be grounded? Thanks in advance. Jim Simpson
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Re: Flashing SWS to Wemos D1 Mini Pro
On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 04:51 AM, Vladimir wrote:
I downloaded ESP-Link firmware from github and used ESP8266Flasher to flash it. While flashing ESP-Link, D3 also must be shorted to GND, here are the addresses that worked for me:Thanks for this Vladimir. It's the kind of back-door approach that I was looking for. I did try this on my clone D1 Mini Pro boards and my Wemos D1 Mini pro board but sadly I can't seem to get them to load. The blue light flashes rapidly (like retries?) but it never uploads. To me it seems like the baud rate isn't correct, but I've tried them all. I'll keep trying things.
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Re: Im glad it's over
Chad Gray
Did you use a solder iron or one of those hot air guns? They are tiny!
On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 6:14 PM John Scherer <jrsphoto@...> wrote: On Sun, Nov 28, 2021 at 02:50 PM, George Cushing wrote:
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Re: Im glad it's over
On Sun, Nov 28, 2021 at 02:50 PM, George Cushing wrote:
I've had what I consider a high failure rate with the D1 mini Pro modules. Now I see they are going for $5 a unit delivered. I stripped the IPEX U.FL SMD socket jack RF coaxial connectors (3 X 3mm) from a couple and soldered them to some D1 minis in a manner similar to Vlad's description. Went well enough to that I order 50 of the connectors from Amazon. They cost 18 cents a unit.Great idea George! You should do a YouTube video of the process!
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Re: Im glad it's over
Fantastic post Vladimir! What an adventure that was. Its a fun hobby and encompasses many other disciplines aside from astronomy. I love your antenna mod for the ESP boards. I'll be making use of that and no worrying so much about the "pro" versions with the antenna port.
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Re: PCB mounting holes
Chad Gray
Yeah I got about the same feedback and information from my searches. I decided to just pick 10mm spacing then I made standoffs that can swivel to span the in-between areas. THanks for your input Dave! I appreciate it! 
On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 5:48 PM davel <dave@...> wrote:
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Re: PCB mounting holes
davel
On Tue, Nov 30, 2021 at 05:27 PM, Chad Gray wrote: A Google search for the phrase: "standard spacing for the mounting holes on PCB" yielded this: https://www.google.com/search?q=standard+spacing+for+the+mounting+holes+on+PCB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 (which of course you probably already did.) But I did get some useful info: https://www.onsemi.cn/pub/collateral/and9867-d.pdf which is a manual for mounting Onsemi's power modules. My bet is there's no absolute standard. I did try: "ieee standard spacing mounting holes on PCBs" and got some references, but nothing like a standard. It seems a lot of electronic devices use metric measurements in their physical mounting, so I would stick with the metric system for conformance.
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Re: Im glad it's over
Vladimir,
Thank you for sharing the details. Took me two weeks until I came back to it and read it all. Well done ... And it is now in the showcase page.
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Re: Stepper motor size
The Palomar 200 inch was moved by a 1/4HP motor with suitable gearing. It's not the size of the dog in the fight... It's the size of the fight in the dog.
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TMC5160 settings
I received a question yesterday about how to set the TMC5160 current... Here's my reply.
From the OnStep website The TMC5160's current defaults to a nice low 0.6A unless you tell OnStep otherwise.
The TMC5160 Drivers current setting locations are in the Config.h file... #define AXIS1_DRIVER_IHOLD OFF // OFF, n, (mA.) Current during standstill. OFF uses IRUN/2.0 Option
#define AXIS1_DRIVER_IRUN 500 // OFF, n, (mA.) Current during tracking, appropriate for stepper/driver/etc. Option #define AXIS1_DRIVER_IGOTO OFF // OFF, n, (mA.) Current during slews. OFF uses same as IRUN. Option In this example I have selected the IRUN current to be 500ma.
Notice that the IGOTO being OFF will use that current setting
Notice also the IHOLD being OFF will use HALF that value
Different values, if you want or need them can be set by inputting a current value as I did in the example.
If you set all 3 to OFF, the Default IRUNfor the TMC5160 is 600ma. That is the initial setting I would use, all 3 OFF, then adjust as the situation dictates. May I suggest a rearrangement in the order of the Config.h settings to read like this... #define AXIS1_DRIVER_IRUN 500 // OFF, n, (mA.) Current during tracking, appropriate for stepper/driver/etc. Option #define AXIS1_DRIVER_IGOTO OFF // OFF, n, (mA.) Current during slews. OFF uses same as IRUN. Option #define AXIS1_DRIVER_IHOLD OFF // OFF, n, (mA.) Current during standstill. OFF uses IRUN/2.0 Option Since IRUN is the basic current setting (or the default) the other settings should be below in the settings order to reduce confusion for the user
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Re: Error of Uploading code to STM32F103C8T6
kevin_kevin_kevin@...
I totally agree the bluepill Onstep PCB has the CP2102 module on it, I am going to solder one up shortly, but the bare bluepill can't be booted from the usb that is fitted on the bluepill board. It is not clear from his message where the STM32F103C8T6 is he is trying to use.
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I don't think that's much of a problem for AP, load capacity is reduced mostly because CG-4/EQ-3 don't have ball bearings in DEC axis. Even some CG-5 don't have them (pre ASGT) so under some load these may be hard to move but stress is in DEC axis only. RA is pretty solid. I seen some impressive astrowok done on EQ-3 with good PA and tin can RA motor only.
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Re: Stepper motor size
kevin_kevin_kevin@...
Where are the pictures? last time i tried to upload some i forgot to push the button to send them and it just threw them away so please check you can see them in messages.
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Re: Error of Uploading code to STM32F103C8T6
On Wed, Dec 1, 2021 at 02:49 PM, <kevin_kevin_kevin@...> wrote:
Assuming it is a "bluepill" you need to use a usb to ttl converter , the onboard usb doesn't work from the boot loader, it is for program use if you use the right modules.The BluePill PCB already has a USB to TTL converter: the CP2102 module, so you do not need another one. And the microUSB port on the CP2102 should be the ONLY place you plug a microUSB cable in, whether when flashing, or when running OnStep.
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Re: Error of Uploading code to STM32F103C8T6
kevin_kevin_kevin@...
Sorry I can't read the attached photo, could you cut and paste the raw text please.
I just started playing with one last week but not yet got as far as loading Onstep because i am waiting for some bits. I just followed the instructions in the wiki to set up the arduino, although i did have to download from st their loader prog which needed to enter an email address to get. Assuming it is a "bluepill" you need to use a usb to ttl converter , the onboard usb doesn't work from the boot loader, it is for program use if you use the right modules. in the files section https://onstep.groups.io/g/main/files/Utilities%20for%20STM32 there is some test progs. I downloaded "blink" and checked i could edit it. I then loaded the 64k test and that was ok and so was the 128k test. Note the STM32F103C8T6 is "technically" a 64k device and doesn't have enough memory for Onstep but some people have found that "bluepills" often have chips with 128k of memory on them.
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Re: Stepper motor size
Robert Benward
Pictures, pictures, more pictures, and then gear ratios.
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