Running application in Windows XP creates file reading issues

[Bluemetal09]

I have just tried the latest version of the application and found that:

1. It will open a file (a jpg with a single black letter A in it) but it will never finish opening it:

   Opening file C:\Documents and Settings\umioliv\Desktop\A.jpg...

2. If I close the application and re-start it then it will create a A.ngc file on the same location that the original file was and will display the preview correctly with the red cross cursor at the center.
3. If the A.ngc file is on the desktop and I re-start he application again, it will read and display the A.ngc file immediately.

4. No matter what other file I try to open at that point, it will only display the same message and ignore all other information:

   Opening file C:\Documents and Settings\umioliv\Desktop\A.ngc...

5. Closing and re-starting it will try to open the files in the order A.ngc and if it does not find it then a "File could not be opened" message is displayed.

6. Trying to load any other file ( for instance B.jpg - same idea as A) and the very same message will be displayed:

   Opening file C:\Documents and Settings\umioliv\Desktop\A.jpg... (note the A there)

7. It behaves just like before never moving on from the message and when you close the application and reopens you are greeted by the A.ngc preview (the very first one opened if still available) and no sign of the B.jpg or eventual B.ngc - not even in the previously opened file list.
8. The applications seems to be doing what is expected of it - converting a jpg to a gcode file and displaying it, but it seem to be hung up on which file to perform the task.
9. Any other picture that I rename to A.jpg will be converted after re-starting the application if the previous A.ngc has been deleted.
10. Feature request - is there a way to define how tightly the gcode draws the lines?

[i-make-robots]

Please get the latest version again. I will add a version number. When you load an image it take up to ten minutes to convert it to gcode. Could this be the non-response you're seeing? Have you configured your machine limits and paper size?

Thank you!

Dan

(adventuring)

On 2012-08-03, at 8:07, Bluemetal09reply@reply.github.com wrote:

I have just tried the latest version of the application and found that:

1. It will open a file (a jpg with a single black letter A in it) but it will never finish opening it:

   Opening file C:\Documents and Settings\umioliv\Desktop\A.jpg...

2. If I close the application and re-start it then it will create a A.ngc file on the same location that the original file was and will display the preview correctly with the red cross cursor at the center.
3. If the A.ngc file is on the desktop and I re-start he application again, it will read and display the A.ngc file immediately.

4. No matter what other file I try to open at that point, it will only display the same message and ignore all other information:

   Opening file C:\Documents and Settings\umioliv\Desktop\A.ngc...

5. Closing and re-starting it will try to open the files in the order A.ngc and if it does not find it then a "File could not be opened" message is displayed.

6. Trying to load any other file ( for instance B.jpg - same idea as A) and the very same message will be displayed:

   Opening file C:\Documents and Settings\umioliv\Desktop\A.jpg... (note the A there)

7. It behaves just like before never moving on from the message and when you close the application and reopens you are greeted by the A.ngc preview (the very first one opened if still available) and no sign of the B.jpg or eventual B.ngc - not even in the previously opened file list.
8. The applications seems to be doing what is expected of it - converting a jpg to a gcode file and displaying it, but it seem to be hung up on which file to perform the task.

---

Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/i-make-robots/DrawBot/issues/2

[Bluemetal09]

I do have the version that was in github from about one hour ago.

The conversion is happening rather fast. I can close the application 15 seconds after it started to open the A.jpg file and it will create the A.ngc almost instantly upon restarting it.

I am not connected to the Arduino at this time so only the "Configure Paper Limits" choice is available on the menu. Does that change the "density" of the drawing?

[i-make-robots]

Yes, it does. The drawing is automatically resized to the paper for best fit. Larger paper takes more time. Is your current paper set to 0,0,0,0?

On Fri, Aug 3, 2012 at 8:31 AM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

I do have the version that was in github from about one hour ago.

The conversion is happening rather fast. I can close the application 15 seconds after it started to open the A.jpg file and it will create the A.ngc almost instantly upon restarting it.

I am not connected to the Arduino at this time so only the "Configure Paper Limits" choice is available on the menu. Does that change the "density" of the drawing?

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

I have just changed the paper limits to 50, -50, -50, 50 to create a 1 square meter page and the application is processing the file, displaying the green instructions along with the Progress... dialog and Optimizing Path bar. That was the missing step.

It worked perfectly, but when I started the application again it had forgotten the setup and went back to all zeros for limits.

Would it be possible to have a default that is not zeros and that the default stays from previous uses?

Let me congratulate you on a beautiful idea and implementation. I am going to have my Drawbot on Harbor Freigth Suction Cups (1 per stepper and 1 for Arduino) so it can put up easily on whiteboards or windows.

Thank you for sharing it.

[i-make-robots]

it's supposed to remember for you. hmm...

Dan

On Fri, Aug 3, 2012 at 10:03 AM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

I have just changed the paper limits to 50, -50, -50, 50 to create a 1 square meter page and the application is processed the file, displaying the green instructions along with the Progress... dialog and Optimizing Path bar. That was the missing step.

It worked perfectly, but when I started the application again it had forgotten the setup and went back to all zeros for limits.

Would it be possible to have a default that is not zeros and that the default stays from previous uses?

Let me congratulate you on a beautiful idea and implementation. I am going to have my Drawbot on Harbor Freigth Suction Cups (1 per stepper and 1 for Arduino) so it can put up easily on whiteboards or windows.

Thank you for sharing it.

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

It forgets both dimensions on Windows 7 also. Every time you start. it asks for them again.

[i-make-robots]

Hrm. Java uses the preferences class to store values between sessions. It's supposed to automatically take care of these things. I'll ask around as see what could be causing it.

(adventuring)

On 2012-08-04, at 12:12, Bluemetal09reply@reply.github.com wrote:

It forgets both dimensions on Windows 7 also. Every time you start. it asks for them again.

---

Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/i-make-robots/DrawBot/issues/2#issuecomment-7504595

[Bluemetal09]

It does retain the previously open file names (up to 10).

By the way, this is the progress so far : http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7712476702/in/photostream

[i-make-robots]

Well that's wierd, they use the same system to remember both pieces of info.

(adventuring)

On 2012-08-04, at 13:28, Bluemetal09reply@reply.github.com wrote:

It does retain the previously open file names (up to 10).

---

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[Bluemetal09]

Maybe there is some resetting step at the end that clears it before closing so it is empty again when you start or at the beginning there is no checking to see if the values are different than zero then it can leave them as before.

[i-make-robots]

Do you have the firmware installed on the arduino? Are you connected?

(adventuring)

On 2012-08-04, at 13:45, Bluemetal09reply@reply.github.com wrote:

Maybe there is some resetting step at the end that clears it before closing so it is empty again when you start or at the beginning there is no checking to see if the values are different than zero then it can leave them as before.

---

Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/i-make-robots/DrawBot/issues/2#issuecomment-7505332

[Bluemetal09]

I am connected and the Drawbot is responding (though not in the direction that it is supposed to be doing). The firmware I am using is the one that is available here at Github from a few hours back - the only thing changed is the spool diameter ( I am using a 1.5 cm diameter spool) .

I can operate it manually though it is not yet going in the right direction - which really makes the "fill all the data every time thing" a bit taxing.

As you can see from the picture above, it is moving but does not resemble Hello World yet.

[i-make-robots]

Can you post the picture somewhere and link to it? Github seems to have removed the attachment.

Happy coincidence, I just updated with an improvement from the skycam - you can now click a button in the "jog motor" menu to invert the direction of each motor. that way if one is running backwards, you don't have to mess with wiring or firmware.

Does that help?

Dan

On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 4:34 PM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

I am connected and the Drawbot is responding (though not in the direction that it is supposed to be doing). The firmware I am using is the one that is available here at Github from a few hours back - the only thing changed is the spool diameter ( I am using a 1.5 cm diameter spool) .

I can operate it manually though it is not yet going in the right direction - which really makes the "fill all the data every time thing" a bit taxing.

As you can see from the picture above, it is moving but does not resemble Hello World yet.

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

I had posted the link to the picture to my Flickr ( Blue_Metal ) in the comments above.

That feature would be great specially if you could also change the direction of the spooling.

[i-make-robots]

Yes, it fixes the spooling. You'll have to modify the firmware yourself to adjust for the new bobbin width. That, in turn, will automatically change the step size and the default feed rate.

When you start the software, change your settings, and zoom out a bit... do you see a white rectangle on top of a brown rectangle?

[Bluemetal09]

So where is the update that does that?

[i-make-robots]

the latest master and experimental branches should have it.

On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 6:16 PM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

So where is the update that does that?

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

The master branch is still from 2 days ago and behaved just like before. The Experimental is from 2 hours ago and I will try it now.

[Bluemetal09]

I can see the new "jog" buttons the L side works but I believe the stepper shield has some issues so I cannot get the R side to move. I think I have another one some where around here.

By the way the new version continues to ask for the both limit sets every time I start the program and yet it retains the files opened.

[i-make-robots]

Check your wiring, first. It could be that you don't have good contact, or the wires are crossed. Remember the RGBY pattern should be REVERSED on the other side of the shield.

I've been trying to make the software remember every drawbot it ever connected to so that no one ever needs to type in the settings again and moving your computer between drawbots is easy. (A feature only someone with may robots like me would need.) Looks like it still has issues.

On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 6:41 PM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

I can see the new "jog" buttons the L side works but I believe the stepper shield has some issues so I cannot get the R side to move. I think I have another one some where around here.

By the way the new version continues to ask for the both limit sets every time I start the program and yet it retains the files opened.

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

The very top bar in the application says "Drawbot #6 connected" so some memory must be left. The wire pattern is precisely reversed ( black, green, blue, red on M1/M2 and red, blue, green, black on M3/M4). The jog function is really nice - it simplifies the process immensely, but I am afraid the inverted check mark is also forgotten once closed.

The movement issue is very likely with the shield as one stepper moves fluidly in and out on the jog function while the other just stutters about. Changed steppers to check and the problem stays with M1/M2. I will probably need to get another shield on Monday.

Did you manage to see the picture? http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7712476702/in/photostream . If it works I can put a few more and maybe a video.

[i-make-robots]

I saw it. Interesting pen holder!

You may not need a new shield. It could be as simple as a new L293 chip, which can be popped out and replaced.

On Sat, Aug 4, 2012 at 7:14 PM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

The very top bar in the application says "Drawbot #6 connected" so some memory must be left. The wire pattern is precisely reversed ( black, green, blue, red on M1/M2 and red, blue, green, black on M3/M4). The jog function is really nice - it simplifies the process immensely, but I am afraid the inverted check mark is also forgotten once closed.

The movement issue is very likely with the shield as one stepper moves fluidly in and out on the jog function while the other just stutters about. Changed steppers to check and the problem stays with M1/M2. I will probably need to get another shield on Monday.

Did you manage to see the picture? http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7712476702/in/photostream . If it works I can put a few more and maybe a video.

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

Good idea. Just ordered a few from Mouser.

I posted a video of the failure to jog http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7714209330/in/photostream and have confirmed it with stepper scripts from Adafruit that it is a hardware issue.

I ended up creating supports for the steppers and a pen holder inspired on yours - left the little "shelf" at the bottom in case I need to make it heavier.

[Bluemetal09]

Whipped another shield together (good thing I bought 2) and confirmed the issue with the first. The jogging now produces equal amount of movement on both strings.

I tried the Fibonacci code and it came out rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees. This is how it looked: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7714666802/in/photostream . It is about 9 cm tall and 4 cm wide. Progress! :)

[i-make-robots]

These are great. Can I post them on my blog? I want people to see your progress in getting set up.

Also, can you share your designs on thingiverse? If they are good and you let me I'll make them part of the official kit.

If your drawing is turned then I believe on of your Moros is inverted. When you click "in" the plotter should move toward that motor.

Dan

(adventuring)

On 2012-08-04, at 21:08, Bluemetal09reply@reply.github.com wrote:

Whipped another shield together (good thing I bought 2) and confirmed the issue with the first. The jogging now produces equal amount of movement on both strings.

I tried the Fibonacci code and it came out rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees. This is how it looked: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7714666802/in/photostream . It is about 9 cm tall and 4 cm wide. Progress! :)

---

Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/i-make-robots/DrawBot/issues/2#issuecomment-7507558

[Bluemetal09]

You can share it and I will put the designs in Thingiverse after I get it to work correctly - I believe the pen holder needs further adjustment.

The drawing was made after the motors had been jogged and inverted to be consistent in and out. What I found is that even after that the X and Y movement on the manual driving does not work. I am now using the experimental version.

[i-make-robots]

I saw the video with left/right jogging. Can you show me manual driving? Remember x10 is 10mm, less than half an inch.

(adventuring)

On 2012-08-05, at 4:28, Bluemetal09reply@reply.github.com wrote:

You can share it and I will put the designs in Thingiverse after I get it to work correctly - I believe the pen holder needs further adjustment.

The drawing was made after the motors had been jogged and inverted to be consistent in and out. What I found is that even after that the X and Y movement on the manual driving does not work. I am now using the experimental version.

---

Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/i-make-robots/DrawBot/issues/2#issuecomment-7509403

[Bluemetal09]

I posted another one with both the jogging and X & Y manual movement.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7717134978/in/photostream

The Y movement seems correct but the X is inverted even though the jogging was correct. The X is also a lot "jumpier" but that may be just the normal thing. It seems like L and R are switched. I will switch them and check.

The Y axis is moving the 10 and 100 mm movement correctly but not on the X axis (it moves much less than 100mm on X100 and X-100). Given that both steppers need to work for the Y axis to perform, I would say that this one is in the software realm.

I saw you recommended to load the PWM frequency libraries and I believe that may be able to smooth the steppers but I am not sure how to use it yet.

[i-make-robots]

You are correct, the steppers are backwards. Switch the value for the left and right edges of the paper and that should fix it in software. If your steppers are 80cm apart then led should be 40 and right should be -40, in your case.

I'm just realizing I have cm most places and mm in the drive control. This is inconsistent and dumb.

(adventuring)

On 2012-08-05, at 6:57, Bluemetal09reply@reply.github.com wrote:

I posted another one with both the jogging and X & Y manual movement.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blue_metal/7717134978/in/photostream

The Y movement seems correct but the X is inverted even though the jogging was correct. The X is also a lot "jumpier" but that may be just the normal thing. It seems like L and R are switched. I will switch them and check.

The Y axis is moving the 10 and 100 mm movement correctly but not on the X axis (it moves much less than 100mm on X100 and X-100). Given that both steppers need to work for the Y axis to perform, I would say that this one is in the software realm.

I saw you recommended to load the PWM frequency libraries and I believe that may be able to smooth the steppers but I am not sure how to use it yet.

---

Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub: https://github.com/i-make-robots/DrawBot/issues/2#issuecomment-7510140

[Bluemetal09]

It switched correctly but the X travel is not matching the distance requested.

I am also encountering the file opening issue with the experimental version. I try to open a jpg file and it will say it is opening the previous ngc file and get stuck at that point. This was not happening with the master version which worked beautifully converting even the most complex pictures.

By the way, the jogging produces a wonderful quiet and fluid movement of the steppers - quite different than the one from manual driving and normal operation. Is there a software difference?

I also find the shield being quite hot at all times and I have been running the steppers at 6V. Is that the case for you?

It would also be great if you mention what are the units in the firmware comments - specially for spool diameter.

[i-make-robots]

The stepper I recommend are 12v. You may be losing steps. I don't know about the heat. If you aren't using the same parts I recommend then I can't provide support.

On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 7:50 AM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

It switched correctly but the X travel is not matching the distance requested.

I am also encountering the file opening issue with the experimental version. I try to open a jpg file and it will say it is opening the previous ngc file and get stuck at that point. This was not happening with the master version which worked beautifully converting even the most complex pictures.

By the way, the jogging produces a wonderful quiet and fluid movement of the steppers - quite different than the one from manual driving and normal operation. Is there a software difference?

I also find the shield being quite hot at all times and I have been running the steppers at 6V. Is that the case for you?

It would also be great if you mention what are the units in the firmware comments - specially for spool diameter.

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

The steppers I am using are for 12V but I running them from a current limiting power supply and the currents are hitting 3A if I run at 12V.

They are Nema 17 steppers (the same I used for my Prusa) as here : http://ultimachine.com/content/kysan-1124090-nema-17-stepper-motor.

[i-make-robots]

Then you've got the wrong steppers for your adafruit shield and it's no wonder you damaged it - the shield can't take more than 2a. Buy one of my kits with all the parts done right and you won't have these headaches. I'm working on setting up a store so you can just buy the parts you need.

Dan

On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 9:18 AM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

The steppers I am using are for 12V but I running them from a current limiting power supply and the currents are hitting 3A if I run at 12V.

They are Nema 17 steppers (the same I used for my Prusa) as here : http://ultimachine.com/content/kysan-1124090-nema-17-stepper-motor.

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281

[Bluemetal09]

So where in the wiki page or FAQ is any information on the steppers other than:

Two NEMA17 stepper motors ($30)

[i-make-robots]

Well... normally people get the kit. I don't make any money helping people who want to DIY. :T The adafruit motor shield says in the documentation max 2a. So you need <=0.5a steppers. I use 0.3a to great effect.

On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 9:37 AM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

So where in the wiki page or FAQ is any information on the steppers other than:

Two NEMA17 stepper motors ($30)

---

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[Bluemetal09]

No problem. I have a few chips coming to replace the burned ones.

Sorry for the lost income but maybe people will read this and realize what a good deal the get from your kit. I just happen to have everything at hand, including the smaller amp steppers and a 3D printer.

Thank you for the kind help and the support. I keep watching for new software versions that keep the data between uses.

[i-make-robots]

I don't know what that's about. I may get time to test it on my local windows 7 tomorrow.

On Sun, Aug 5, 2012 at 10:11 AM, Bluemetal09 < reply@reply.github.com

wrote:

No problem. I have a few chips coming to replace the burned ones.

Sorry for the lost income but maybe people will read this and realize what a good deal the get from your kit. I just happen to have everything at hand, including the smaller amp steppers and a 3D printer.

Thank you for the kind help and the support. I keep watching for new software versions that keep the data between uses.

---

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Dan Royer, Marginally Clever Software http://www.marginallyclever.com/ - Robotics & Website Management Solutions. Ph: +1.604.916.2281