My project is starting
and I have a need for some advice/suggestions
First let me say if this should be in a different topic, PLEASE move it.
Heres the overview:
I have been working on a machine to cut foam for R/C planes. I am working on this with another guy in Ohio, so not close to me. We have our machines ready now, and of course I am behind on the electronics.
We will be using EMC2 as our machine controller. Using 2 parallel ports, we will be controlling 6 steppers, 1 spindle, and 1 hot wire. The machine also has travel limits on each end of each axis.
I have 2 interface cards based around a 16f1947, 1 for each parallel port. these are identical. each card will be responsible for passing step/dir signals through for up to 4 motors(only 3 needed in our app), enable all 4 drives independantly from a single enable output from EMC2. All the limit switches for the 4 axis will be monitored by the card. disable a drive if a limit is hit and pass the home switches back to EMC2.
Ok, enough of the basics, if anyone is intrested in more detail, just ask.
On to the problem.
Talking to a PIC from a serial port will be new to me. Bootloaders are new to me.
I can write the basic program to just do the above without any problem, but I have much more in store for this card. So I need to get the basic part done and send 2 cards to Ohio. My buddy has no need for a programmer so to get him updates I really want to send him cards pre loaded with a bootloader able to work from rs232 port.
I don't really know how to get started is my problem. Should I first play with a bootloader and get the LED blinky to work? Should I start with a serial comm program and get that to work? What bootloader should I use? If I need to change any config stuff, will I be able to do that with a bootloader?
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