My turn for help with Pulse multiplier for test rig.

[longy]

Only trying to help Clive. Dean has been more than helpful with my cnc build plans and he's kicked me into touch several times LOL... So if I can help I'll try. Mike

[Jonathan]

I know you said ideally not using an Arduino, but if you want it simple they're hard to beat as the principle of Arduino's seems to make the electronics and coding as simple as possible. The Arduino Uno has 5V outputs, so you can connect it directly to the stepper driver - no other components required.

The timing diagram Eddy's highlighted would be easy to follow with the Arduino, but for this application we don't need to worry about it too much - just set the step pulse width to at least 5us and it'll be fine.

Just to be clear, do you just want to control one motor at a time? For instance just use a potentiometer to set the speed and the circuit outputs the pulse train to get that speed?

(By all meant do it using one of the other ways suggested in this thread - they all look fine to me.)

[JAZZCNC]

Just to be clear, do you just want to control one motor at a time? For instance just use a potentiometer to set the speed and the circuit outputs the pulse train to get that speed?

Yes all I want is to Jog one axis at a time for testing purposes so can run machine thru it's travel quickly when no electonics are connected. I've got a spare drive and MPG wheel and just want a cheap way to increase the distance traveled per click, IE step multiplier.

I've got a Raspberry Tart and could use that but don't want to as I want it simple and I've got another use for that.
I could buy drive with Pulse generator built into it but don't want to as I have perfectly good drive sitting here that I'll never fit to a machine.

Currently I've got the MPG connected to the drive and it works fine so I didn't think it would be a massive electronics project or expensive to create a step multiplier just to speed up the travel.?

Thanks to those that pointed out the products that are available to do this and I did know about them but don't want to buy one, I want the experience of doing this and I'm sure it could be done for under a tenner.! . . . . If not then I'll not bother as I've loads of alternatives.

So come on you electronics geeks surely one of you can knock together a simple circuit for a Dummy's to do this.? . . . . . . . If not you'll leave me no option but to go back to Cnczone and ask my Old mates. . . . . SO COME ON . . lets KEEP IT BRITISH.

[Neale]

Someone suggested a 555-based timer, and that's the way I would go as well. Google "555 timer" and there will be plenty of sample circuits - just a half-dozen or so components, bit of Veroboard, and you can probably do it for a fiver. Like this one? I built one of these a while ago when my wife gave me three days - over a weekend - to build a slow-speed turntable to display a piece of work. All I had to hand was a spare stepper from my 3D printer and the matching Pololu driver. All you need to do is generate 5V pulses so run the circuit off any convenient source of 5V; direction can be switched, and enable hard-wired. Timing isn't an issue as long as you get the pulse length above the minimum for the driver.