Once you've finished setting up your KB2040 with CircuitPython, you can access the code, images, font and necessary libraries by downloading the Project Bundle.
To do this, click on the Download Project Bundle button in the window below. It will download to your computer as a zipped folder.
# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: 2025 Liz Clark for Adafruit Industries
#
# SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
import time
import supervisor
import rotaryio
import keypad
import board
import busio
import displayio
from adafruit_display_text import label
from fourwire import FourWire
from adafruit_st7789 import ST7789
from adafruit_bitmap_font import bitmap_font
from adafruit_tmc2209 import TMC2209
displayio.release_displays()
RAILS = 520 # length of rails in mm
microsteps = 128
gear_ratio = 41 / 16
shot_velocities = [
20,
15,
10
]
keys = keypad.Keys((board.D2, board.A2, board.A3), value_when_pressed=False, pull=True)
encoder = rotaryio.IncrementalEncoder(board.D7, board.D6)
last_position = None
spi = board.SPI()
tft_cs = board.D10
tft_dc = board.D8
display_bus = FourWire(spi, command=tft_dc, chip_select=tft_cs, reset=board.D9)
display = ST7789(display_bus, width=240, height=240, rowstart=80, auto_refresh=False)
splash = displayio.Group()
display.root_group = splash
bitmap = displayio.OnDiskBitmap("/icons.bmp")
grid_bg = displayio.TileGrid(bitmap, pixel_shader=bitmap.pixel_shader,
tile_height=100, tile_width=100,
x=(display.width - 100) // 2,
y=(display.height - 100) // 2)
splash.append(grid_bg)
text_group = displayio.Group()
font = bitmap_font.load_font("/Arial-14.bdf")
title_text = "Camera Slider"
title_area = label.Label(font, text=title_text, color=0xFFFFFF)
title_area.anchor_point = (0.5, 0.0)
title_area.anchored_position = (display.width / 2, 25)
text_group.append(title_area)
splash.append(text_group)
font = bitmap_font.load_font("/Arial-14.bdf")
text_area = label.Label(font, text="", color=0xFFFFFF)
text_area.anchor_point = (0.5, 1.0)
text_area.anchored_position = (display.width / 2, display.height - 25)
text_group.append(text_area)
uart = busio.UART(tx=board.TX, rx=board.RX, baudrate=115200, timeout=0.1)
driver1 = TMC2209(uart=uart, addr=0)
driver2 = TMC2209(tx_pin=board.D4, rx_pin=board.D5, addr=0)
version1 = driver1.version
version2 = driver2.version
print(f"TMC2209 #1 Version: 0x{version1:02X}")
print(f"TMC2209 #2 Version: 0x{version2:02X}")
driver1.microsteps = microsteps
print(driver1.microsteps)
driver2.microsteps = microsteps
print(driver2.microsteps)
STEPS_PER_MM = 200 * microsteps / 8
driver1.direction = False
driver2.direction = True
last_pos = 0
select = 0
menu = 0
time_mode = 0
shot_mode = 0
timelapse = True
movement_time = 0
titles = ["Camera Slider", "Motor 1", "Motor 2", "Mode",
"Timelapse", "One-Shot", "Start?", "Running"]
home_text = ["Press to Begin", "0"]
motor1_text = ["Slide to Start Point", "0"]
motor2_text = ["Move to Start", "Move to End", "0"]
mode_text = ["Timelapse", "One-Shot"]
time_text = ["1", "5", "10", "15", "30"]
shot_speeds = [10, 5, 2]
speeds = []
shot_text = ["Slow", "Medium", "Fast"]
start_text = ["Go!", 0]
running_text = ["STOP!", "Pause/Resume"]
running_icons = [6, 7]
mode_icons = [3, 4]
sub_titles = [home_text, motor1_text, motor2_text, mode_text,
time_text, shot_text, start_text, running_text]
motor2_coordinates = [0.0, 0.0]
text_area.text = home_text[0]
display.refresh()
def adv_menu(m):
m = (m + 1) % 8
title_area.text = titles[m]
sub = sub_titles[m]
if m == 4:
grid_bg[0] = 3
elif m == 5:
grid_bg[0] = 4
elif m > 5:
grid_bg[0] = m - 1
else:
grid_bg[0] = m
text_area.text = sub[0]
display.refresh()
return m
motor1_movement = {
"is_active": False,
"current_step": 0,
"total_steps": 0,
"start_pos": 0,
"end_pos": 0,
"step_direction": 1,
"last_step_time": 0,
"step_interval": 0,
"is_paused": False,
"toggle_pause": False,
"stop_requested": False
}
motor2_movement = {
"is_active": False,
"current_step": 0,
"total_steps": 0,
"start_pos": 0,
"end_pos": 0,
"step_direction": 1,
"last_step_time": 0,
"step_interval": 0,
"is_paused": False,
"toggle_pause": False,
"stop_requested": False
}
# pylint: disable=too-many-branches, too-many-statements, inconsistent-return-statements
def calculate_linear_velocity(steps_per_second, clock_frequency=12000000,
micro=128, scaling_factor=6):
frequency = steps_per_second * micro
vactual = int((frequency * (1 << 23)) / (clock_frequency * scaling_factor))
vactual = max(-(1 << 23), min((1 << 23) - 1, vactual))
return vactual
def move_steps_over_time(camera_driver, start_position, end_position,
time_seconds, micro=128, ratio=None):
steps = abs(end_position - start_position)
if camera_driver:
direction = -1 if end_position < start_position else 1
time_seconds = time_seconds * 2
else:
direction = 1 if driver1.direction else -1
if ratio is not None:
steps = steps / ratio
total_microsteps = steps * micro
microsteps_per_second = total_microsteps / time_seconds
fCLK = 12000000
if camera_driver:
vactual = int(microsteps_per_second / (fCLK / (1 << 24)))
else:
vactual = int(microsteps_per_second / (fCLK / (1 << 27)))
velocity = max(-(1 << 23), min((1 << 23) - 1, vactual))
velocity *= direction
return velocity
def calculate_timelapse_velocity(start_position, end_position, duration_seconds, micro=128,
clock_frequency=12000000, scaling_factor=6, min_velocity=100):
total_steps = abs(end_position - start_position)
steps_per_second = total_steps / duration_seconds
full_steps_per_second = steps_per_second / micro
vactual = calculate_linear_velocity(full_steps_per_second, clock_frequency,
micro, scaling_factor)
direction = -1 if end_position < start_position else 1
if abs(vactual) < min_velocity and vactual != 0:
vactual = min_velocity * direction
return vactual
def calculate_rail_velocity(total_steps, duration_sec, direction,
is_timelapse=True, micro=128, clock_frequency=12000000):
steps_per_second = total_steps / duration_sec
full_steps_per_second = steps_per_second / micro
if not is_timelapse:
base_scaling = 1.0
min_velocity = 400
vactual = int((full_steps_per_second * micro * (1 << 23))
/ (clock_frequency * base_scaling))
vactual *= direction
if abs(vactual) < min_velocity:
vactual = min_velocity * direction
else:
base_scaling = 6.0
min_velocity = 50
vactual = int((full_steps_per_second * micro * (1 << 23)) /
(clock_frequency * base_scaling))
vactual *= direction
if abs(vactual) < min_velocity:
vactual = min_velocity * direction
vactual = max(-(1 << 23), min((1 << 23) - 1, vactual))
return vactual
def move_motor_with_rotate(driver, movement_state, start_position=None,
end_position=None, duration_sec=0, micro=128):
if start_position is not None and end_position is not None and not movement_state["is_active"]:
if timelapse:
driver.enable_motor(run_current=20)
scaling_factor = 6
min_velocity = 50
velocity = calculate_timelapse_velocity(
start_position,
end_position,
duration_sec,
micro,
scaling_factor=scaling_factor,
min_velocity=min_velocity
)
else:
driver.enable_motor(run_current=30)
velocity = calculate_rail_velocity(
int(RAILS*STEPS_PER_MM),
duration_sec,
movement_state["step_direction"],
is_timelapse=timelapse,
micro=micro
)
initial_velocity = int(velocity * 0.2)
if abs(initial_velocity) < 200:
initial_velocity = 200 * (1 if velocity > 0 else -1)
driver.rotate(initial_velocity)
movement_state["initial_velocity"] = initial_velocity
movement_state["final_velocity"] = velocity
movement_state["ramp_up_done"] = False
movement_state["ramp_up_time"] = 500
movement_state["total_steps"] = int(RAILS*STEPS_PER_MM)
movement_state["step_direction"] = 1 if end_position > start_position else -1
movement_state["start_pos"] = 0
movement_state["end_pos"] = int(RAILS*STEPS_PER_MM)
movement_state["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
movement_state["movement_duration_ms"] = duration_sec * 1000
movement_state["is_active"] = True
movement_state["is_paused"] = False
return
movement_state["total_steps"] = int(RAILS*STEPS_PER_MM)
movement_state["step_direction"] = driver.direction
movement_state["start_pos"] = 0
movement_state["end_pos"] = int(RAILS*STEPS_PER_MM)
if duration_sec > 0 and movement_state["total_steps"] > 0:
movement_state["velocity"] = velocity
driver.rotate(velocity)
movement_state["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
movement_state["movement_duration_ms"] = duration_sec * 1000
else:
default_velocity = 2000 * movement_state["step_direction"]
driver.rotate(default_velocity)
movement_state["movement_duration_ms"] = movement_state["total_steps"] * 10
movement_state["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
movement_state["is_active"] = True
movement_state["is_paused"] = False
if movement_state["is_active"] and movement_state["toggle_pause"]:
movement_state["is_paused"] = not movement_state["is_paused"]
movement_state["toggle_pause"] = False
if movement_state["is_paused"]:
driver.rotate(0)
movement_state["pause_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
else:
elapsed_ms = movement_state["pause_time"] - movement_state["movement_start_time"]
remaining_ms = movement_state["movement_duration_ms"] - elapsed_ms
if remaining_ms > 0:
driver.rotate(movement_state["velocity"])
movement_state["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms() - elapsed_ms
else:
driver.rotate(0)
driver.disable_motor()
movement_state["is_active"] = False
if movement_state["is_active"] and movement_state["stop_requested"]:
driver.rotate(0)
driver.disable_motor()
movement_state["is_active"] = False
movement_state["stop_requested"] = False
return {
"active": False,
"complete": False,
"progress_percent": (supervisor.ticks_ms() - movement_state["movement_start_time"])
/ movement_state["movement_duration_ms"] * 100,
"stopped_by_user": True
}
if movement_state["is_active"] and not movement_state["is_paused"]:
current_t = supervisor.ticks_ms()
e = current_t - movement_state["movement_start_time"]
if e >= movement_state["movement_duration_ms"]:
print("Movement time complete!")
driver.rotate(0)
driver.disable_motor()
movement_state["is_active"] = False
return {
"active": False,
"complete": True,
"progress_percent": 100,
"stopped_by_user": False
}
return {
"active": movement_state["is_active"],
"paused": movement_state["is_paused"],
"progress_percent": (supervisor.ticks_ms() - movement_state["movement_start_time"]) /
movement_state["movement_duration_ms"] * 100
if movement_state["is_active"] else 0,
"stopped_by_user": False
}
def pause_resume_motor1():
motor1_movement["toggle_pause"] = True
def stop_motor1():
driver1.disable_motor()
driver1.reset_position()
motor1_movement["stop_requested"] = True
def pause_resume_motor2():
motor2_movement["toggle_pause"] = True
def stop_motor2():
driver2.disable_motor()
driver2.reset_position()
motor2_movement["stop_requested"] = True
def stop_all_motors():
driver1.rotate(0)
driver2.rotate(0)
driver1.disable_motor()
driver2.disable_motor()
motor1_movement["is_active"] = False
motor2_movement["is_active"] = False
motor1_movement["stop_requested"] = False
motor2_movement["stop_requested"] = False
time.sleep(0.1)
driver1.disable_motor()
driver1.reset_position()
driver2.reset_position()
while True:
if motor1_movement["is_active"]:
current_time = supervisor.ticks_ms()
elapsed = current_time - motor1_movement["movement_start_time"]
if elapsed >= motor1_movement["movement_duration_ms"]:
driver1.rotate(0)
driver1.disable_motor()
motor1_movement["is_active"] = False
if motor2_movement["is_active"]:
current_time = supervisor.ticks_ms()
elapsed = current_time - motor2_movement["movement_start_time"]
if elapsed >= motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"]:
driver2.rotate(0)
driver2.disable_motor()
motor2_movement["is_active"] = False
if menu == 7:
active_motors = 0
progress1 = 0
progress2 = 0
if motor1_movement["is_active"]:
active_motors += 1
current_time = supervisor.ticks_ms()
elapsed = current_time - motor1_movement["movement_start_time"]
progress1 = (elapsed / motor1_movement["movement_duration_ms"]) * 100
if motor2_movement["is_active"]:
active_motors += 1
current_time = supervisor.ticks_ms()
elapsed = current_time - motor2_movement["movement_start_time"]
progress2 = (elapsed / motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"]) * 100
if active_motors > 0:
avg_progress = (progress1 + progress2) / active_motors
text_area.text = f"{running_text[select]} {avg_progress:.1f}%"
display.refresh()
elif active_motors == 0 and (motor1_movement["movement_duration_ms"] > 0
or motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"] > 0):
text_area.text = "Movement Complete!"
display.refresh()
event = keys.events.get()
if event:
if event.pressed:
print(f"{event.key_number} pressed")
if event.key_number == 0:
if menu == 0:
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 2:
if select == 0:
motor2_coordinates[select] = driver2.position
if select == 1:
motor2_coordinates[select] = driver2.position
select += 1
text_area.text = motor2_text[select]
if select > 1:
select = 0
menu = adv_menu(menu)
if motor2_coordinates[0] > motor2_coordinates[1]:
move = motor2_coordinates[0] - motor2_coordinates[1]
else:
move = motor2_coordinates[1] - motor2_coordinates[0]
move = -move
driver2.step(move)
elif menu == 3:
if select == 1:
timelapse = False
menu += 1
select = 0
else:
timelapse = True
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 4:
menu += 1
time_mode = select
menu = adv_menu(menu)
select = 0
print(f"{time_text[time_mode]}, timelapse: {timelapse}")
elif menu == 5:
shot_mode = select
menu = adv_menu(menu)
select = 0
print(f"{shot_text[shot_mode]}, timelapse: {timelapse}")
elif menu == 6:
menu = adv_menu(menu)
if timelapse:
movement_time = int(time_text[time_mode]) * 60
print(f"starting a timelapse for {time_text[time_mode]} minutes")
status1 = move_motor_with_rotate(
driver1,
motor1_movement,
start_position=0,
end_position=int(RAILS * STEPS_PER_MM),
duration_sec=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps
)
if abs(motor2_coordinates[1] - motor2_coordinates[0]) > 0:
velocity2 = move_steps_over_time(camera_driver=True,
start_position=motor2_coordinates[0],
end_position=motor2_coordinates[1],
time_seconds=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps,
ratio=gear_ratio)
print(f"driver2 velocity is: {velocity2}")
driver2.enable_motor(run_current=25)
driver2.rotate(velocity2)
motor2_movement["is_active"] = True
motor2_movement["start_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[0]
motor2_movement["end_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[1]
motor2_movement["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"] = movement_time * 1000
motor2_movement["velocity"] = velocity2
motor2_movement["total_steps"] = (abs(motor2_coordinates[1] -
motor2_coordinates[0]))
else:
print(f"starting a {shot_text[shot_mode]} one-shot")
movement_time = shot_velocities[shot_mode]
status1 = move_motor_with_rotate(
driver1,
motor1_movement,
start_position=0,
end_position=int(RAILS * STEPS_PER_MM),
duration_sec=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps
)
if abs(motor2_coordinates[1] - motor2_coordinates[0]) > 0:
velocity2 = move_steps_over_time(camera_driver=True,
start_position=motor2_coordinates[0],
end_position=motor2_coordinates[1],
time_seconds=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps,
ratio=gear_ratio)
driver2.enable_motor(run_current=25)
driver2.rotate(velocity2)
motor2_movement["is_active"] = True
motor2_movement["start_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[0]
motor2_movement["end_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[1]
motor2_movement["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"] = movement_time * 1000
motor2_movement["velocity"] = velocity2
motor2_movement["total_steps"] = (abs(motor2_coordinates[1] -
motor2_coordinates[0]))
elif menu == 7:
if select == 0:
stop_all_motors()
text_area.text = "Stopping..."
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif select == 1:
pause_resume_motor1()
pause_resume_motor2()
paused_state = motor1_movement["is_paused"] or motor2_movement["is_paused"]
text_area.text = "Paused" if paused_state else "Running"
display.refresh()
if event.key_number == 1:
if menu == 1:
driver1.direction = False
driver1.reset_position()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 7:
stop_all_motors()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
if event.key_number == 2:
if menu == 1:
driver1.direction = True
driver1.reset_position()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 7:
stop_all_motors()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
display.refresh()
pos = encoder.position
if pos != last_pos:
if pos > last_pos:
if menu == 2:
driver2.step(-10)
if menu == 3:
select = (select + 1) % 2
text_area.text = mode_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = mode_icons[select]
if menu == 4:
select = (select + 1) % len(time_text)
text_area.text = time_text[select]
if menu == 5:
select = (select + 1) % len(shot_text)
text_area.text = shot_text[select]
if menu == 7:
select = (select + 1) % len(running_text)
text_area.text = running_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = running_icons[select]
else:
if menu == 2:
driver2.step(10)
if menu == 3:
select = (select - 1) % 2
text_area.text = mode_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = mode_icons[select]
if menu == 4:
select = (select - 1) % len(time_text)
text_area.text = time_text[select]
if menu == 5:
select = (select - 1) % len(shot_text)
text_area.text = shot_text[select]
if menu == 7:
select = (select - 1) % len(running_text)
text_area.text = running_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = running_icons[select]
last_pos = pos
display.refresh()
Upload the Code and Libraries to the KB2040
After downloading the Project Bundle, plug your KB2040 into the computer's USB port with a known good USB data+power cable. You should see a new flash drive appear in the computer's File Explorer or Finder (depending on your operating system) called CIRCUITPY. Unzip the folder and copy the following items to the KB2040's CIRCUITPY drive.
- lib folder
- code.py
- adafruit_tmc2209.py
- generic_uart_device.py
- icons.bmp
- Arial-14.bdf
Your KB2040 CIRCUITPY drive should look like this after copying the lib folder, image file, font file and the Python files.
How the Code Works
There are three code files: adafruit_tmc2209.py, generic_uart_device.py and the main code.py. adafruit_tmc2209.py and generic_uart_device.py are driver files for the TMC2209 UART control. The code.py file depends on these files to control the TMC2209 drivers.
At the top of code.py are some user parameters. RAILS is the length of the rails in mm. microsteps are the number of microsteps used by the stepper motors. gear_ratio is the gear reduction for the camera pan mechanism. Finally, shot_velocities contains the one-shot speeds in seconds.
RAILS = 520 # length of rails in mm
microsteps = 128
gear_ratio = 41 / 16
shot_velocities = [
20,
15,
10
]
Keypad, TFT and Encoder
The two end stop switches and the rotary encoder button are instantiated as a Keypad object. The TFT is controlled via SPI. The rotary encoder is wired directly to GPIO for rotaryio.
keys = keypad.Keys((board.D2, board.A2, board.A3), value_when_pressed=False, pull=True) encoder = rotaryio.IncrementalEncoder(board.D7, board.D6) last_position = None spi = board.SPI() tft_cs = board.D10 tft_dc = board.D8 display_bus = FourWire(spi, command=tft_dc, chip_select=tft_cs, reset=board.D9) display = ST7789(display_bus, width=240, height=240, rowstart=80, auto_refresh=False)
Graphics
The icons for the different menu options are on a single bitmap file (icons.bmp) and are used as a sprite sheet with TileGrid. There are two text objects: title_text and text_area that update depending on the menu.
splash = displayio.Group()
display.root_group = splash
bitmap = displayio.OnDiskBitmap(open("/icons.bmp", "rb"))
grid_bg = displayio.TileGrid(bitmap, pixel_shader=bitmap.pixel_shader,
tile_height=100, tile_width=100,
x=(display.width - 100) // 2,
y=(display.height - 100) // 2)
splash.append(grid_bg)
text_group = displayio.Group()
font = bitmap_font.load_font("/Arial-14.bdf")
title_text = "Camera Slider"
title_area = label.Label(font, text=title_text, color=0xFFFFFF)
title_area.anchor_point = (0.5, 0.0)
title_area.anchored_position = (display.width / 2, 25)
text_group.append(title_area)
splash.append(text_group)
text_area = label.Label(font, text="", color=0xFFFFFF)
text_area.anchor_point = (0.5, 1.0)
text_area.anchored_position = (display.width / 2, display.height - 25)
text_group.append(text_area)
TMC2209 UART
The two TMC2209 drivers are controlled over UART. Each driver is on its on UART line. Driver 1 uses the default UART (RX and TX) and driver 2 uses the secondary UART (D4 and D5). The microsteps are set for each of the drivers, along with a starting direction.
uart = busio.UART(tx=board.TX, rx=board.RX, baudrate=115200, timeout=0.1)
driver1 = TMC2209(uart=uart, addr=0)
driver2 = TMC2209(tx_pin=board.D4, rx_pin=board.D5, addr=0)
version1 = driver1.version
version2 = driver2.version
print(f"TMC2209 #1 Version: 0x{version1:02X}")
print(f"TMC2209 #2 Version: 0x{version2:02X}")
driver1.microsteps = microsteps
print(driver1.microsteps)
driver2.microsteps = microsteps
print(driver2.microsteps)
STEPS_PER_MM = 200 * microsteps / 8
driver1.direction = False
driver2.direction = True
Menu
The menu system is the backbone of the project. It is used to navigate through setting up a shot sequence. The TFT displays icons and text that correspond with each menu scene. The adv_menu() function takes care of advancing the graphics.
titles = ["Camera Slider", "Motor 1", "Motor 2", "Mode",
"Timelapse", "One-Shot", "Start?", "Running"]
home_text = ["Press to Begin", "0"]
motor1_text = ["Slide to Start Point", "0"]
motor2_text = ["Move to Start", "Move to End", "0"]
mode_text = ["Timelapse", "One-Shot"]
time_text = ["1", "5", "10", "15", "30"]
shot_text = ["Slow", "Medium", "Fast"]
start_text = ["Go!", 0]
running_text = ["STOP!", "Pause/Resume"]
running_icons = [6, 7]
mode_icons = [3, 4]
sub_titles = [home_text, motor1_text, motor2_text, mode_text,
time_text, shot_text, start_text, running_text]
text_area.text = home_text[0]
def adv_menu(m):
m = (m + 1) % 8
title_area.text = titles[m]
sub = sub_titles[m]
if m == 4:
grid_bg[0] = 3
elif m == 5:
grid_bg[0] = 4
elif m > 5:
grid_bg[0] = m - 1
else:
grid_bg[0] = m
text_area.text = sub[0]
display.refresh()
return m
Moving the Motors
Each driver has a dictionary to track its movement and start/pause/stop state throughout the different movement functions and the main loop.
motor1_movement = {
"is_active": False,
"current_step": 0,
"total_steps": 0,
"start_pos": 0,
"end_pos": 0,
"step_direction": 1,
"last_step_time": 0,
"step_interval": 0,
"is_paused": False,
"toggle_pause": False,
"stop_requested": False
}
motor2_movement = {
"is_active": False,
"current_step": 0,
"total_steps": 0,
"start_pos": 0,
"end_pos": 0,
"step_direction": 1,
"last_step_time": 0,
"step_interval": 0,
"is_paused": False,
"toggle_pause": False,
"stop_requested": False
}
A few functions are used to control the motor movement. Driver 1, which moves the camera along the rails, has its own set of functions since it is moving a much longer distance than driver 2; which pans the camera. Both drivers utilize the velocity calculation from the datasheet:
vactual = int(microsteps_per_second / (fCLK / (1 << 24))) vactual = max(-(1 << 23), min((1 << 23) - 1, vactual))
Velocity is used instead of individual steps because its a lot smoother and silent. The functions let you pass the time and number of steps and calculate the velocity from that. Additionally, with the combination of the dictionaries, both motors can be paused/resumed/stopped without blocking in the loop.
The Loop
At the top of the loop, if either of the motors' ["is_active"] parameter is True, it means that they are rotating. ticks_ms() is used to keep track of the time.
while True:
if motor1_movement["is_active"]:
current_time = supervisor.ticks_ms()
elapsed = current_time - motor1_movement["movement_start_time"]
if elapsed >= motor1_movement["movement_duration_ms"]:
driver1.rotate(0)
driver1.disable_motor()
motor1_movement["is_active"] = False
if motor2_movement["is_active"]:
current_time = supervisor.ticks_ms()
elapsed = current_time - motor2_movement["movement_start_time"]
if elapsed >= motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"]:
driver2.rotate(0)
driver2.disable_motor()
motor2_movement["is_active"] = False
Keypad events and the rotary encoder are used to navigate the menu system. When the rotary encoder button is pressed (key_number 0), the menu advances. It is also used to pause or stop the motors while they are moving through a shot. The end stop switches and rotary encoder have different functionality depending on the menu index. The display is updated with different text if the rotary encoder is used to scroll through options.
event = keys.events.get()
if event:
if event.pressed:
print(f"{event.key_number} pressed")
if event.key_number == 0:
if menu == 0:
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 2:
if select == 0:
motor2_coordinates[select] = driver2.position
if select == 1:
motor2_coordinates[select] = driver2.position
select += 1
text_area.text = motor2_text[select]
if select > 1:
select = 0
menu = adv_menu(menu)
if motor2_coordinates[0] > motor2_coordinates[1]:
move = motor2_coordinates[0] - motor2_coordinates[1]
else:
move = motor2_coordinates[1] - motor2_coordinates[0]
move = -move
driver2.step(move)
elif menu == 3:
if select == 1:
timelapse = False
menu += 1
select = 0
else:
timelapse = True
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 4:
menu += 1
time_mode = select
menu = adv_menu(menu)
select = 0
print(f"{time_text[time_mode]}, timelapse: {timelapse}")
elif menu == 5:
shot_mode = select
menu = adv_menu(menu)
select = 0
print(f"{shot_text[shot_mode]}, timelapse: {timelapse}")
elif menu == 6:
menu = adv_menu(menu)
if timelapse:
movement_time = int(time_text[time_mode]) * 60
print(f"starting a timelapse for {time_text[time_mode]} minutes")
status1 = move_motor_with_rotate(
driver1,
motor1_movement,
start_position=0,
end_position=int(RAILS * STEPS_PER_MM),
duration_sec=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps
)
if abs(motor2_coordinates[1] - motor2_coordinates[0]) > 0:
velocity2 = move_steps_over_time(camera_driver=True,
start_position=motor2_coordinates[0],
end_position=motor2_coordinates[1],
time_seconds=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps,
ratio=gear_ratio)
print(f"driver2 velocity is: {velocity2}")
driver2.enable_motor(run_current=25)
driver2.rotate(velocity2)
motor2_movement["is_active"] = True
motor2_movement["start_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[0]
motor2_movement["end_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[1]
motor2_movement["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"] = movement_time * 1000
motor2_movement["velocity"] = velocity2
motor2_movement["total_steps"] = (abs(motor2_coordinates[1] -
motor2_coordinates[0]))
else:
print(f"starting a {shot_text[shot_mode]} one-shot")
movement_time = shot_velocities[shot_mode]
status1 = move_motor_with_rotate(
driver1,
motor1_movement,
start_position=0,
end_position=int(RAILS * STEPS_PER_MM),
duration_sec=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps
)
if abs(motor2_coordinates[1] - motor2_coordinates[0]) > 0:
velocity2 = move_steps_over_time(camera_driver=True,
start_position=motor2_coordinates[0],
end_position=motor2_coordinates[1],
time_seconds=movement_time,
microsteps=microsteps,
ratio=gear_ratio)
driver2.enable_motor(run_current=25)
driver2.rotate(velocity2)
motor2_movement["is_active"] = True
motor2_movement["start_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[0]
motor2_movement["end_pos"] = motor2_coordinates[1]
motor2_movement["movement_start_time"] = supervisor.ticks_ms()
motor2_movement["movement_duration_ms"] = movement_time * 1000
motor2_movement["velocity"] = velocity2
motor2_movement["total_steps"] = (abs(motor2_coordinates[1] -
motor2_coordinates[0]))
elif menu == 7:
if select == 0:
stop_all_motors()
text_area.text = "Stopping..."
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif select == 1:
pause_resume_motor1()
pause_resume_motor2()
paused_state = motor1_movement["is_paused"] or motor2_movement["is_paused"]
text_area.text = "Paused" if paused_state else "Running"
display.refresh()
if event.key_number == 1:
if menu == 1:
driver1.direction = False
driver1.reset_position()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 7:
stop_all_motors()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
if event.key_number == 2:
if menu == 1:
driver1.direction = True
driver1.reset_position()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
elif menu == 7:
stop_all_motors()
menu = adv_menu(menu)
display.refresh()
pos = encoder.position
if pos != last_pos:
if pos > last_pos:
if menu == 2:
driver2.step(-10)
if menu == 3:
select = (select + 1) % 2
text_area.text = mode_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = mode_icons[select]
if menu == 4:
select = (select + 1) % len(time_text)
text_area.text = time_text[select]
if menu == 5:
select = (select + 1) % len(shot_text)
text_area.text = shot_text[select]
if menu == 7:
select = (select + 1) % len(running_text)
text_area.text = running_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = running_icons[select]
else:
if menu == 2:
driver2.step(10)
if menu == 3:
select = (select - 1) % 2
text_area.text = mode_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = mode_icons[select]
if menu == 4:
select = (select - 1) % len(time_text)
text_area.text = time_text[select]
if menu == 5:
select = (select - 1) % len(shot_text)
text_area.text = shot_text[select]
if menu == 7:
select = (select - 1) % len(running_text)
text_area.text = running_text[select]
grid_bg[0] = running_icons[select]
last_pos = pos
display.refresh()
Page last edited May 13, 2025
Text editor powered by tinymce.
