What do you think of this board? It looks like just add an ESP32 and you have a SimpleFOC solution. It says it has current sense. Do you see any negatives to this?
Hi!
That looks similar to this board that combines the esp and power stage: https://www.ebay.com/itm/155206744885?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=wjjbdy0srhq&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=YGKo3LnhT5a&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I have used this board with with SimpleFOC without issue. The current sensing works well.
How does one connect the ESP32 to the motor shield?
Yes. No documentation.
Cheers,
Valentine
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well new user here and i had the question regarding the same board MKS Dual FOC. Apparently they have minimal documentation on their github: GitHub - makerbase-mks/MKS-DUALFOC regarding schematics and arduino codes
Although its in the documentation that it works with ESP32 dev board and provides the connections for motors and sensors it doesn’t provide for connecting it to an ESP 32, strange!. However I guess Motor shield RX to ESP32 TX and ESP32 RX to Motor shield TX and connecting them to a common ground
Although i think one might need to add a heat sink since there are 2 l6234 drivers on the same chip
With that board, it can be bought with headers that can be soldered to the board to allow an esp to be used. You cannot talk to it via serial or TX/RX - it needs to have PWM commands sent to it from the ESP.
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Sorry I’m a newb in this field
Where would you think the PWM commands can be sent
Can you explain kindly where would these headers be connected or where did you connect your headers on your board
Hi @ashal
You would have to solder the ESP headers to the small pads in the middle of the board. Take a look at this post I made: https://community.simplefoc.com/t/deng-foc-board-easy-to-use/1971/7
It’s the same power stage that you have, just with an ESP already included! I highly recommend just buying that board from aliexpress. I’ve had great success in using it for my projects.
- Ben
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ah thanks @wrcman555 i guess i have 2 solder the headers to these pads and then connect the ESP32 which i already have in my uni labs
Apparently i have already ordered one form makerbase official store on Aliexpress. If it doesnt work out i’ll prolly get Deng or the ODrive. thanks again
Yep, those are the header pads to connect the esp to!
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Sorry for reviving a dead thread, but I got the documentation from the seller for the MKS Dual FOC and Dual FOC Plus. These are pretty much DengFOC.com boards made by MKS.
As this is the first page that has relevant info on a google search I thought I’d pop this here if it helps anyone as one would not expect the PLUS version to be with the lower power one:
Hello,
I just got a board very similar to this and have been searching the internet for documentation.
However, I do not have an ESP32, I have an Arduino UNO and DUE. This means I cannot use the board as a shield. Because of this, I am a bit confused as to what pins I have to plug in and if this board uses PWM or I2C.
For example, I see that the SimpleFOC open_loop_position_control example has this line of code:
“BLDCDriver3PWM driver = BLDCDriver3PWM(9, 5, 6, 8);”
I believe it uses PWM, but which pins would I plug into on the Arduino, and which pins would I plug into on the board? Which motor (0 or 1) would this correspond to? If this library uses PWM, what are the I2C/UART ports for? Encoders?
So far, I think I have to plug in the 5V and ground on the J1 part of this schematic and plug in 3 PWM cables into the Phase ports on the J2 section. If so, are the top headers J2 or is it the bottom headers?
I found limited documentation on this board, but I think this schematic matches the board I have. Any help is appreciated.
Why don’t they just pick a really good processor and put it on the board? You have to dedicate the processor anyway. There is little value in putting it on a separate board.
They made a version with an esp32 on the board itself… but then didn’t expose any pins except for i2c. Not even tx/rx, so I can’t connect my CAN transceiver to it. : / I would prefer this board, as then I can at least easily still use other esp32 functionality.
I am really glad I found this thread, I was unsure if I had wasted my money. I an learning about FOC and I purchased 2 x the version 3.2 of those boards:
SimpleFOC Shield MKS DUAL FOC V3.2 BLDC servo drive controller brushless motor driver board ESP32 plate develop card
I think it’s a great, cheap way to learn. And learn I must, my first attempt resulted in a lesson:
I assume this was more likely because I neglected to set the internal resistance of the stator(s) and number of pole pairs. The fire was green/blue…
I applied 12V to the power block, the two motors moved a little then smoke and fire.
Is it reasonable to assume this could/would have been caused by my failure to follow the instructions and not set those parameters?
I guess what I am asking is, having set the internal resistance and number of poles now, is there anything else I should consider before hooking the second one up? I’d prefer no to burn a second one.
Footnote. Things worked great on the other one after putting in reasonable values, so I guess that is lesson learned.
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Stupid newbie questions:
Why are there 2x13 pins on the FOC board, and my esp32 has 30pins?
Do I have the wrong kind of esp32?
Yeah, foolish of me. Bought the board first, then looked for documentation. Not a great way to venture into balancing robots.
I’ve been using this board but have been suffering from terrible noise on the current sense lines - turns out there’s an MKS Dual FOC V3.3 out with way better current sense amplifiers:
Will give it a test as soon as it comes in. 