As I’m setting up a Manta M8P board and I’m ready to put in a printer.cfg, I looked at the generic sample and it has the following:
[stepper_z]
step_pin: PD7
dir_pin: !PD6
enable_pin: !PF10
microsteps: 16
rotation_distance: 8
endstop_pin: ^PF5
position_endstop: 0
position_max: 270
# Motor4
# The M8P only has 4 heater outputs which leaves an extra stepper
# This can be used for a second Z stepper, dual_carriage, extruder costepper,
# or other accessory such as an MMU
#[stepper_]
#step_pin: PD3
#dir_pin: PD2
#enable_pin: !PD5
#endstop_pin: PC0
#...
I put in the [stepper_z] information to show what’s expected and put in for a stepper.
When I look at the comment for motor4, it doesn’t match any of the documentation and, when I look at the schematics, it is wired identically to the other seven stepper drivers. The pin definitions are correct.
Nope. The same commented out code is there in the generic cases (ie basic boards) but generic-bigtreetech-manta-m8p-v1_0-voron2.cfg uses motor4 (as [stepper-z1]) as expected.
It’s not a big deal, just strange as I have no idea where the comment comes from for the stepper. Could the sample/generic config have been copied from elsewhere and the motor comment was left in without it being checked?
Actually I’m not really sure what kind of secret Motor 4 conspiracy you are following, Myke
For me it looks like common practice that a lot boards are following, to enumerate:
X Axis – Y Axis – Z Axis – 2nd Z Axis – Extruder – Whatever 1 – Whatever 2 …
Motor 6, 7 and 8 are equally commented out and as such just for reference.
# Motor4
# The M8P only has 4 heater outputs which leaves an extra stepper
# This can be used for a second Z stepper, dual_carriage, extruder costepper,
# or other accessory such as an MMU
#[stepper_]
What does this comment mean? I don’t see any “extra stepper” in the schematics or in any of the documentation.
Maybe I have a daft day today.
These are generic boards and you can connect any stepper-function to any port as long as you correctly reflect it in the config.
The unwritten standard is the sequence X, Y, Z1, (Z2), E. For me this is just a hint at this fact. Anyway, I agree it seems a little displaced.
It’s simple math. XYZ is 3 steppers. You have 5 more steppers available, but only 4 heater outputs for 4 hotends/extruders. This means you have 1 more stepper than you have heater outputs.
