MEP MAXI-85V-1-REV-2-Interface Board

An opensource firmware and software drop-in replacement for the 85V Automatic Stirrup Bender by CRS Specialties Inc. ...short story behind the name...

System Block Diagram

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Firmware

HMI - Zephyr RTOS

• It's preferred to use CLion,
• Download and install the latest version of python
• Install wget and 7Zip so that they're accessible via cmd:
  • choco install wget 7zip
• Verify python is accessible via cmd:
  • python -V
• Create python virtual environment
  • cd MetalHead\firmware\interface-board-zephyr
  • python -m venv .\.venv
• Enter python virtual environment
  • .\.venv\Scripts\activate.bat
• Update pip (optional)
  • python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip
• Install west
  • pip install west
• Initiate the Zephyr-RTOS project
  • west init
• Set BOARD to rpi-pico
  • west config zephyr.board rpi_pico
• Pull the latest commits from Zephyr's github
  • west update
• Export a Zephyr CMake package. This allows CMake to automatically load boilerplate code required for building Zephyr applications.
  • west zephyr-export

  • See: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Kitware\CMake\Packages

• Install additional packages need by west
  • west packages pip --install
• Install the Zephyr SDK
  • west sdk install
• Create a folder for bossac: C:\Program Files (x86)\BOSSA
• Copy bossac.exe to C:\Program Files (x86)\BOSSA
• Add C:\Program Files (x86)\BOSSA to PATH environment (use sysdm.cpl)
  • Make sure you can access bossac.exe. Open a new terminal and run: bossac --help
• Copy bossac.py from MetalHead\firmware\interface-board-zephyr to MetalHead\firmware\interface-board-zephyr\zephyr\scripts\west_commands\runners
• Start CLion
• Open our project: MetalHead\firmware\interface-board-zephyr\application
• Configure python interpreter for west
  • Go to File -> Settings -> Languages & Frameworks -> Python
  • Select the python interpreter from the list

To build a pristine copy of the firmware binary:.gitignore

• cd MetalHead\firmware\interface-board-zephyr
• rmdir /q /s application\build
• Go back to CLion and reload West
• Build, flash, etc

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Software

HMI - Crude Edition

This is a simple unpolished version of the HMI app that will eventually run on the orange pi. This version is mostly for implementation and testing purposes.

HMI

The polished version of the HMI app. This app version be able to accomplish the following:

• Must be able to communicate with the interface board bi-directionally
• Display all relevant information in realtime.
• Recognize user input from the custom keypad
• Offer simple 'wizards' that visually guide operators to make common shapes

Nice to have features:

• Auto-update HMI software by communicating to a remote server
• Auto-update interface firmware by communicating to a remote server
• Include a section for custom stirrup calculators/guides
• Include instructional videos on using the machinery

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Hardware

Interface Board

Keypad