TMC module without TMC driver

[mohamedhamdiahmed]

Can I use a TMC2209 module (EN, step and direction pins) without enabling the TMC driver in the additional modules in the additional modules? If yes, will be the stepper motion is smooth and silent as would be expected from TMC module?
Edit: If no, Can I use 74HC595 pins as UART?
Also, what is the difference between software and hardware UART?
I will be using ESP8266 NodeMCU with 74HC595 ICs.
Thank you.

[Paciente8159]

You can use the TMC2209 in standalone mode without the TMC module. In standalone mode the TMC will basically be like an A4899 but more silent.

About the 74HC595 has a software UART pin..currently yes it's possible...but I was planning on removing that possibility to make the shift register more responsive for step generation.
It is still possible to do it, but would require to create a customized SOFTUART that updates the extended pin on each change.
I'm still thinking a bit on how I should tackle this.

About the ESP8266...there is (still experimental but promising) new branch that uses the SPI port and the new shift register module (supports both output pins via 74HC595 as well as inputs via 74HC165). Besides 3 pins for the SPI signals 1 additional pin for the 74HC595 (optional) and 1 for the 74HC165 (optional)

[mohamedhamdiahmed]

Hi. Sorry for being late. I have been busy with life 😆
I have tried your config and it worked fine except I am not sure how to wire the limit switches. you disabled the internal and external pullup resistors for the limit switches and the probe and I am not sure how to wire them.

Regarding the TMC_driver module, I tried to use software UART and UART2 (TX only on pin 2) but the build failed despite following the instructions mentioned in the TMC driver module page.
Here's the config (uCNC config (2).zip)

[Paciente8159]

I will take a look tomorrow

[mohamedhamdiahmed]

Changing BAUDRATE2 to BAUDRATE in tmc_driver.c, I get the following error:
Compiling .pio\build\ESP8266-Wemos-D1-R2\src\uCNC.ino.cpp.o
In file included from uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc_driver.c:23:
uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc_driver.h:71:2: error: #error "UART2 needs to be detached from main protocol and must have buffer enable"
71 | #error "UART2 needs to be detached from main protocol and must have buffer enable"
| ^~~~~
uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc_driver.h:144:2: error: #error "UART2 needs to be detached from main protocol and must have buffer enable"
144 | #error "UART2 needs to be detached from main protocol and must have buffer enable"
| ^~~~~
uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc_driver.h:217:2: error: #error "UART2 needs to be detached from main protocol and must have buffer enable"
217 | #error "UART2 needs to be detached from main protocol and must have buffer enable"
| ^~~~~
Generating LD script .pio\build\ESP8266-Wemos-D1-R2\ld\local.eagle.app.v6.common.ld
In file included from uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc.c:20:
uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc.c: In function 'tmc_set_microstep':
uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc.h:46:77: warning: 'ms' may be used uninitialized in this function [-Wmaybe-uninitialized]
46 | #define SET_FIELD(reg, mask, offset, value) ({(reg) &= (mask); (reg) |= ((((uint32_t)value)<<(offset)) & (mask)); })
| ^
uCNC\src\modules\tmc_driver\tmc.c:473:10: note: 'ms' was declared here
473 | uint8_t ms;
| ^
Changing TX of UART2 from pin 2 to pin 15 doesn't make a difference.

[Paciente8159]

Usually communication ports are dedicated to handle the main communication protocol.
To free them and allow them to be used in other situations you need to detach them first.

Simply add this option to one of the override file (boardmap_overrides.h or cnc_hal_overrides.h file)

#define DETACH_UART2_FROM_MAIN_PROTOCOL

[mohamedhamdiahmed]

The build was successful with hardware SPI and Hardware UART2. Didin't upload yet. Probably will be able to next week.
I appreciate your efforts.