Something I noticed is that the controller sometimes takes a connect, then a disconnect, then a connect in order to get connected.

So:
1. Open the serial port window
2. select a com port (any one) and wait a couple of seconds
3. select "no serial port" and wait a couple of seconds
4. select the COM4 and wait a couple of seconds.

I think it depends on which state the controller is in when it starts, whether it plays nice or not, so this little back-and-forth shakes something out.

Give that a shot. Other thing: You can only have one connection open to the serial port at any time, so if you have the arduino IDE connected with it's serial port monitor open, then the Polargraph controller won't be able to connect.

Last thing - the com port is obviously working because you managed to flash the firmware successfully. In the Arduino IDE (or is it a chipkit ide?), can you connect ok to the board using a serial monitor, and see it do it's READY ... READY polling?

Well done in getting this far 🙂

sn

Hi yes, the "tested ok!" note means it has been tested with v1.2.2, but you're right, the server actually runs on the arduino board. No code runs on the Polarshield, it just provides features that the arduino can use.

A lot of people get here via instructables (http://www.instructables.com/id/Polargraph-Drawing-Machine/) and the difference between the firmware and the controller is explained clearly there so I admit I've not done it elsewhere - sorry about that.

The version you'd need is polargraph_server_polarshield (https://github.com/euphy/polargraph_server_polarshield), there is only one version for this, targetting Arduino MEGA 2560. The chipkit MAX might be similar enough that it works out the box, but you might have to use the chipkit libraries instead of the Arduino ones (UTouch and UTFT). If you baulk at that, drop me an email and I'll send a pre-programmed MEGA 2560 compatible board as a rescue package!

The firmware is included in the polargraphcontroller software bundle if you want to give it a shot. If nothing else, you should be loading some example pieces of firmware into the chipkit to make sure it actually works.

sn

I am discovering that Polargraphing is a non trivial pursuit but very interesting.
I tried compiling the Polargraph server code for my Chipkit MAX32 but the availablememory routine doesn't compile because of hardware differences.

I bit the bullet and bought a Mega2560 board and after more stuffing around I could complete my build and fired the beast up last night.

I now have the problem that I have limited movement so anything I try to draw is just a black blob. I can manually move the gondola to any position on my board using the manual adjustments but the Polargraph controller has very restricted movement. I cannot adjust the step multiplier to 8 as suggested because it is stuck on "1" I can change any other parameter but not that one and think it may be the cause of my problem.

Can you make any suggestions ?. I am running the controller from Processing as I could not get either 32/64 bit applications to run.

The step multiplier number spinner does work, it is just less sensitive than some other spinners with wider ranges.

All settings can also be changed directly by editing the default.properties.txt file.

sn