v1.3.2.: Bugfix in stepgen

An error in stepgen has been resolved in this version. Upgrading from version 1.3.0 or 1.3.1 to this version requires re-compilation of the firmware and re-installation of the drivers.

• firmware:
  • stepgen: config on the stepgen was not correctly stored on the FPGA, hence the defined stepgens were not detected by the driver and with more then 3 stepgens errors were generated if encoders were also defined in the configuration.
• driver:
  • stepgen: when using 3, 7 , 11, and so on stepgens, the encoder module would fail.

v1.3.1: Fix script `litexcnc`

The script litexcnc was not installed on all systems due to a new version of the build-system. This issue has been fixed.

Version 1.3.0

Version 1.3.0

For this version the configuration file has to be changed. The section watchdog: {} has been expanded with extra functions. See: watchdog documentation <https://litex-cnc.readthedocs.io/en/latest/modules/watchdog.html>_

• firmware:

  • watchdog: completly new watchdog. Functions can be added to the watchdog, such as a heartbeat or an enable signal. The enable signal can for example be used to disable the stepper drivers when the watchdog has detected an error. Also E-stop can be directly be wired into the watchdog, making them an integral part of the E-stop chain.
  • stepgen: the max_frequency of the stepgen can be set. The default value is 400 kHz (equal to prior v ersions). With the max_frequency and the clock frequency of the FPGA the optimal shift is calculatedensuring the maximum resolution, whilst assuring the requested maximum frequency.
  • pwm: Supports two additional modes: PWM/direction and UP/DOWN.
  • encoder: Supports counter mode.
  • gpio: Fixed bug in building firmware when all gpio are either input or output.
  • the LED and button on the 5A-75B and 5A-75E can be used in the firmware.
  • toolchain: fixed bug in detecting OS.
  • toolchain: bumped version of Litex to 2024.12.
  • toolchain: bumped version of OSS-cad-suite to 20241231.

• driver:

  • watchdog: completly new watchdog. The driver watchdog is implemented as a E-stop latch, so it can be used within an E-stop chain in the HAL. When the watchdog has bitten, it has to be actively reset by resetting the E-stop latch to resume command of the FPGA. Examples on how to tie the watchdog into HAL are provided in the documentation.
  • stepgen: Added index-enable and index-pulse. When the index-enable is HIGH and a pulse is received on index-pulse the counter of the stepgen is reset to 0.
  • pwm: the signal of PWM can be inverted.
  • all pin names are now consistently using - as seperator (i.e. index-enable instead of index_enable)

v1.2.4: Improve stepgen timings

Bugfix version to fix timings for stepgen.

• driver:

  • stepgen: Fix timings (#59). Thanks to hmnijp for testing the stepgen module with a scope.
  • stepgen: Fix check on maximum speed obeys the maximum step frequency (#59).

Release v1.2.3: Quick bugfix for cli

Version 1.2.3

Quick bugfix to solve an identation error in the cli.

v1.2.2: Bugfix version for ``encoder`` module

Bugfix version for stepgen module, which was affected by an error in the encoder module.

Due to an upgrade in the detection / comparison of the version of the firmware this version will show a
warning message if older firmware is used (NOTE: the communication has not changed, thus re-compilation is
not required). In the next minor release (i.e. version 1.3) this change will correctly enforce recompilation
of the firmware. A change in minor version (i.e. 1.2 -> 1.3) indicates a modification in communication
protocol and thus requires an update of the firmware.

• driver:

  • encoder: counts and position of encoder can be reset (#74)
  • encoder: incorrect required read buffer reported has been corrected. This affected the module stepgen (#79)
  • watchdog: the watchdog is reset when the card is reset. Prevents the has_bitten message when LinuxCNC
    is restarted without power-cycling the card. (#80)
  • Fixed showing the correct version of LitexCNC in HAL.
  • Temporary fixed comparison between version of FPGA and driver. When the minor version changes in an upcoming
    release, the driver will now correctly enforce a recompilation of the firmware.

• cli:

  • install_toolchain: Fixed issue with detection of OS on desktop. Also git and openocd are installed
    on x64-architecture systems (#78).

Release v1.2.1: Bugfix CLI for toolchain

Bugfix version for CLI on RPi images from LinuxCNC.

• cli:
  • install_toolchain: The path variable is now persisted in .bashrc instead of .profile. This will make the toolchain available in the terminal when using from desktop. Previously only SSH was working.

Release v1.2.0

Support for Raspberry Pi 5 added (using spidev only at this moment).

For this version the configuration file has to be changed. The section watchdog: {} has to be added to the configuration in order to compile the firmware. Optionally, one can specify an enable out pin. See for more information the watchdog documentation

• cli:
  • install_toolchain: OpenOCD compiled with support for the libgpiod-driver. Required for support of the Raspberry PI (#64).
  • install_toolchain: Fixed issue with 64-bit OS on RaspberryPi.
  • flash_firmware: Added configuration for libgpiod-driver. Auto-detects whether a Raspberry Pi 5 is used and changes to the new configuration in that case (#64).
• driver:
  • watchdog: Watchdog requires configuration. Optional an enable out pin can be set for the Watchdog (#65).
  • HUB75HAT: Corrected pinout (#68)
  • gpio: Fixed issue with configurations with either all inputs or all outputs (#70)

Release v1.1.1

Version 1.1.1

Bugfixes for CLI-command.

• cli:

  • install_toolchain: Resolved issue creating nested directories.
  • install_toolchain: The architecture i386 is not supported by OSS-cad-suite. When this
    architecture is detected, a clear error message will be given and OSS-cad-suite is not
    installed.

Release v1.1.0: Added support for SPI

Added new drivers for SPI communiction [48]. For current users this requires a minor modification in their configuration files. The connection entry in the config-file must be altered to include the field connection_type. See for further guidelines on the parameters for the connection, including the new SPI connection, the updates help-files.

Further minor changes:

• cli:
  • install_litex: DEPRECATED, the functionality has been transferred to install_toolchaing.
  • install_toolchain: Also installs Litex, and on a RaspberryPi also OpenOCD.
  • flash_firmware: Flashes the firmware to the LED-card using OpenOCD. Designed for flashing with a RaspberryPi, however other adapters can aslo be selected by their name.