Multiple arduino

[Sekai1942]

Hi. Could multiple arduino talk to each other for more inputs and outputs? I need like 52 pins for input and 52 pins for output and 2 analog input.
I have a Mega2560 and several arduino nano.

[snelweg]

What about this:
https://store.mesanet.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=83_85&product_id=291&sort=p.price&order=ASC

[Sekai1942]

I would like to use the current ones.
But the 52 output are led could the Ws2812 work? I mean on/off?

[snelweg]

ws2812 only uses one pin for data and power supply of course.

[Sekai1942]

ok thanks

[blion497-droid]

Why do you need mutiple ones? Depending on the subject it might make sense to go with mutiple communicatin with another.
For a project I needed that so I went with one master and two slaves.
The s1 ran code for displays and buttons and the on the s2 ran code for games and the m coordnitaed it all.
If something similar is your case I recommend rather buying an ESP32 to make it way easier and more neatly fitted.

[Sekai1942]

I want to iluminate my panel where the buton are. There are 52 butons in total.

[AlexmagToast]

I want to iluminate my panel where the buton are. There are 52 butons in total.

I actually did the same thing on my machine. https://youtu.be/KNnIgD2FOmk?si=HWYrDlal-xrEUcr8&t=199

[AlexmagToast]

Hi. Could multiple arduino talk to each other for more inputs and outputs? I need like 52 pins for input and 52 pins for output and 2 analog input. I have a Mega2560 and several arduino nano.

Hi, sorry for the late reply.
May I ask what exactly you want to drive with the Pins?
You can actually just create multiple instances of arduino-connector and connect each Arduino by a individual USB Cable.
If you want to drive LEDs with your Arduinos i'd reccommend looking into digital LEDs. This way you can drive hundreds of LEDs with one Pin only. I made a Video to explain how it works: https://github.com/AlexmagToast/LinuxCNC_ArduinoConnector?tab=readme-ov-file#support-of-digital-rgb-leds-like-ws2812-or-pl9823

[Sekai1942]

I have limited usb slots.only 4 usbs.
So i did a rs232 to ttl converter to arduino mega 2560.

[blion497-droid]

With limit usb slots I´d go with batterys. Currently Im at work so I cant figure out which LEDs I´d go with or a definitive sketch, I´ll try to give one right after
But rn i´d suggest you try to remodel your project that way that ou can run it on 6 AA Batterys. Put em in a row and sit an Elko between vin and the power source that way it ensures a stable current
Atleast I get some projects working like that. And yes I know there will be a pit more than the ideal 5v with all of them fully powered but after one or more lose some, you get it. Also the vin has a little converter inbetween so it delivers a safe flow
Atleast to my knowledge
sorry for my bad english im german

[Sekai1942]

Hmm about the power source.
I would directly power 5v from the pc power supply.
Its short like 300mm of cable

[snelweg]

I bought several of these and they work very good.
Just add 3 or 6 18560 cells and you have a ups kind of solution. You can constantly have them connected to a 12v charger. When there is no charger connected the power comes from the cells. I use these for my switches and router in the network. Started to use them with my domream ws2812 solutions and that works also excellent.

DC UPS 5V 9V 12V Output 6x 18650 Battery Uninterrupted Power Supply DIY Power Bank Box for House Router Cellp... https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005008178321162.html?channel=twinner

DOMRAEM ESP32 USB-C WLED Digital LED controller RGB IC DIY APP 16A fuse Works with HA/MQTT/Alex WS2811/12/12B/... https://nl.aliexpress.com/item/1005009472679323.html?channel=twinner

[AlexmagToast]

yeah but in a CNC Machine Batteries to Power the LEDs? I don't get how that makes sense....

[blion497-droid]

Oh sorry I got confused

[AlexmagToast]

For 52 LEDs I'd definetly go with digital LEDs such as Ws2812 or PL9823 (which i used).

[AlexmagToast]

If you don't want to switch the Lamps that you already have, you could also Multiplex them, this is also supported by the software.

[Sekai1942]

I really wanted at first to put a rotary encoder so that i have less butons. I mean like choose from mode jog,mdi auto, edit etc. But it would skip sometimes a step and it does not remember the mode when the program starts.

[AlexmagToast]

yes, I did not implement this yet. You could use a selector switch, that has as many positions as you need. When you don't have enough Pins you could wire it Up like I did and drive it with just one Analog Pin. Also the cheaper Variant is to use a Potentiometer, that however won't have the mechanical Feedback of the Position.

[Sekai1942]

Yes. I did put the potentiometer on feed overide and spindle overide. I did not find an 20 position selector switch that is small like max height 20 mm.
The weird thing is the analog input is to 0 to 1023 and i have to use the scale settings. I would really help if the next version could be like 0 % is 0 and 100% is 100 for a 1 to 1 ratio.

[AlexmagToast]

There is a Feature called LPoti, which is what I used to simplify the wiring of Selector Switches. You could instead use a Potentiometer and the Software will divide the Poti Range into Positions, set by you. This way you could get 20 Positions with one Pin.
20 Positions might be a bit to many with this approach tho, you should test it first.

[Sekai1942]

I will try.thanks