Scanner controller

This repo contains frontend (Vue), backend (Node + TypeScript + Socket.io + Express + SerialPort) and Arduino code for controlling a flatbed scanner and a rotating plate powered by a stepper motor.

How to run

• Make sure the scanner is plugged in and no other scanning utility is open
• Plug in Arduino (for testing, adding the stepper motor is optional)
• Run yarn start
• Open localhost:3000
• Set the options and click "Start"

There is some useful debugging info in console.

Architecture

• Frontend (hosted on localhost:3000) contains an interface to set multiple options for scanning and rotating the plate. It sends these options to backend and receives live updates on progress.
• Backend controls the scanner (via scanline cli tool) and stepper motor (via SerialPort).
• Arduino microcontroller receives commands from backend, executes them, and sends status updates back.

Arduino stepper controller

Arduino controls a A4988 stepper driver. It sets the driver to SLEEP mode inbetween running. Messages are received over USB.

Incoming messages

• cw set direction clockwise
• ccw set direction counter-clockwise
• start start the stepper motor and run indefinitely
• stop stop stepper motor
• slowspeed set motor speed to slow
• mediumspeed set motor speed to medium
• fastspeed set motor speed to fast
• 1..32767 if numeric value is sent, motor will go the specified number of steps and stop

Outgoing messages

• finished has finished executing the specified amount of steps