Plantmate DIY Automatic Tubing Measurement and Cutter
Firmware v2.3.0
Release date: 2026-08-13

HARDWARE TARGET
---------------
Arduino Nano / ATmega328P with the fixed Plantmate TB6600/NEMA 23 tubing
cutter wiring documented in the included User Manual.

WHAT IS NEW
-----------
- Job length can be displayed and edited in mm, cm, or m.
- Slow encoder movement changes length by 0.1 of the selected unit.
- Faster continuous movement changes length by 1 of the selected unit.
- The selected unit is saved in EEPROM.
- Physical length is still stored internally at 0.1 mm precision, so changing
  the display unit does not change or round the programmed cut length.

VERSION 2 HIGHLIGHTS
--------------------
- Measured-feed calibration based on an actual 500.0 mm feed.
- First-piece verification before the remainder of a batch runs.
- Feed-only setup jogs and a guarded blade-test workflow.
- Adjustable feed-settle, cut-hold, retract, Safe angle, and Cut angle.
- Controlled acceleration, movement timeout, explicit direction setup, and
  10 microsecond TB6600 STEP pulses.
- CRC-protected, range-validated EEPROM settings with readback verification.
- OLED layout designed for the 0.96-inch 128 x 64 SSD1306 display.

INSTALLATION
------------
1. Extract this ZIP without changing its folder structure.
2. Open:
   Tubing_Cutter_TB6600_NEMA23_200/
   Tubing_Cutter_TB6600_NEMA23_200.ino
3. In Arduino IDE, select Arduino Nano and the correct processor/bootloader.
   Many classic Nano clones use ATmega328P (Old Bootloader).
4. Install any missing libraries listed below, then Verify and Upload.
5. Read the included PDF User Manual and recommission the machine before use.

REQUIRED ARDUINO LIBRARIES
--------------------------
- U8g2 (including MUI / MUIU8g2)
- Versatile_RotaryEncoder
- AccelStepper
- Servo (included with Arduino AVR)
- EEPROM (included with Arduino AVR)

IMPORTANT SAFETY LIMITS
-----------------------
SOFTWARE STOP is not a hardware emergency stop. The fixed hardware has no
hardware emergency-stop circuit, no blade-position sensor, and no tubing
feed/presence sensor. A screen message confirms only that the controller sent
a command; it cannot prove that the blade moved or that tubing fed correctly.

Disconnect input power before clearing a jam, replacing a blade, touching the
feed mechanism, adjusting mechanical parts, or checking wiring. Keep suitable
guards installed and supervise every cycle.

COMPATIBILITY
-------------
- v2.3.0 provides mm, cm, and m. It does not provide the older ft/in options.
- Record existing settings before upgrading from v1.x and recommission the
  machine. Direct migration of all original v1.x values is not guaranteed.
- Existing valid v2.2 physical length settings remain exact and initially use
  mm until a v2.3.0 unit preference is saved.

PROJECT LINKS
-------------
Hardware kit:
https://plantmate.ca/product/diy-automatic-tubing-measurement-and-cutter-project-kit-set/

Original project article:
https://plantmate.ca/diy-tubing-measurement-and-cutter-project/

Downloads:
https://plantmate.ca/download/
