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Equipment/Knitting Machine: Difference between revisions

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Equipment/Knitting Machine (view source)

Revision as of 10:45, 5 November 2013

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[[File:Knitter-USB-cable.jpg|thumb|right|USB Cable]]
[[File:Knitter-USB-cable.jpg|thumb|right|USB Cable]]


The knitting machine supports an optional Tandy floppy drive, but some clever hackers have worked out how to emulate this floppy drive using a USB-serial cable. We have a functioning USB cable for this machine (as documented [http://daviworks.com/knitting/cable_tutorial.html here]).  
The purpose of connecting the knitting machine to a computer is so you can knit a two-colour pattern from a bitmap image. This is much easier than using the mylar sheets.


To store/retrieve patterns using the USB cable, check out [http://learn.adafruit.com/electroknit/ ladyada's excellent tutorial]. The knitting machine used in this tutorial is a slightly different model to ours - the equivalent button to "step" is "M". Although ladyada's instructions are the easiest to follow, her version of the python emulator code doesn't work with our KH-950i as ours is a 32bit machine (not 16bit). For this reason, have a look at [http://www.kentfield.co.uk/hacking_the_brother_950i.html Sally Kentfield's work]. We've tested it with our 950i and released some bug fixes to her python code - [https://github.com/chixor/knitting_machine you can find our version here].
You will need:
* Follow [http://learn.adafruit.com/electroknit/ ladyada's excellent tutorial] (her 930 is older than our 950i, the equivalent button to "step" is "M")
* Our hacked USB to FTDI cable (Created by [[User talk:Russ|talk]] using the tutorial [http://daviworks.com/knitting/cable_tutorial.html here]). You can find the cable in the knitting machine crate on the craft area shelves.
* Our modified version of the python floppy drive emulator [https://github.com/chixor/knitting_machine available to download here]. Ladyada's 930 is a 16bit knitting machine, our 950i is a 32bit machine so changes had to be made. Shout out to [http://www.kentfield.co.uk/hacking_the_brother_950i.html Sally Kentfield for her support].
 
This codebase is in active development by [[User:Chixor|Chixor]] ([[User talk:Chixor|talk]]). Current work includes:
* Upgrading to multi-colour
* Accept the most common image formats (png, jpg, gif, bmp)
* Any width and height images (not restricted to 60x150 grid)
* A much improved user interface


Best talk to [[User:Russ|Russ]] ([[User talk:Russ|talk]]) if you have problems with the USB cable. Have a chat with [[User:Chixor|Chixor]] ([[User talk:Chixor|talk]]) if you have problems with the python script.
Best talk to [[User:Russ|Russ]] ([[User talk:Russ|talk]]) if you have problems with the USB cable. Have a chat with [[User:Chixor|Chixor]] ([[User talk:Chixor|talk]]) if you have problems with the python script.
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