Use Pi HAT via USB->FTDI Adapter

[divvi]

I've been using the Pi hat with bCNC on a Pi for a while now. I'm looking to upgrade to a x86 based SBC instead of the pi for some more horsepower. Theoretically, can I use a USB FTDI programmer and run the HAT via USB from any device?

[Bertus Kruger]

I've been using the Pi hat with bCNC on a Pi for a while now. I'm looking to upgrade to a x86 based SBC instead of the pi for some more horsepower. Theoretically, can I use a USB FTDI programmer and run the HAT via USB from any device?

Definitely!!! The hat uses the Serial pins, 3.3v , 5V and one more pin for resetting.

[divvi]

Thanks! Two more questions:

• Do you provide the schematic for the piHAT? I'm wondering why 3.3v and 5v are needed, and if I wanted to make a custom adapter board this would be very useful

• Is the reset pin only used for firmware updating? If I was to use something other than a pi (either UART directly or USB->(FTDI/CH340), can I get away with just TX,RX, Gnd, and VCC.

[Bertus Kruger]

• I'm wondering why 3.3v and 5v are needed, and if I wanted to make a custom adapter board this would be very useful

3.3V is for the level converters with the RPI (3.3V) and the ATMEGA328 (5v).

The ATMEGA is running at 5V like most GRBL boards are

[Bertus Kruger]

• Is the reset pin only used for firmware updating? If I was to use something other than a pi (either UART directly or USB->(FTDI/CH340), can I get away with just TX,RX, Gnd, and VCC.

Yes, the reset is just for uploading via the Arduino bootloader.

[divvi]

Do you provide the schematic for the Pi CNC board? If I wanted to make a custom adapter board this would be very useful