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Servo motor control from pc

  • 21-06-2006 9:04am
    #1
    Synkro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 118 ✭✭


    Hi,

    Has anyone here any experience with servo motors and controlling them from a pc? Im looking to automate a servo motor using the pc. Where should i start? Also looking for a supplier for a linear slide ie a track/rail system but must be constructed from plastic. The end result will be a sliding platform (20x20cm) rolling on a track/rails (length 4m) and controlled by the pc. I will also need to get positional feedback from the platform. Any ideas?


    Thanks

    Adrian


Comments

  • #2
    mustang68
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,119 ✭✭✭mustang68


    try a pic controller instead of a pc, they seem to be the direction people go with that sort of automation feedback stuff, small quick to program. Can't help you with the PC interface, sorry


  • #3
    Synkro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 118 ✭✭Synkro


    hi mustang68

    I have used pics before but for this application I'll have some script to position the platform repetitivly at different positions on the track. That part will be determined and controlled by the pc software.


  • #4
    PDelux
    Closed Accounts Posts: 296 ✭✭PDelux


    You can connect the PICmicro to the PC serial port through the USART peripheral. On the PC side then you simply open a handle to the port using CreateFile(),WriteFile() etc. API functions.


  • #5
    les-paul
    Closed Accounts Posts: 81 ✭✭les-paul


    You can use a LVDT (linear variable differential transformer) lo measure linear displacement, some ucontrollers may include circuits to retrieve the information from the transformer. This is importante because, as you will know, transformers work on AC, and the shifts produce a kind of amplitude-modulated output. Maybe you already knew all this but I thought it could be useful.


  • #6
    Zaphod
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,733 ✭✭✭Zaphod


    http://www.phidgets.com/index.php?module=pncommerce&func=categoryview&CID=7&KID=


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  • #7
    dave2pvd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,511 ✭✭✭dave2pvd


    Servo daughter board from Trio: http://www.triomotion.com/tmt2/sitefiles/home2.asp

    Don't try to engineer your own system by trying to close the loop by reading encoder position and trying to give a PID output based on a made up algorithm. Just buy a closed loop controller like the trio and tell it 'where to go'.

    What about the linear slide? It can't practically be completely plastic. A common slide would have Bosch or THK linear bearings, driven by a servo powered ballscrew. The moving parts would bolt to the moving stage. Or, bolt the stage down and the slide moves. See: http://www.thk.com/

    Can you give more info about the app? Like, inertia, overhung load?, speed, environment, accuracy/repeatability, force,.....


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