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Tutorial SPS - Sabertooth Packet Serial PID motor driver sketch w/SoftStart

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by BlazinH, Nov 10, 2016.

  1. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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    Thanks, the reason why I can move the hall sensor is because of the elastic I'm using as transmission belt but if I install a non elastic and toothed belt that union is rock solid but the problem stills so it not seems to be the problem.

    Electrical interference is plausible but I do everything to try to mitigate it with no success, not only it didn't go away nor hsn't improve a little so the problem comes from somewhere else.

    As I showed in my last post I discovered that if I move the hall sensor the movements are completely clean so maybe the problem comes when the commands comes from the PC trough the USB Cable and it is taking interference. I try running SMC utils on another PC but the same problem with the same USB cable.

    I bought a good USB cable that maybe tomorrow will arrive. I'll get a try
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    USB can also relate to what else may share a controller: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/simtools-usb-issues-can-cause-crashes.313/
    • Useful Useful x 1
  3. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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    Well, I'have tried with two new and different shielded 2.0 cables but the problem does not go away. Even if the Arduino is the only thing connected to the PC.

    I also bought a USB 2.0 PCI card but I misunderstood the connection and is not compatible with my motherboard. Another possible solution is connect the arduinos to a powered hub to avoid the MoBo power it (I read something like that in a Arduino forum).

    How it is possible that if I move manually the hall sensor to see how the motor try to correct the position the motor runs well, without noise, smooth, as expected BUT if the commands comes from the PC it starts to run bad as s**t. In one hand I'm happy to see the motors&Sabertooth combo runs well but when the rig have to work with the PC it starts to troll me.

    There must be a solution I'm sure
  4. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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    Hi again, is there an alternative code to manage the Sabertooth 2x60? I asked to Wanegain to know if his code is good for the 2x60 but without response.

    Yesterday I tested the "manual" moves with some load (55 Kg) to see how it performs and the motors works good, without that weird oscillate movements. The noise is present even if the motor is off (and then when the motor is on and moving the noise magnifies) so EMI from the motor seems not be the problem

    Surely I'll unmount a motor and will do tests in a bench to see how will be its behavior
  5. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Here are the FAQ Sabertooth code options: https://www.xsimulator.net/community/faq/arduino-codes-for-sabertooth-2x25-2x32-etc.137/
  6. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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  7. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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    Well, I tried all of the codes for Sabertooth less the LCD one because it needs invest in touchscreen and I feel it is a little bit complicated to configure but mostly because I don't think it will solve the problem while the other codes doesn't solved it at all.

    I bought a PCIe USB 2.0 card and checked it is driven by USB 2.0 controller (the built in 2.0 ports are driven by 3.0 controllers) and It didn't help, the problem stills.

    If I move the hall sensor manually the motors drive smooth and silent, If the movement comes from commands from Simtools/FlyPT (meaning from USB) the yellow signal is completely noisy like a mountains.

    Tried all:

    Different USB cables: shielded, with ferrite cores, longer, shorter, 2.0, 3.0.
    Different USB ports: 3.0 and 2.0 built in, and 2.0 dedicated PCIe card.
    Shield and manage all the wires.
    Ferrite cores in all the wires.
    Coaxial cables for serial signals.
    Run it with power supplies and with batteries.
    Run it with and without load
    Configured infinite combination of parameters in SMC utils
    Tested in different PC (even with a Mac running a virtual machine)

    I'm very frustrated
  8. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Can you please post pictures of all of your settings.
  9. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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    As I mentioned in these previous posts nothing changes whatever the settings are, in the attachments you can see the settings.


    Do you need to know other settings?
    Last edited: May 7, 2024
  10. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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    Here an example of the problem:

    smc_settings1.PNG

    No matter what changes I do, the problem does not change. The only way is decreassing Kp to a value so low that the motor can't lift anything
  11. Josh_Possa

    Josh_Possa Active Member

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    Hey, finally I found the problem and the solution. The pin from pin 8 to GND to reduce the speed from 500000 to 115000. I tought that I only need to do a pulse signal and few days ago I dicovered the jumper needs to be kept there
  12. _cOdaC_

    _cOdaC_ Member

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    What wire size is suggested for the connection between the sabertooth (here 2x32) and the capacitors?