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I need help on SMC3

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by SteULM, Dec 6, 2021.

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  1. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    As the title suggests, I have a problem with the motor calibration on SMC3. Following the tutorial to the letter but the green cursor of the potentiometer cannot be brought to the center, trying to bring the blue target up everything works by moving it to manual but the limits cannot be calibrated.

    SMC3Utils.jpg SMC3Utils_escursione.jpg
    SteULM, Dec 6, 2021
    #1
  2. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Just to be clear with the un-powered motors in their neutral mid position you should be able to remove the pot, turn it by hand until its line is mid graph in SMC3, then carefully reteach the pot.
    noorbeast, Dec 6, 2021
    #2
  3. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    Hi noorbeast thanks for the immediate answer, in this picture you can see the maximum excursion of the potentiometer, I can not bring it to the center



    SMC3Utils_escursione_max.jpg
    Last edited: Dec 7, 2021
    SteULM, Dec 6, 2021
    #3
  4. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    The potentiometer is a normal 10K it is not multiturn but I don't think that's the reason ....
    SteULM, Dec 6, 2021
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  5. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    As you can see from the first image, with the motors powered, by moving the cursor manually the motor behaves correctly by reversing the rotation, only that the limits cannot be adjusted to those values so far away and there is a risk of breaking the potentiometer that I am leaving not tightened.
    SteULM, Dec 6, 2021
    #5
  6. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    Additionally your Max limit is set to zero.

    Clip Input is very low.

    Clip Input Used to create a band at either limit of the target range beyond which any values sent to the SMC3 are clipped. In addition to this clipping, if the motor feedback does move beyond this range (typically through inertia), the SMC3 will attempt to brake the motors hard by driving them in reverse until they are back out of this limit zone. The value can be anything from 0-255 (however can’t be less than the current limit setting). Reverse braking is applied in the band between the Clip Input and the Max Limit settings. Reverse braking can be disabled - refer to PWMrev.

    Max Limits Used to create a band at either limit of the feedback range beyond which if the motors move (typically through inertia) the SMC3 will automatically shutdown the drivers and keep them disabled until reset. This is essentially a safety mechanism if something goes wrong. The value can be between 0-255 (however can’t be greater than the current clip setting).
    • Like Like x 1
    noorbeast, Dec 6, 2021
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  7. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    Sorry........

    I had to set those values to get the feedback travel inside the limits, if you look at the last image setting the limits correctly the potentiometer excursion stays out and the motors don't turn
    SteULM, Dec 6, 2021
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  8. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    I tried to replace the potentiometers with others of different values and I also tried to do the tests on two other PCs but with the same results ...
    Please help me. :(
    SteULM, Dec 7, 2021
    #8
  9. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    measure the actual resitance of the pot in the up and down postion

    is the feed to the potentiometer 3.3v or 5v or more ?
    Gadget999, Dec 7, 2021
    #9
  10. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    Thanks for your interest, they both measure 9.9k max and 0k min powered at 5V, but I've also tried others with different resistances and they always give the same result, the green feedback line is always shifted upwards as seen in the images above .
    SteULM, Dec 7, 2021
    #10
  11. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    what type of board are you using ? is it 5v compliant ?

    what is the voltage on the board ?
    Gadget999, Dec 7, 2021
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  12. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    I use Arduino Uno and the potentiometers are connected on pin 5V
    SteULM, Dec 7, 2021
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  13. Gadget999

    Gadget999 Well-Known Member

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    swap the feed to the potentiometers to 3.3v and let us know what happens
    • Like Like x 1
    Gadget999, Dec 7, 2021
    #13
  14. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    Unexpected error ....
    the negative pin from arduino has been disconnected !!
    Now the feedback is back in the center, thanks everyone for the help, I will update as we continue with the works.

    SMC3Utils_OK.jpg
    • Like Like x 1
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    SteULM, Dec 7, 2021
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  15. yaksnip

    yaksnip New Member

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    hi need some help green will not follow the the blue i believe i have wiring rite. thank you
    upload_2022-1-8_18-50-28.png

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jan 9, 2022
    yaksnip, Jan 8, 2022
    #15
  16. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    but if you move the potentiometer by hand, the green line moves ...?
    SteULM, Jan 8, 2022
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  17. yaksnip

    yaksnip New Member

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    yes they do
    yaksnip, Jan 9, 2022
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  18. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    And are the posts physically attached to the motors via a coupling?
    noorbeast, Jan 9, 2022
    #18
  19. yaksnip

    yaksnip New Member

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    air line tube 20220110_072650.jpg
    yaksnip, Jan 9, 2022
    #19
  20. SteULM

    SteULM Active Member

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    you are sure you have wired everything correctly.
    Could you post some pictures of the wiring
    • Agree Agree x 1
    SteULM, Jan 9, 2022
    #20
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