Tutorial SMC3 Arduino 3DOF Motor Driver and Windows Utilities

i have a question about max limits and Clip Input. a bigger number limits the range more right? so a value of 255 is the smallest range before hitting the limits right?

what if that isn't enough? when i drag the blue dot, i hit maximum mechanical range at about +/- 1/3rd of the range from center to full

i set max limit=235 and clip input=255 but the lines display at about 1/2 way between center and full. so i can drag the blue dot past the mechanical limit.

is there a way to fix that?

this problem is probably caused because the working range on my pot is about 40 degrees. it would be very difficult to change that mechanically. maybe there is a pot scaling setting someplace in the arduino code?

ah, maybe uncomment ENABLE_POT_SCALING but not sure how to use that. i looks like another pot is supposed to be connected to analog input 5, and that sets the scale value. i'd prefer to set it in software but the code is confusing. can anyone help?

thanks

@steveh2112 You are correct about the motor off/on button. This is just a reset after it stops due to max limit setting. Lower the max limit. If it goes past this it will shut off motors, they will need to be reset at upper left. I run max limit at 10. Clip limits the peaks, it "clips" or cuts the frequency, it can be used to soften the big blows like wrecks. I run clip at about 80.

Edit: turn off motors by unplugging them.

Max limit is useful in combination with PWMmax reverse.

Pot range is physically limited. You cannot scale it over 255 by doing this in a sketch, only using pots with gears or multiturn pots work at least.

This scaling is meant to reduce the output of the movement from 100%. The scaling isn't linear. More information in the manual

there's a manual? do you have a link to it please?

Addendum: I was wrong about linear and not linear, sorry.
*** NEW BETA VERSION SMC v0.7.zip AVAILABLE 12/12/14 FOR TESTING ***
Updates Version 0.7

• Added a POT scaling input that can be used to scale the motion output based on the POT position
• POT scaling can be setup as one of two modes - Linear or non-linear
• DO NOT ENABLE POT SCALING UNLESS POT ATTACHED TO ARDUINO
• AN5 used for POT scaling input
• The non linear scaling is designed to try and reduce the overall motion but maintain the "smaller" movements as best possible - ie road noise and stuff, but scale back on the huge side to side motion you get in higher power cars.

i worked out how to scale the pots in software, not pretty but it seems to work

find this line in the main loop() function
Feedback1 = analogRead(FeedbackPin1);
add the following after
Feedback1 -= 512; // STEVE Feedback1 is 10bit, 512 is center
Feedback1 *= 2; // STEVE scale range by 2
Feedback1 += 512; // STEVE

do the same for Feedback2 and Feedback3 if you need it
now your pots will have twice the effect as before
(remember to download it to the arduino)

Thanks for all of your inputs guys..

I am using cermet pots which worked like a charm before I converted to SMC3 with MM's.
Considering upgrading to the ones you mentioned @bruce stephen though.

I havent sorted it all out yet, BUT near.
The problem was noise inteferences..
Asuming the problem have been it is located in a steel cabinet where all the wires go underneath a steelplate..
I have ground isolated the GND terminal on my arduino aswell as every extra GND terminal on my MM's.
Now I run with a deadzone at 2 on the pots and I am able to run with some more power in the settings and still keep the MM's under 30 degrees.
So....
My question is. How hard can I run the MM's?
How hot is your heatsink/resistors while running?????

Thanks again for all of your previous inputs

Hello @RufusDufus, thank you very much!
I use the model 2, ask how to amend the code flip a motor direction?

i think you can uncomment
REVERSE_MOTOR1 in the arduino .ino
but i would just change the wiring so you don't have to mess with the software incase you ever upgrade

@steveh2112, thank you very much!
Ok!
Replace the Hall potentiometer, can not reverse the positive and negative polarity potentiometer.

why not reverse the motor polarity?

Tried, but the rocker arm will go to the other side

@fzxj520 swap positive and negative at the motor. This will reverse motor direction for your hall sensor. I am guessing it is running from target (blue line), not chasing it? If you need to reverse the direction for an effect this can be done in simtools. You don't need to alter the code to fix this.

Reverse through simtools can be completed. But I prefer the motor to reverse. I tried to reverse motor positive and negative, but not what I wanted.
‘REVERSE_MOTOR1 in the arduino .ino’is what I need! Great!

Swapping the two wires to the motor does the same thing and is better because you don't have to remember to change the software if there is an update.

@moaale, try setting Ks=3 and increase Kd and test. Also reduce PWMmax to somewhere around 220.

Ok try updating to smc3 Arduino version 0.70 ( you are running 0.67) also try using smc3 Windows version 1.0.0.( you are running 1.0.1). I've had crash issues with1.0.1. Version 1.0.0 runs like a dream, it just has a terminal window open

@moaale, there is too much noise on the feedback signal for some reason...

The main causes are usually, electrical noise, or mechanical vibration, or incorrect wiring.

1. Try disconnecting the wires to the motor and look at what the green line looks like in SMC3Utils, it should be smooth, no jumping around. Turn the motor or POT by hand and make sure it is still smooth. If this is not smooth maybe your POT is faulty or the POT wiring is incorrect.

2. Connect Power back to the motors, disconnect the motor arms to seat, and remove the POTs from the motor shaft. Run SMC3Utils and turn the POTs by hand. The motors will just turn continuously. Again the green line should be smooth. If it isn't then you are most likely getting motor noise back in through the feedback somewhere. maybe try putting some capacitors from the POT feedback to GND.

3. If the above two are OK it is most likely mechanical vibration or slop in the mechanical system somewhere causing the system to constantly hunt for the correct location.

(Other members - if anyone can provide a better translation than google that would be helpful.)

Can't see pics @moaale

Hy guys, one of my Motors moves in spite of setting PWMmax to "zero" (SMC3utility) (Pots are not mounted to the motor and rotated manually)... Additionally the Motor stops when green line is moved to or above the target line. As long as im under the target line the motor turns - but always with the same speed, no matter how far or close i'm away from the target line. Wiring is like shown in post 1. Using one MM per Motor and 1 Arduino uno...

I have no idea where to start to find out whats wrong