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Tronic's AMC motor motion-controller with pwm/servo output

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by tronicgr, Aug 30, 2007.

  1. madhunm

    madhunm New Member

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    Hi Ego,

    I really dont understand the intent of your post. Just because this is my first post, it doesnt mean i dont know anything about motion platforms.

    I have built motorised joyriders for my friends; just was never convinced about the immersion. I hold a private pilot's licence and definitely know what I am talking about.

    as regards Thanos' joyrider, I have nothing but praises for it.

    the price here (in India) for a used geared AC servo drive depends on how much you are willing to wait. the price here ranges from about INR5000 (75 Euro) to about INR10000(150 Euro) for a 2 week wait. and the crossjoints here are auctioned by a governmet outfit that refurbishes the sims used by the airforce.

    money definitely does matter... if it did not, i wouldt have registered here... i would have bought a commercial platform. its just that i know how and where to source parts locally and cheaply.


    thanks,
    madhu.
  2. tronicgr

    tronicgr

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    So can you find AC drive controllers matched for those AC motors too? That cheap?

    And your plans are to make 6DOF platform? Of what dimensions? Small to be able to lift a light cockpit with one person on it or larger for two persons and full cockpit?

    Regards, Thanos
  3. madhunm

    madhunm New Member

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    Hi Thanos,

    The proces i said included the controller. and the 6DOF platform is desired to have a load capacity of about 250Kg, and the dimensions within 4m3 (approx 1.5m * 1.5m* 1.8m)

    Thanks,
    Madhu.
  4. tronicgr

    tronicgr

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    Hi Madhu,

    So in worst case you could have a decent 6DOF platform with 1000 euro????

    Wow!!! Thats amazing! I wish I had same prices here! :clap:

    To the point... Do you have the model number of the AC drive controllers? Or any Datasheet of them? I'd like to see how easy is to drive it with my electronics without going into special (and expensive) solutions...

    Regards, Thanos
  5. adgun

    adgun Active Member

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    Hi

    Thanos how much speed/force/travel/do you need?


    regards Ad
  6. egoexpress

    egoexpress Active Member

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    Then have a look at this youtube vid of a NASA simulator.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVWYgNIw-28
    Perhaps you will be convinced that a 6DOF platform, like you are going to build, wont 'cut it' as well, then^^

    I wont contend with you about 6DOFers being way more immersive than 2DOFers, as it is obvious. Nontheless I disagree with you, that it isnt worth to build a 2DOFer for those who cannot afford the parts for a 6DOFer, or have not enough space for such a beast.

    It worried me that you marked the motorised joyrider in a frivolous kind as not worth to build. For most of the guys here in the forum a small 2DOFer will be the biggest construction they will ever be able to afford. Such posts like yours contribute to disencourage especially new members. And as I said, though their restricted movements 2DOFers are able to make alot of fun, and are at least better than zeroDOF^^
    Especially for car racing sims 2DOF are really immersive enough, if the acutators are fast and strong enough.
    I hope my intention it clear now.

    Please dont take it personnally, I just wanted to enlighten my point.
    Anyway, Welcome to our forum. I hope to see your progress soon! Congrats that you have access to that cheap parts :thbup:

    I'm curious to see some pics of them.

    Regards
    Christian
  7. promy

    promy New Member

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    @tronicgr: what kind of lcd can i connect to this board?
  8. tronicgr

    tronicgr

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    Hi Promy,

    You can use any 2x16 parallel LCD that has HD44780 controller.

    Regards, Thanos
  9. promy

    promy New Member

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    Hey tronicgr,

    I finished building the board, but i was wondering about the serial connection:
    do i have to use a straight cable or a null-modem linked one? (the last one is crossed)

    By the way, your board looks super!! can't wait to test it!
  10. RobiD

    RobiD New Member

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    Can you post some pics Promy


    David
  11. tronicgr

    tronicgr

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    You need a straight cable, also knows as extension serial cable!!

    Any photos of your boards? :cheers:

    Regards, Thanos
  12. promy

    promy New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
    2DOF, DC motor, Arduino
    I tried programming the atmega, and it worked perfect!
    I used the hex for 18MHz crystal with 22pF as stated in the part list.
    The lcd attached is a 2x16 (DEM16216)

    Thanks thanos for the nice layout
    now for the H bridges...and the seat ;-) looks like i know what to do during the holiday in 2 weeks!
    below a picture of my board

    (ps i had a problem with the lcd, but seems it was missing one connection(bad solder))

    Attached Files:

  13. egoexpress

    egoexpress Active Member

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    Hey Promy, good job! :thbup:

    Regards
    Christian
  14. promy

    promy New Member

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    My Motion Simulator:
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    I still have one (well for now :D ) question...
    When i put power on the board, the multiturn resistor, gets really hot, and i do not get any response from the pots.
    Does anyone have any idea why this is so?
    the switches are set to (1-4) on-off-on-off
    the display shows on the first line: 128 128 10231023 and it does not change when turning the pot
    The pot is a 100KA linear pot, slider and +2 / gnd is connected correct
  15. tronicgr

    tronicgr

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    Hi Promy,

    It seems to me as short circuit or something. Perhaps you have not connected the legs of your feedback potentiometers on the correct pins on the ADC ports.

    Starting from the pin that is towards to the ATmega8535 chip the ACD port pin-out is:

    __
    __| - wiper input , +5V , Gnd
    __| - wiper input , +5V , Gnd
    __| - wiper input , +5V , Gnd
    __| - wiper input , +5V , Gnd
    .
    .
    .

    Another simple test you can do, is to un-connect all the pots and touch the wiper inputs with your finger. You should see random values appear on the LCD instead 1023. If you still see 1023 values after you disconnected the pots then its because of short circuit!!! Normally with unconnected pots you should see ADC values of around 500 - 600 appear on the LCD.

    Also try to screw the 10K multiturn pot to the other end cause maybe its blocking entirely the ADC range with its current position value! This multiturn pot is used to limit the range of the ADC to lower values than 5volts.

    Regards, Thanos
  16. zaphod42

    zaphod42 New Member

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    Hi, Thanos, I am rebuilding my 2DOF 'down under' to add another DOF, linear forward and backwards, for aditional rapid acceleration/deceleration and crashes.

    In doing so i'm also moving from the velleman interface to an AVR board. Do you write the code in C or ASM? Why I ask that is because I have some ATmega128 dev boards that I would like to use and I need to change the code , ( different I/O pins ect) . Could I get the code via PM?
    If not could I get the AMCv1.5 PCB file in protel format or similar so I can change the programming socket to the standard JTAG 10 pin dil header. (AVRprog)

    Thanks Rocky. :thbup:

    Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
    Albert Einstein
  17. Jeroen

    Jeroen DoctorXeno

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    Hi Thanos,

    My frame is finished and i'd like to start on your avr-controler and h-bridge...

    But wich version should i build? I'm a little confused and don't wanna make mistakes.

    Thanks so far,
    Jeroen
  18. promy

    promy New Member

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    Hey Thanos, found my problem... i seem to have misread and soldered a 10ohm multiturn resistor instead of a 10K, changed them and it all worked.
    I'm just waiting for the rest of the components for the H bridge now...
    Thanks for the help!!

    @Jeroen: what did you use for the pivot point? Can you post some pics? (or drawings :) ) Thanks!!
  19. egoexpress

    egoexpress Active Member

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    @Promy

    I dont wanto to go OT in Thanos thread, but to answer your question regarding the pivot. You could use such a rubber machine foot / silent block.
    [​IMG]
    They are quite cheap. Try to grab a M10/M12 one for approx 300-400kg.

    Regards
    Christian
  20. Jeroen

    Jeroen DoctorXeno

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    Hi,

    I used used the following...

    Attached Files: