Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: Kylepowers on February 25, 2011, 08:34:26 PM

Title: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Kylepowers on February 25, 2011, 08:34:26 PM
Question Dose the Axon or Axon 2 need a motorcontroller? If so what would you recommend and the cheapest possible?

Thanks
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: voyager2 on February 25, 2011, 09:26:26 PM
No the Axon MCUs don't have motor controllers,
we generally recommend the Sabre-tooth from Dimension Engineering $59+ P&H.
But there are cheaper ones, check the adds on the side of this page.

Also search the Robot Parts List for Motor Drivers:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_parts_list.shtml (http://www.societyofrobots.com/robot_parts_list.shtml)
  
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Kylepowers on February 25, 2011, 09:46:57 PM
Will this work with it?

http://www.robotshop.com/vex-dc-motor-controller-29-5.html (http://www.robotshop.com/vex-dc-motor-controller-29-5.html)
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: voyager2 on February 25, 2011, 10:13:26 PM
Will this work with it?

http://www.robotshop.com/vex-dc-motor-controller-29-5.html (http://www.robotshop.com/vex-dc-motor-controller-29-5.html)

I've never used that and I'm not sure how you'd wire it but it should work.
My guess is that you apply power to the red & black wires, and PWM the white wire from an I/O pin on the Axon

You might like these tutorials:

DC motors:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/actuators_dcmotors.shtml (http://www.societyofrobots.com/actuators_dcmotors.shtml)

Micro controllers:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/microcontroller_tutorial.shtml (http://www.societyofrobots.com/microcontroller_tutorial.shtml)

H-Bridges/motor divers:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/schematics_h-bridgedes.shtml (http://www.societyofrobots.com/schematics_h-bridgedes.shtml)

PWM:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/228 (http://www.societyofrobots.com/member_tutorials/node/228)


Also if your robot isn't that big you can use servos:
http://www.societyofrobots.com/actuators_servos.shtml (http://www.societyofrobots.com/actuators_servos.shtml)
Servos plug straight into the Axon
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Admin on February 26, 2011, 10:18:50 PM
You need to select a motor, to know voltage and current, before you select a motor controller. :D
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Kylepowers on March 18, 2011, 04:56:20 PM
All i Know is its a 12 volt motor.
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Admin on March 18, 2011, 05:08:58 PM
These are the motor drivers I typically use:
http://dimensionengineering.com/ (http://dimensionengineering.com/)
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Kylepowers on March 18, 2011, 05:24:55 PM
I see this one http://www.dimensionengineering.com/ParkBEC.htm (http://www.dimensionengineering.com/ParkBEC.htm) but on the end what dose the s mean by the male prong?
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Admin on March 18, 2011, 06:03:17 PM
I see this one http://www.dimensionengineering.com/ParkBEC.htm (http://www.dimensionengineering.com/ParkBEC.htm) but on the end what dose the s mean by the male prong?
thats not a motor driver . . . see the list at the top left of that site :P
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Kylepowers on March 19, 2011, 04:02:27 PM
I saw this one on robotshop.com http://www.robotshop.com/solarbotics-l298-motor-driver-kit-2.html (http://www.robotshop.com/solarbotics-l298-motor-driver-kit-2.html)
I think this will work but three questions. One it says its for brushed motors like the sabertooth controller dose it matter which motor you hook it two and if so how do you tell if it has brushed or brushless motors? Second what pins on the axon would this connect to? Third how would you begin to program this controller with the axon?
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Admin on March 19, 2011, 04:26:20 PM
Note that it says 2A. Does your motor exceed 2A?


You program the Axon with WebbotLib Project Designer. It'll tell you what pins to use.

If the motor doesn't say 'brushless', then it is brushed. Brushed motors only have two wires, while brushless will have three. Brushless motors are much more expensive.
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Kylepowers on March 19, 2011, 08:58:26 PM
ok well that solves the brushed or brushless question. When using webbotlib what would i select for this motorcontroller im not very familiar with using sorry.
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Admin on March 19, 2011, 09:13:10 PM
ok well that solves the brushed or brushless question. When using webbotlib what would i select for this motorcontroller im not very familiar with using sorry.
It'll be very obvious. Just load up Project Designer, and it shouldn't take you more than 15 seconds to figure it out - it's that easy :P
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Kylepowers on March 19, 2011, 09:23:02 PM
I get the basics but under actuators what do i select for the motor driver or dose it not matter so much?
Title: Re: Axon And A Motorcontroller
Post by: Admin on March 19, 2011, 09:46:43 PM
I get the basics but under actuators what do i select for the motor driver or dose it not matter so much?
If you are going to use the Solarbotics L298 driver, then you select the Solarbotics L298 driver from the list. Couldn't be simpler :P