Society of Robots - Robot Forum

Electronics => Electronics => Topic started by: fire_bird on May 27, 2009, 05:27:33 PM

Title: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: fire_bird on May 27, 2009, 05:27:33 PM

i have the exact idea of what i want but i dont know what type of usb servo controller board to use.  i want to hook it up to my laptop that has a camera and use roborealm.  i just dont know what board would be best to use for this.  plz give me suggestions of what you think i could use.  thank you in advance.

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: airman00 on May 27, 2009, 05:54:48 PM

SSC-32
http://www.lynxmotion.com/Product.aspx?productID=395 (http://www.lynxmotion.com/Product.aspx?productID=395)

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: fire_bird on May 27, 2009, 06:14:00 PM

do they have one but for usb or not? or is this the better way to go?

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: SmAsH on May 28, 2009, 12:37:15 AM

most laptops do have serial ports so why not?
look up on some usb servo controller boards...
most will do fine, how many servos did you want to control?

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: jakx12 on May 28, 2009, 03:24:58 AM

as i use a mac it doesnt have a serial port so get a serial to usb wire converter thinggy if you really want :P

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: SmAsH on May 28, 2009, 05:45:23 AM

if you are using a mac make sure you check that the usb board has compatible software for macs.

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: jakx12 on May 28, 2009, 04:09:46 PM

oh sorry i use a mac, but iv portioned my hardrive so i have windows on it and the serial to usb comes with software. I suggest this : http://www.basicx.com/Products/usb1/usb1.htm (http://www.basicx.com/Products/usb1/usb1.htm)

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: fire_bird on May 28, 2009, 06:29:45 PM

i just need to control 2 servos for my prototype, later the paintball gun that its going to move is going to be heavy so i'm going to need stepper motors. will the circut board work for those too? and i'm going to need a usb converter b/c for some reason my laptop doesnt have a serial port =(..  THANKS EVERY1 FOR YOUR HELP SO FAR!

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: SmAsH on May 29, 2009, 02:22:03 AM

servos and stepper motors are two completely different things,
servos have 3 wires...
steppers have 4-6 wires...
a servo is a basically just a dc motor with a gearbox, feedback and controller circuit built in.
a stepper is a motor with 2/4 electromagnets built in and it turns them on one after the other spinning the magnet in the middle.
steppers are much more accurate than servos but are much more expensive,
look up info for both and decide which you want.
if you need speed i would say go for dc motors with controllers...

Title: Re: direct usb-computer controlled robot help
Post by: fire_bird on May 29, 2009, 09:45:27 PM

ok thanks, i'll just probly get bigger servos for the actual project after its prototype tenks for your help