I've borrowed an Arduino Board and a Stepper Motor Driver [v1.1] from a co-worker just because I've always wanted to learn about mechanics and robotics. If web design had not been the proper calling for me, this is the kind of stuff that would be next on my list. Luckily I work with likeminded people who are willing to share their toys. But without picking their brains too much, I wanted to start learning this kind of thing on my own, err. through the internet. I've become fascinated with http://www.makezine.com/, everyday looking forward to seeing who comes up with what next, and what I can become inspired to build. I have a plan for something, I don't want to deluvge too much just yet, but I need to start learning how to control a couple things. A stepper motor might not be necissarily one, but I think it is a cool place to start.
I just want to take this opportunity to jot down a couple things I have already learned just playing around.
- The motor can get pretty hot, and the heatsink, touch with caution
- If you put any type of serial output inside the loop for the setup, Arduino programming will need that extra time to do what it needs to and it will screw up the speed of the motor, do all calculations outside 'spinning loop'
for (j=0; j<100; j++)
{digitalWrite(stepPin, HIGH); Serial.print("This will effect speed of motor!!!");delayMicroseconds(2);
digitalWrite(stepPin, LOW);
delayMicroseconds(i);
}
- digitalWrite(stepPin, LOW); delayMicroseconds(i); --> lower number gives you higher speed, but there is a point where it's too fast.
- Too much power from the driver board can make the motor smoke and destroy it.
This is all fun to learn. Give it a shot. I am. Just remember, you dont have to learn EVERYTHING all at once. One step at a time, or even half step.
Stepper Motor Controlled By Arduino and Potentiometer from Chris Yanc on Vimeo.
Update: I tried to wire up a floppy drive's motor. Then left the motor driver's power up too high for too long trying to get it to work. Smoke began coming out of the motor. Opps. (^_^)//
Tags: arduino, stepper motor driver
