Arduino Mega Hexapod

Hello,

I have a lynxmotion hexpod I want to convert to an all arduino version using my Arduino mega. I haven't done any servo project yet with the board though. I need to be able to connect 18 servos to my one board but there are only the 14 PWM connection locations. Is there any way for me to use the TX/RX pins or anything else to get the last four connections I need?

If not, how would add more servo control? Is my only option to parallel two boards?

thanks

jon

The Mega can drive up to 48 servos using the Servo library distributed with the latest Arduino release. It uses Mega hardware timers but not in PWM mode.

PWM pins are not used to control servo commands, PWM is used for analogWrite commands. Check out the servo library on how servos are used and how many you can drive with a Mega board. I think the limit of the servo library for a Mega board is 48 servos.

One task you will have to attend to is how you are going to power that many servos, there is not enough avalible +5vdc power from a Arduino board to do that, so an extenal power supply will be required.

Lefty