Arduino + Motor Shield. Old guy needs help.

Projects General Guidance
7

Hi, Hmmm lets see if I'm qualified to try to answer this:

  • Made motors run under computer control for > 30 years

  • 70 years old
    :slight_smile:

  • The code example looks basically good. (@GoofBallTech: Exactly what library are you using?? ) The OP will need to understand this.

  • Is your motor already physically coupled to the lines that move the slide?

The motor specs (Approximate translation of Svedish):
---------------------( COPY )--------------------------

  • Engine with 6 V / DC - Nominal voltage: Idle: Speed ??7500 rev / min, current 0.45 A
  • At max power: Speed ??6180 rev / min, current 2.1 A, 1.182 Ncm torque, 7.49 W
    ** And after the gear reduction **
  • Idle speed (4.5 V) 40 rpm
  • Idle speed (12 V) 106 rpm
    -----------------( END COPY )----------------------

So... if the mechanical load is quite low, and using a nominal supply voltage of 9 to 12 V, you seem to have a reasonable range of speeds.

Other Question ( I assume you intend to shoot a series of images as the point of view of the camera changes):

  • How will you control the camera?
  • How closely do you want to synchronize the camera position and the exposures?

So: I would suggest you also be thinking of having a encoder of some kind (maybe just a disc on the motor shaft with drilled holes and LED/Phototransistor) to know the camera position more accurately.

If you are trying to do stuff like http://timescapes.org you will need some position feedback. And then battery power to take it all out in the desert :slight_smile: So 12V sounds like a nice power supply to pick.

Tell us more as you get this "moving"..