Automated Linear Actuator controlled with Adruino/Uno board?

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey guys, newbie here.

My project was to build a guitar pickup winder. While the actual winder parts/mechanics are no problem, I'm making things hard on myself by wanting to add a mini linear actuator to the chain.

My logic here is to automate the 44 awg magnet wire guide as it spools on to the pickup bobbin. I've previous wound pickups by using the ol' fingers as a guide (which is known as a scatter wind), and now I want to eliminate myself from that part of the process. Mostly, for the sake of consistency.

What I need the actuator to do is a simple repeating cycle of extend/retract, essentially guiding the wire evenly across the bobbin. Ideally, with the ability to adjust the actuator speed (it doesn't need to be on the fly).

Searching around, I've found myself a mini actuator that I feel will do the trick.

Here's the actuator

Here's the board

I've included a shot of me screwing around with what I've got...getting nowhere.... :blush:

Now the dumb questions for the experts on here:

  • Is the Uno board capable of powering and controlling that mini actuator, or am I missing a piece of hardware?

  • Does the Arduino 1.6.5 software get me in the ballpark when it comes to controlling the actuator? I'm assuming the examples like servo or stepper control are applicable to a linear actuator. But I could be totally wrong about that.

I'm I totally off base, need to ditch what I have now, and start over again?

ANY tips, suggestions, or direction pointing whould be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

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2

if you want to lay down the wire so that each strand is neatly located next to the last, then you need to move the guide in concert with the rotation of the spindle and allow for wire diameter.

all this is possible with any arduino.

spindle revolutions is easy with one sensor. accurate to +/- 1 rotation.

guide location is the result of a formula of spindle diameter and wire diameter and the wire will help keep itself tight so you the final product does not rely on super high precision. you probably could make adjustments on the fly and keep a log so you can turn your software.

you can use that stepper,
I would offer that the A4988 driver would be the most desired driver. small. offer microstepping and offers a wide variety of voltages.

the Haydon steppers are very rare and that means expensive. I would HIGHLY recommend you get a cheap stepper to play with. that tiny motor could burn up quickly.

if you are mechanically inclined, look at floppy drive CNC machines. the CD versions have a tiny stepper and a frame and a guide. it is possible you can use that for your project without too much tinkering. you might find linkes to use the driver for that motor, or you can use the A4988

http://www.ebay.com/itm/191114673825
seems that it is more cost effective to buy 5 than to buy 2 and pay for shipping.

3

I fooled around with the same project a couple of years ago. The biggest problem I had (and did not resolve) was to achieve a change in wind direction without a lag in wire movement, resulting in a excess of winds at the end of the spool and the a lack of winds as the wire finally decides to obey and rapidly moves over to where the feed head currently is. If I were to attempt this project again I would design the feed so that the feed head is very close to the spool to ensure tight control of the wire position. - Scotty

4

Dave -Thanks for the reply! I'll get those drivers, and start tinkering. That floppy drive CNC is insane. Had no idea that was possible.

Scotty - that's good advice. Maintaining a decent tension is bastard, especially when the wire is thinner than a hair. I've snapped a few in the past, with my meaty paws trying to manually increase tension while also moving across the bobbin. Which is why I'm trying to eliminate myself.