I'm making a simple device that will use two steppers: The first will only need unidirectional speed control by potentiometer. The second will need same potentiometer control for speed, with the additional ability to toggle direction. The second motor will also require another potentiometer that will uniformly oscillate direction between CW and CCW variably with increased resistance. (For example, pot at minimum gives no oscillation, increasing pot might give 5 revs CCW then 5 revs CW, then 10 & 10, then 15 & 15 etc. up to some max value at max resistance. It seems a pretty basic program, but I have no programming skills. I'm willing to pay for this coding if anyone here wants the gig, or would appreciate advice on where to go for this. Thanks!
Do you also want to pay someone to decide on the stepper motor requirement and the motor controller requirements and the physical mounting requirements for your project?
I know what size steppers I'll be using, especially the main, multidirectional one will be nema34. I have supplier for motor and 5.2A driver. Was thinking of using Arduino uno, unless something smaller will work and allow more efficient packaging. Perhaps I'll just have someone build it up for "plug and play??"
When you are ready to ask some one to program for your project, you need to supply a schematic so the program will know what is connected to each pin and the values of pots and resistors and whatever else is in your system. Same goes for powering the system.
Your program will be developed in stages, so you will need to be able to begin testing as the program is developing.
I did some programming work and one thing I found out that if the programmer doesn't have the hardware it is such a mess, especially if the person you are working for doesn't hook things up
correctly. Once I got the hardware in my hands we were off and running.
Yeah, I wouldn't take-on a project like that (1) unless I had the hardware (and specifications) in my hands. And if the hardware doesn't work that can become a big problem.
A programmer is going to charge at-least as much as a plumber or car mechanic and even a "simple" program may take more than an hour, especially if the hardware has bugs, or if the specifications aren't clear, or if you change the specs/requirements.
(1) Plus, it's not something I really want to do, and I'm not an "expert" programmer. I'm not a professional programmer either but I have sometimes programmed as part of my job.
And actually, one time I had to start the program before I had the hardware. I thought my boss was crazy but I started anyway. I did have some "similar" hardware and an "example program" for that hardware. Of course it wasn't done until I got the hardware for testing and debugging. I don't remember how much debugging I had to do but it was a pretty big program and I'm sure it didn't work on the 1st try.
Have not chosen power sources yet, open to suggestions. I'v received over a dozen proposals, thank you! Not sure how to award this job...? Thank you for any offers fron overseas, but I'm in US and want someone local.
As I see it, the tricky part is programming the variable frequency/oscillating direction potentiometer. I'd like to be able to switch this function on or off, and I'd like to use a potentiometer to increase the the frequency of oscillation with increasing resistance.
Karl
Hopefully not too off topic but do you somehow vet the person you are hiring? At least with my clients for server admin I have a track record (which can actually be seen in my work experience) vs a one-off project seems tough.
That is an excellent question. I do quite a bit of Arduino freelancing and I very frequently get a client who's already been burned by someone who took a deposit and did some work and then vanished. Or did a bad job but either didn't want to fix it or didn't have the time to do so.
I guess it's like everything else: people talk and give referrals to the ones that have done good work for them.
I get a fair number of projects from people approaching me after they've read my posts here or on other boards. I guess I sound like I know what I'm doing
