Hello all. I am wondering about the feasibility of a project and what components I may need to acquire.
My goal is to use an Arduino Uno to control a 12V DC motor in terms of rotation direction, angle, and speed. My primary concern is achieving the desired angle, and while I know stepper motors can achieve this relatively easily, they also have the unfortunate (in my case) aspect of detent torque. As such, I would like to use a DC motor that has a built in magnetic rotary encoder. I am also looking for an appropriate motor controller (or driver?) to work with this system that is somewhat robust (my previous experience with L298N’s does not inspire faith in that outdated platform). The links for the motor and motor controller I am considering are below. Please advise.
I apologize if I was unclear. I want it to have holding torque when it is not powered which is why I want to use a DC motor with inbuilt encoder rather than a stepper motor which loses all holding torque as soon as power is shut off.
Do you have any exact motor and driver recommendations—I really don’t want to get this wrong and I am a caveman when it comes to this type of stuff.
Can you link to a DC motor that can hold the position it happens to stop at? You are describing an industrial servo motor with appropriate control board.
I don’t need anything crazy strong and I don’t have any specific torque ratings, but the 12V stepper motors I’ve used spin like ball bearings whereas I’m looking for torque closer to that of spinning a drill chuck by hand.
Every not powered stepper does like that.
Finding out the torque needed isn't that hard. Study the definition of torque!
Apply an "arm" to the load. Hang a little container under the arm and slowly por water into the container. When the load starts to move, get the weight of the container and multiply it with the length of the arm.
All I would like to know is what kind of motor driver/controller would work best with a 12V DC motor with inbuilt encoder. As I don’t have any experience with using arduino to control this type of motor, this is the part I need help with. If anyone has done a project like this before, I would like to get their advice.
Holding torque is not of any serious importance. It is simply the reason I do not want to use a stepper motor.
Thanks! However, I was under the impression that servo motors do not spin freely in 360° but are limited to 180° or 270°. Do you have any recommendations for a small (12V) servo motor that can spin freely?
ALL industrial servo motors can and do spin under control of the controller. To spin freely means no control. You are thinking of HOBBY type servos which contain a motor and a controller in a single unit. There is a difference between a "servo" and a "servo motor". No, I do not know of such a small servo as you are describing, but the servo motor and controller will cost a lot more than a hobby servo.