Guidance on a project (For a beginner)

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey,
I'm new to arduino, but i was hoping someone could guide me as to what things to purchase to make my project feasible.

This is what I'm hoping to accomplish.

  • I need to have 10 - 20 small motors
  • All the motors need to run separately at a specified interval
  • The motors will need to be used to wind and unwind a wire.

Hopefully I'm not asking too much and this is possible.

Thank you ahead of time for any help or advice given!

2

Hi,
Its is possible, the model of arduino is dependent on how you want to control the motors.
Do you need to know how much wire you have wound in or out?

What size, voltage and current are the motors.
What are all the inputs and output devices you will have?

Is this an artwork or processing device?
We need to know your application and can you tell us your electronics, programming, arduino, hardware experience?

Thanks.. Tom.. :slight_smile:

3

While it is possible it is a bit more complex than you might think. You need some sort of end stop sensor for both fully wound and unwound. Also don't go thinking that by turning each motor on for say five seconds they will all unwind to the same extent.
Most small motors go too fast and you will need some gearing or a motor like a stepping motor where you can control precisely how much it turns.

4

You don't say whether, or to what extent, or why the movements of the motors might need to be co-ordinated.

Do you mean "wind" as in twist or as in roll-onto-a-drum ?

You will get much better advice if you describe the whole project.

...R

5

I imagine it is like this:-

6

Grumpy_Mike:
I imagine it is like this:-

Just what I needed - an ad for "Gaviscon Double Action" :slight_smile:

More seriously it would have been nice if the OP had saved you the trouble of doing his work for him.

...R

7

bugdoctor9:

  • All the motors need to run separately at a specified interval
  • The motors will need to be used to wind and unwind a wire.

Is the interval in microseconds, milliseconds, seconds, minutes, or hours? The Arduino dies milliseconds and seconds fairly well but for microseconds you will probably need additional hardware and for hours (or days) you will probably need a clock chip since the internal clock drifts minutes a day.
I assume the motors have to travel in both directions. Do you need to control speed? Do you need to control position? Just knowing that the motors are "small" doesn't help much with knowing how to control them.