Hey all! I have a few projects in mind, but the first is a stitch regulator for my sisters quilting machine. I need to make a unit that will read two rotary (optical I believe) sensors, one on an x-axis and one on a y-axis. I would also like to add a port for a remote engage/dis-engage switch (meaning the needle and motor will not run unless it is engaged) as well as a master on/off switch. Of course I will need a power chord attached as well as a chord to connect to the original foot switch plug that I am replacing with the stitch regulator. Can you recommend what arduino board will work for this project? Also any reading or books you recommend to help me get through this. If this goes well I will adding two motors and diving into the project of making the unit move on by a computer on the x and y axis. But first I want to control the speeds.
I have a stitch regulator I have been staring at, but the problems with the cheaper models in the stores is when the unit is engaged the needle moves at a slow constant speed until you start moving the x or y axis. This is not good. I do not want the needle moving unless there is movement in the x or y axis or a combination. No movement should mean no needle moving, that is the goal. Units that work this way are out of my price range.
I saw an older post of someone working on a similar concept, but the info was a bit vague and not written clearly. Some other questions.
Once the arduino board accepts the signals from the rotary encoders x and y, it will need to be setup to compute the speed of the needle which is the third side of the triangle (I’m assuming x^2 + y^2 = speed^2). Then the unit will have to send that speed signal (which is I’m assuming an amount of current similar to pushing the foot pedal down on a regular machine) to the motor. The motor on the machine I’m using is a 1 H.P. servo motor. I believe this is an AC/DC universal motor. Thanks in advance for anyone offering information.
Trevor
