HI, I am so very new to Arduino but want to start with what I need to achieve. I'm a mechanical engineer and I have a feeling this electronic world now is so interesting its going to gobble up a huge amount of time
Have been You tubing and seems I can do what I need - but what equipment is best suited.
I can obtain 2 x Linear 12vDC 100mm stroke motors that has potentiometer feedback with limit switches each end of travel (3amps).
The first Linear motor (1) is required to stop either end - and also stop in the middle (i.e 0/50/100mm, then 100/50/0.
The second Linear motor (2) is required to only travel from one end to the other and back again (0/100/0).
Now the tricky bit (I think). Like to control these two Linear motors with one only potentiometer (two if I must?)
Gee I hope this makes sense.... as I said I can run 2 potenetiometers, but one would be so much easier (mechanically) - so what equipment do you suggest?
You have posted a solution to a problem. What is the problem?
As to what to buy... Everone's first Arduino should be an UNO. It seems like you will be controlling two 12V motors so s motor-control shield would be your next purchase. Either the Adafruit one or my favourite Sparkfun shield. The Adafruit one can run up to 4 motors but it's limited to 1.2A continuous current. That may not be enough for your actuators. The Sparkfun one can run 2 motors up to 30A.
What do you mean by control the two by potentiometer(s)?
How fast they travel, when they travel, what ratio they travel in respect to each other, does one travels when other stops mid point, how long does the one stop mid point.........?
I don't really understand what's in your mind but I am 99% certain that a 100 ohm potentiometer is NOT appropriate.
I suspect you are thinking of controlling the linear actuators directly through the potentiometer and that won't work. A potentiometer cannot pass the amount of power needed by a motor.
The usual arrangement is to use the potentiometer (10k is normal) as an input to the Arduino and the Arduino would then send a suitable signal to the driver for the linear actuator.
Post a link to the datasheet for the linear actuator.
