Could someone tell me if this is possible or if there is a code anywhere? I want to use a Manual Pulse Generator to increment the stepper motor to turn the chuck on dividing head. I want to use a LCD display to show which angle the chuck is at from 0 - 360 degrees. So basically something that will manually turn the stepper motor and display its angular value. I feel like it can be done but not sure where to start. I'm more on the hardware side than programming. Included is a pic. Thank you
Have you got any code that moves the stepper ?
No I dont
What you want to achieve seems practicable. How do you plan to produce the pulses?
How will the stepper motor be connected to the dividing head?
Do you already have a stepper motor that is capable of turning the dividing head? If not, you need to measure the torque that is necessary to turn the head so that you can identify a suitable motor.
These links may help.
Stepper Motor Basics
Simple Stepper Code
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I was thinking a Rotary Manual Pulse Generator to produce the steps. I would have a micro stepr motor driver connected to the Arduino. I could always just use two push buttons but would rather have a MPG.
Assuming you have code that will generate the steps, I use handwheel encoders quite often, both for manual pulse generation and speed control.
Yes that is what I would like to use. I already have the dividing head. It has a 5:1 ratio. 2 Amps is plenty of holding torque for my application. I just don't know how to get LCD read out the angle based on the number of steps from the pulses.
You would need (I think) two reset buttons. One for the dividing head when it is in 'zero' position and the second to release the handwheel so it can be returned to its 'zero' position. After that, ot's just a matter of counting pulses and doing a bit of math.
Are there any kind of absolute rotary sensors that will display the angular value?
Probably. There are digital levels, digital compasses. Better ask Google.
I would like some kind of sensor or some way to display on LCD what the angle is.
aballworth:
I would like some kind of sensor or some way to display on LCD what the angle is.
I don't know if engineering suppliers provide an angular equivalent of a digital linear scale. If they do that is probably the best way to get accurate angular data.
You could keep track of position by counting stepper-motor steps and knowing the relationship between the number of steps and the angle of rotation. That's why I asked how the motor will be connected to the dividing head. However you will need some means to tell the Arduino that the dividing head is at the ZERO position so that it can count steps from that position.
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Yes that is exactly what I was thinking. Do you know of any code available that is similar to this that I can modify? Thanks.
Robin2:
I don't know if engineering suppliers provide an angular equivalent of a digital linear scale. If they do that is probably the best way to get accurate angular data.You could keep track of position by counting stepper-motor steps and knowing the relationship between the number of steps and the angle of rotation. That's why I asked how the motor will be connected to the dividing head. However you will need some means to tell the Arduino that the dividing head is at the ZERO position so that it can count steps from that position.
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This seems to work well:
http://www.mpja.com/Handwheel-Digital-Encoder-100PPR-5VDC/productinfo/33106+MI
aballworth:
Do you know of any code available that is similar to this that I can modify? Thanks.
Have you studied the links I gave you in Reply #3?
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