damn Arduino just kept logging me into my partners account even though I was using my information.... anyway here it is again sorry. I would delete the others but the form won't allow it.
I'm new to electronics and have decided to jump in with a self-playing ukulele project I've been dreaming of. I have an Arduino Mega, 4 stepper motors (drives the shafts that run along the fretboard, 4 servo motors (with 2 soft guitar pics attached at 180 intervals to pluck/strum the strings), the whole thing will be tied together with laser cut parts; cut with an endurance laser. I'm having trouble finding out what I need to actually make the mechanism be controllable and function smoothly. being new makes it hard to know what to look up. thanks for any help.
Post links to the specs of the various motors. (Use the Insert Link icon so they can be clicked.) Some pics of what you have put together so far might also be helpful.
PaulRB:
Post links to the specs of the various motors. (Use the Insert Link icon so they can be clicked.) Some pics of what you have put together so far might also be helpful.
How will the instrument be played? MIDI?
let's just start with the 4 stepper motors
Stepper motor - NEMA-17 size - 200 steps/rev, 12V 350mA
so can I just combine the grounds and go straight to the Arduino mega? Or do I need an encoder or shield?
The instrument will be played, at first, programming the steppers to push a shaft over wooden pegs that press down on the string. the first song is very simple. after it works I'm going to work on a program to convert written ukulele sheet music into instructions. that part is a totally different challenge that I will be working on with my partner.
One possible way to get started is a "RAMPS" board. It is a shield that plugs into the top of an Arduino MEGA and has sockets for six stepper drivers. They are typically used to control a 3D printer or other CNC machine but they might be a good choice any time you want to control up to six steppers.
Note: A Google search for Robot Ukulele or Robotic Ukulele turns up several existing designs. Some use servos for fretting and some use solenoids. I didn't see any that use a stepper driving a threaded rod for fretting.
damn Arduino just kept logging me into my partners account even though I was using my information.... anyway here it is again sorry. I would delete the others but the form won't allow it.