I am working on a Useless Machine. Almost everything is going fine. I found a code to use with it. I can connect the arduino uno to a breadboard and the two servos to that without a switch and the servos move like they're supposed to moving from on action in the sketch to the next, then it starts all over. I can put the switch in the loop and turn the power on and off, which restarts the sketch at the beginning every time I turn the switch on. Here is the link to the code, https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/viorelracoviteanu/useless-box-with-arduino-d67b47. I don't have the servos set up in the box yet so there isn't a hand shutting the switch off. I tried to do that myself but every time the sketch just starts over. The problem I am having is getting the switch connected to a pin (#2) to run the sketch like it's supposed to. I used a 10k resister in the setup. Some how I don't think I am wiring the switch right to the pin. I have looked at a lot of videos and schematics but can't figure it out.

This is usually done without an mcu, just a battery, switch, motor, and return spring. The switch comes on, starting the motor that advances against the return spring until it hits the switch, stopping the motor and allowing the return spring to reset to 1st position.

See this example: [image] Share tips you have come across General Electronics Project construction life cycle When you start designing an Arduino project from start to finish, you need to have a plan. Once you have decided what you want to make, scale drawings and component selection is a must. For scaled drawings, a 3D computer program like ‘Sketchup Make’ is great but there is a learning curve that you must achieve. There are lots of YouTube Videos you can review to gain the skills needed to draw your scaled drawing. Here we will be making a ‘Useless Box’ designed a… [image] Share tips you have come across General Electronics Flush cut, down cut, spiral router bit. [Box1.jpg] [Box2.jpg] [Box3.jpg] [Box4.jpg] [Box5.jpg] [Box6.jpg] [Box7.jpg] [Box8.jpg] [Box9.jpg] [image] Share tips you have come across General Electronics [BoxA.jpg] [BoxB.jpg] [BoxC.jpg] [BoxD.jpg] [BoxG.jpg] [BoxH.jpg] [BoxI.jpg] [BoxE.jpg] [BoxF.jpg] [image] Share tips you have come across General Electronics PDF for the UselessBox schematic and the sketch is attached below. One of 7 animations. YouTube video here: [5 Useless Boxes] UselessBox.ino (26.7 KB) UslessBox.pdf (23.6 KB) [image] [5 Useless Boxes]

[image] jonny6363: I don't have the servos set up in the box yet so there isn't a hand shutting the switch off. I tried to do that myself but every time the sketch just starts over. The problem I am having is getting the switch connected to a pin (#2) to run the sketch like it's supposed to. I used a 10k resister in the setup. Some how I don't think I am wiring the switch right to the pin. I have looked at a lot of videos and schematics but can't figure it out. I have built a couple of these, similar, not identical, and some of the construction can be a little fiddly. Show photos of what you have in front of you there and include any power supply/battery pack you are using. Draw a sketch of the circuit, pencil and paper is ok, and include the sketch here that you uploaded using the code tags. People are not going to chase all over and download programs etc. to help you. Best you provide everything you can right here.

Here are some images. [IMG_20221011_183959a] [IMG_20221011_184018] [IMG_20221011_184211] "People are not going to chase all over....." I'm not asking anyone to chase all over. I was wondering if there is a simple explanation on how the pin controls the sequence of the sketch.

The UNO cannot Power your servos, use 6v from external AA batteries. Look at the switch in the schematic offered in the schematic: [image] When the switch is placed in the ON position, the Arduino gets powered. After receiving power the Arduino energizes a relay that holds the power ON the Arduino. When the switch is pushed OFF, the relay continues to provide power to the Arduino. After a delay period, the Arduino can turn off the relay, therefore the Arduino is powering itself OFF.

I tried a 6v AA battery supply and it made the motors jitter and sound like the gears were going to break apart. I used different pins for the motors on the Uno and I got the same thing. I tested these motors on a 8 servo tester and they work fine. They run without jittering using the Uno as the power.

The battery GND (negative) must be connected to the Arduino GND. Show us a good image of the wiring.

LarryD 1hpost #9 "The battery GND (negative) must be connected to the Arduino GND." Thanks LarryD, Awesome, that worked. I'll have to remember that. I will make sure I check that in all my projects.

As also mentioned previously, just be aware the sg90 has an upper limit of 6V. 5x AA (dry)as you mentioned before will be just under 8.0v fresh. Similar for fully charged NiMh cells. Breadboards are notorious for giving poor servo power as they are simply not made for larger currents.

Useless Machine Help

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LarryD October 11, 2022, 10:12pm 3

See this example:

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Useless Machine Help

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