I did a search and wasn’t able to find a similar situation.
Background: I’ve built a dust collection system for my workshop that uses blast gates at each tool to suction away sawdust. I’ve installed five SLA01-12-100 Actuator 12v 100mmStroke 80mm/sec 50N linear actuators, one with a 150mm stroke, and one with a 50mm stroke on each blast gate. I was not able to locate the datasheets for them.
I am using Arduino Uno to control the process, and use an IR remote to trigger activation of the system. I have an IBT_2s attached to each actuator, and tried to use a Adafruit 16 channel X 12 PWM servo shield to pass the PWM signal to the IBT_2, (example: servo shield pins 0 and 1 connected to pins 1 (forward) and 2 (reverse) and all other pins connected per the example below:
Connecting straight to the Arduino Uno, and using the example wiring I can get two actuators to work. However, when I add the Adafruit servo shield and try and use the PWM pins to control the actuators I get nothing.
Question: Should I be using a L298P Shield R3 instead of the servo shield? If so, can I stack 4 together to get the number of outputs I require? I use a separate 12V power supply to the actuators, so I only need the PWM signal to trigger the opening and closing of the actuators.
Thank you in advance for your assistance to a NOOB.
Fritzings..... Lots of information is missing. However, those drivers looks like a type I use. You need to be thinking outside the box but I think it can be done with an UNO.
I don't know the servo shield You mention. Why do You think of it?
Frizzy things just confuse the issue. How much current do the actuators require? I just googled the part number you gave SLA01-12-100 and got lots of hits. How do you know when to activate it? What sensors are you using and how many. Is this it: https://midwestmotion.com/products/la3/12V/100.html
If it is it needs 5 Amps, per Actuator. A BTS7960 Would be a good choice no messing with heatsinks etc. Save yourself some time and purchase an Arduino Mega, it has enough I/O. Also there is no PWM needed to operate this device. Did you get it with a position pot? Do yourself a favor and determine how many of these will be on at one time then add at least 25% if it is less then 3.
Railroader – I was initially going to use servos to open the blast gates, but became concerned that they might not hold up in the dusty environment of my shop. Since I already had purchased the servo shield I thought I might be able to just use the PWM pins to power the IBT_2s. I use an IR remote to select the blast gate at the tool I need to open.
Gilshultz – The actuators were used eBay finds, the link looks close to it, but the most I’ve seen one draw at start up was about 1.5As. To clarify the IBT_2 is a BTS7960, (IBT_2) is what is printed on the PCB…sorry for the confusion.
In most cases no more than two should be on at any given time; close last one to be used, and open the selected one. I did write a loop to open all and another to close all on different button presses in the event that was ever needed, but I put in a delay between opens. It takes about 3.5 secondish to open to where I need them. I had not looked at a Mega, I will do so now.
John, thank you I did use that manual as a reference, however after looking at it after you comment are you suggesting jumping pins 1&3 and 2&4? I had not tried that. I did order a Mega, but it would be nice to know that my original plan was feasible.
Sorry no pics, I dissembled the Uno and breadboard last night after I ordered the Mega.
I’m in a testing mode so basically what I did was take the Adafruit 16-channel PWM & Servo driver Servo Test Sketch, their wiring diagram below, and combined it with the Firgelli Motor Driver Speed Control example, (see above post.)
I used a separate power supply to power the two 12V actuators. I ran PWM pins “0” and “2” from the servo shield to pin “1” RPWM (forward) on the BTS7960s, (what I’ve been referring to as IBT_2s.) I then ran pins “1” and “3” to pin “2” LPWM (reverse) on the BTS7960s. So BTS 7960 (1) was connected to the servo shield’s pins “0” & “1” and BTS7960 (2) was connected to the servo shield using pins “2” & “3”:
Hi,
You have an actuator motor, it is not a servo.
That Fritzy tells me nothing about how you connected the servo shield to your Motor Driver.
It shows a servo.
What about the direction signal?
Please get a pen(cil) and paper and draw your circuit and post a picture of it.
Can you please post your code that you used to control the two actuators in the circuit configuration in post #1?
Sorry if I was not clear; I understand that above Fritzy is for a servo, as I said in my reply I attached servo pins 0 to BTS 7960 (1) pins 1 for a forward signal, and servo pin 1 to BTS7960 (1) pin 2 for a reverse signal per the Firgelli Linear Actuator Fritzy in my original post.
I have stopped work on this design in favor of the Mega recommended by gilshultz, hopefully, it will be in today.
