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Tutorial SMC3 Arduino 3DOF Motor Driver and Windows Utilities

Discussion in 'SimTools compatible interfaces' started by RufusDufus, Dec 1, 2013.

  1. George Dobransky

    George Dobransky Active Member

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    That's true...:)

    Cheers,
    George
  2. speedy

    speedy Well-Known Member

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    @George Dobransky ... 3 DOF only for each SMC3 Arduino interface .

    And you are very confused my friend mixing the meanings of DOF "forces list" in SimTools / DOF in real life ... Axis in SimTools / motor in real life ... and assigning forces for each axis where at the end a motor is going to move due to the final results of those forces .

    In SimTools the Axis means a motor ... a DOF means a selected force from the dropdown list ... you can use up to 6 DOF in SimTools per each axis as they can be used/added/reversed ...
    see more details here ...
    https://www.xsimulator.net/communit...-question-and-answer.8175/page-31#post-123116

    let's agree about that when SMC3 code is loaded to Arduino. It makes the UNO uses one com port in SimTools and can control up to 3 motors only ...

    So, a SimTools output string [A<Axis1a>][B<Axis2a>][C<Axis1b>] for the SMC3 Arduino interface should tell the Arduino that :
    - motor 1 which is A will have all the values of Axis 1 at group ( a ) Axis Assignments .
    - motor 2 which is B will have all the values of Axis 2 at group ( a ) Axis Assignments .
    - motor 3 which is C will have all the values of Axis 1 at group ( b ) Axis Assignments .

    you can use whatever combinations for a single Arduino interface as you need as long as you write them in the correct form and only use a maximum of three motors output commands to it .
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2017
  3. George Dobransky

    George Dobransky Active Member

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    @speedy,

    Finally Craig has solved our problem by multiplying the values down to something similar as the acceleration values so there is no need for the Extra numbers anymore....The main problem is still with Elite Dangerous that the devs doesn't change the code to get out the realtime telemetry datas...

    Thanx for efforts, stay ccol!
    Geroge
    • Informative Informative x 1
  4. Edwardo

    Edwardo New Member

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    Hi Guys,
    I am building a six dof. DC 350w 200rpm actuators of the type Roland and BFF independently; I'm sure you have seen them. I'm on my 4th actuator and thinking about control. I could use Thanos's board, and I might have to, but I'm poor :( (had cancer, lost tongue, speech impediment, cant get work, 'nuf said). Now I understand the limits of the Arduino, Thanos says it's too slow, but he would say that, on the other hand, maybe it is. But I have written highly optimised ard code (bitwise optimisations mostly) for my homebrew H-bridges, and I'm sure SMC3 has been written to be as fast as it can be.. it must have to do what it does. But I've been thinking.. what about 2 iterations of SMC3 running on the host PC (running in virtualised spaces if need be) communicating with 2 ards, each handling 3 axis each?
    Now I haven't run SMC3 or even Simtools yet, so I might be barking at the wrong forest, let alone the wrong tree, but is what I'm saying possible? Or have I missed something and its been done before?
    Cheers
    Ed
  5. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    Yes this has been done already and is possible. You can also run three ards from PC with two motors each for use with Sabertooth dual motor drivers.
  6. Edwardo

    Edwardo New Member

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    Can you point me to a thread?
  7. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    • Agree Agree x 2
  8. Edwardo

    Edwardo New Member

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    Thanks, Mate
  9. speedy

    speedy Well-Known Member

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    • Like Like x 1
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  10. Edwardo

    Edwardo New Member

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    When you got the AC route with VFD's you introduce unnecessary expense and complexity. And one of the complexities is stray RF interference caused by all the components of you rig. Means double shielding everything and even then you might have untraceable gitters and other problems. Just my HO. I personally like 24v dc motors. They have the torque, they're easier to power, easier to control,and most of all cheaper.. Cheaper CHEAPER!!!. The path of least resistance. And if arduinos can cut it, better for everyone. They can learn how the code works, really know how their rig works. Not rely on somebody else's firmware. Just my HO.
  11. Edwardo

    Edwardo New Member

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    Oh Speedy
    I just reread your post.. ARDUINO controlling VFDs. Very welcome for those going 6dof with 3 phase. I'm afraid I side with Edison for simulators, Tesla for most everything else..
    Cheers
    Ed
  12. Edwardo

    Edwardo New Member

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    Hey Guys
    I'm up to No 5 of my Actuators. I've decided to use hall effect position sensors instead of pots because they are now cheaper than wirewound pots... Can SMC3 Work with them?
    Cheers
    Ed
  13. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    Yes SMC3 will work with Hall sensors.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  14. Edwardo

    Edwardo New Member

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    Off beat question, Guys.. Has anyone ported SMC3 to Arduino Due? More than enough power to do anything we can throw at it..
  15. Claudemir

    Claudemir Member Gold Contributor

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    @RufusDufus
    Hello friends, how are you? I'm riding a full-scale Lamborghini and I need to use engines in order for it to work.

    I would very much like to use the Arduino SMC3 code because with it I can control the force of the motors would easily have to add another motor in the code SMC3?

    So far I can only use 3 engines :(
    Hello friends, how are you? I'm riding a full-scale Lamborghini and I need to use engines in order for it to work.

    I would very much like to use the Arduino SMC3 code because with it I can control the force of the motors would easily have to add another motor in the code SMC3?

    So far I can only use 3 engines :(
  16. RufusDufus

    RufusDufus Well-Known Member

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    Hi @Claudemir, For more than 3 motors you can use two UNO/SMC3 boards. In simtools you set one up as interface 1 and the other as interface 2. You can even have more with Interface 3, 4, etc.
  17. Claudemir

    Claudemir Member Gold Contributor

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    How nice!
    Now I can have a dream come true!
  18. G3yang

    G3yang New Member

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    :脸红Great SMC3 i have encountered the problem, I am in MODE2, running windows SMC3 Utility software, the motor is always moving in the right direction, no direction to turn? Thanks for all the friends' reply!

    Found Arduino 50A dual current motor drive module
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 7, 2017
  19. noorbeast

    noorbeast VR Tassie Devil Staff Member Moderator Race Director

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    It would help if you post details and pictures of your hardware and all settings.
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2017
  20. JetB

    JetB New Member

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    I was wondering... does this code have some false setpoint protection? I mean shutting the motor off if it doesn't reach the setpoint within certain time or such? Asking because using a 2DOF setup with IBT_2's (genuine ones at that!) the motors do cutoff on higher loads independently of each other, and not to do with the Max Limits setting... I thought it must be some overcurrent protection, but the other day, when a pot linkage got loose and the one motor started pulling full force against the bracket for a bit everyhing got sizzling hot, yet didn't trip anything. That just added further confusion... The one thing that does seem to have to do with the motors cutting off is the axis assignment percentages...