The very beginning

Hey guys,

I'm totally new at this. I want to make a 2DOF joyrider using an arduino. I have not settled on hbridges or motors yet. Something like this is what I have in mind:

http://www.xsimulator.net/community/threads/joyrider-2-dof-wormgear-dc.4843/

I'm overwhelmed and don't know where to start. I mean, the very beginning. I've read a ton of posts, looked at lots of info, and I'm still not sure where to start.

First off... do I purchase joyrider.pdf for $15? Is it relevant to this kind of design?

Next off... how do I pick my wiper motors? 12v? 24v? Range of motion, torque?

What POTs can I use? Which is a better pick?

Is the Sabertooth a good choice over the JRK? I like the JRK's features but I'm questioning the current it can handle.

So many decisions. What I really want is for someone to help distill it down and say basically "If you want to build a 2DOF joyrider, then do this, it's guaranteed to work".

Any and all help is appreciated. Sorry if this has been posted literally 1000 times before. You guys must get tired of that

My joyrider works fine and you can find drawings, motor specs, power supply unit spec, projectors details, etc. in the thread. Modify to your gusto
There are other similar threads in the DIY section.

Hey Value, I had looked at yours quite a bit. I've got it bookmarked in fact. Did you ever get those winch motors to quiet down?

JRKS will run 14v at 30 amps continuous all day with heatsink on the big chip and fan cooling. In fact we have had our JRKS at spikes of 40 amps, no problem.

/* fireflyone changed code to 6 dof 6 servo setup L<Axis1>R<Axis2>F<Axis3>X<Axis4>Y<Axis5>Z<Axis6> enjoy thanks to herctrap and jouiou for thare hard work and supereb coding thankk guys
* 2DOF Motion Platform with 2 Servos
* -------------------------------------
* Thanks to herctrap and his source
* http://www.arduino.cc/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1280139142
*
* and also thanks to juiou and his source
* http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/arduino-and-x-sim-t2773-30.html
*
* I just combined their sources.
*
*/

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myservo1;
Servo myservo2;
Servo myservo3;
Servo myservo4;
Servo myservo5;
Servo myservo6;
int Degree;
int Gforce = 0;
int Gforce1 = 0;
int Gforce10 = 0;
int Gforce100 = 0;
char kind_of_data;
void setup() {

//set servo pins
myservo1.attach(2);
myservo2.attach(3);
myservo3.attach(4); //pwm servo
myservo1.attach(5); // X
myservo2.attach(6); // y
myservo3.attach(7); // Z

//align servos center postision
myservo1.write(90); // L
myservo2.write(90); // R
myservo3.write(90); // F
myservo4.write(90); // X
myservo5.write(90); // Y
myservo6.write(90); // Z
//open serial connection
Serial.begin(115200);
}
void loop() {
// wait for serial input (min 3 bytes in buffer)
while(Serial.available() > 0) {

kind_of_data = Serial.read(); //string from USO --> L~a01~ R~a02~ 8bit resolution\decimal output
if(kind_of_data == 'L') {
Read_Pos(kind_of_data);
}
if(kind_of_data == 'R') {
Read_Pos(kind_of_data);
}
if(kind_of_data == 'F') {
Read_Pos(kind_of_data);
}
if(kind_of_data == 'X') {
Read_Pos(kind_of_data);
}
if(kind_of_data == 'Y') {
Read_Pos(kind_of_data);
}
if(kind_of_data == 'Z') {
Read_Pos(kind_of_data);
}
}
}
void Read_Pos(char which_servo){
delay(2);
int Gforce100 = Serial.read()- '0';
delay(2);
int Gforce10 = Serial.read()- '0';
delay(2);
int Gforce1 = Serial.read()- '0';

//Verifica se e centena dezena ou decimal... =]
if (Gforce1 < 0) { Gforce = Gforce10 + 10*Gforce100; }
if (Gforce1 < 0 && Gforce10 < 0) { Gforce = Gforce100; }
if (Gforce100 < 0) { Gforce = 127; }
if (Gforce1 >=0 && Gforce10 >= 0 && Gforce100 >= 0) { Gforce = 100 * Gforce100 + 10 * Gforce10 + Gforce1; }
if (which_servo == 'L') {
Degree = map(Gforce, 0, 255, 180, 0);
}
if (which_servo == 'R') {
Degree = map(Gforce, 0, 255, 0, 180);
}
if (which_servo == 'F') {
Degree = map(Gforce, 0, 255, 0, 180);
}
if (which_servo == 'X') {
Degree = map(Gforce, 0, 255, 180, 0);
}
if (which_servo == 'Y') {
Degree = map(Gforce, 0, 255, 0, 180);
}
if (which_servo == 'Z') {
Degree = map(Gforce, 0, 255, 0, 180);
}
if (which_servo == 'L') {
myservo1.write(Degree);
}
if (which_servo == 'R' ){
myservo2.write(Degree);
}
if (which_servo == 'F' ){
myservo2.write(Degree);
}
if (which_servo == 'X') {
myservo1.write(Degree);
}
if (which_servo == 'Y' ){
myservo2.write(Degree);
}
if (which_servo == 'Z' ){
myservo2.write(Degree);
}
}

Look at this one @fireflyone far better code to run servos and easily expandable.

http://www.xsimulator.net/community/marketplace/rc-model-code-for-arduino-uno-2dof-expandable.89/
Has already proven to be expandable to 6dof .

Are there any good closeup pictures of how to connect wiper motors to a joyrider?

Heres some photos of my old ride.
I had one motor on the outer left hand corner and one sitting on the roll frame at the back tilting the seat (pitch) frame.
http://img154.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=193409769_IMG_0674_122_413lo.JPG
http://img139.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=193463865_IMG_0676_122_425lo.JPG
http://img140.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=193383765_IMG_0673_122_200lo.JPG

That's super helpful, thanks.

Anyone else?