Boards, boards, boards.......Help Please!

Hello to all :hi:
I am from Australia and fairly new to the community, I have got the sim bug and want to start my sim project. I have done alot of reading but unfortunately it seems the more I read the more there is to know :? I want to build a 2DOF race sim to start off with and I will look at adding more DOF later as I also like the concept of a flight sim. I want to use DC wiper motors (actuators are a little prisey). I will be ok building the actual simulator but my understanding of the electronics is not so clear. So I was wondering if there is anybody that can spare a few minutes and help me out with a few questions. I have decided to try put together tronics-amc-motor-motion-controller-with-pwm-servo-output and tronic-s-diy-dual-mosfet-h-bridge-dsmhb This all seemed clear in the beginning of the forum(Topic) but as things got updated and the new posts came in, I got lost. These may be stupid questions but I want to understand. Even if somebody can only answer one of my questions, I will be one step closer......

1. Is there a difference between AVR motion controller and AMC motion controller?
2. What is the RN-VN2? Is it to add more than 2DOF because the board only has 2 motor outputs? Is it an option or do you have to include the RN-VN2 into your plans and parts list for a 2DOF?
3. What is the Polulu motor driver? I know it says its an alternative to the RN-VN2 but why would you need an alternative?
4. What must the thickness of the copper be on the PCB of the AMC Controller and the H-bridge?
5. If I wanted to add stronger motors or different motors at a later stage what are the limits to what the AMC controller and the H-bridge can drive.
6. What is the lcd screen for on the AMC Controller, what can you view on it and do you have to have this?
7. Can the x-sim software control any controller board that is connected via serial cable? I have seen some posts about R/C servo control and I have a serial R/C servo controller board that I used to make a 4DOF robot arm previously. This board can control 32 R/C servos, so just wondering if I can use this for anything on my sim? and what are other people using them for? I am also in the process of getting a stepper motor controller board which I can get in serial or parallel to drive three 382oz-in torque stepper motors which I have(cnc machine project). Why I am asking is because I want to try different things with the sim, so if I get the serial board will the x-sim software be able to communicate with this board aswell? (I have heard of things like ASCII and basic STOMP .....Something like that anyway :lol: but I dont know what these mean?

I think I covered the basics of what I need to know. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Dymsix ;D

Hi Dymsix

1. AMC is initials of Avr Motion Controller :lol:

2. RN-VN2 was an earlier solution we had found to drive motors, but it proved not good enough. The only souvenir from it was the motor port pinout on the AMC board... !! :

3. The pololu driver is similar in capabilities to RN-VN2 but a little different make. I have never used it. Some other users did, and gave the connection schematic. I have not heard nice words for this driver too.

4. The thickness on the AMC is standard. On the DSMhb you need to reinforce the power tracks so they can handle more amps for your application.

5. The limits for the motor are because of the Motor driver only (DSMhb). The DSMhb can drive SAFELY motors up to 24V and 15A. Of course the momentary peaks can be higher than this.

6. The LCD screen is not needed during operation. Its used more as debug tool during tests, as it can display the positions instructed from the computer, and the position of the position feedback potentiometers (or hall effect) sensors. Also used to display useful info like the firmware version, and instructions during changing motor's proportional drive constants.

7. Sirnoname already answered that...

8. ??? oups... no 8 !!! :mug1:



Thanos

Thank you Thanos and sirnoname, this helps me alot.

I was just a little worried about jumping into this project to quickly. I see a lot of people having problems and the success stories only come after a lot of work and corrections. I would like to think that the problems are caused only by human error and that if you build the boards by the book you should have no problems. It is going to be a long learning proccess for me with a lot of trial and error. I have some ideas which may need a 3rd DOF and maybe 4DOF regarding different simulations of motion. An old plan I had as below to achieve Plain and Pivot(G-force and Acceleration). I've moved on since then and my ideas have changed. I may stick to the concept that everybody is using to start with and slowly apply my ideas. I will be sure to add some progress photos when I get that far, and add to the community anything I learn along the way.

Can the AMC do 3DOF and 4DOF?, if so do you need 2x DSMhb as well?

Again thank you!
Dymsix

Plain & Pivot

Why didn`t i read this for a start? : it was some important questions and some clarifying answers!!! So if I build h-bridge, amc, and add potentiometer, vipermotors, and good game controllers, put it on a well build rigg, connect it all to a computer with x-sim and a good racing game (GTR2) I will be ready for action???

Fred

I love coffe, so that is a good combination. reading is never a bad idea either.!!! Anyway thanks for making this forum!

Fred