Hi All,
Does anyone know of a battery-operated stepper motor controller?
I'd like to use one for visual fine motor focus when I don't want to set up the PC, cables etc. Something like the Moonlite or Skywatcher DC motor focus units, but for those of us with stepper motors already attached.
Avalon were thinking about a re-chargeable one, but I don't think it came to anything: http://www.avalon-instruments.com/products/x-md, plus the 1 Amp max limits the motors it can control.
Thanks for any info.
Hi All,
Does anyone know of a battery-operated stepper motor controller?
I'd like to use one for visual fine motor focus when I don't want to set up the PC, cables etc. Something like the Moonlite or Skywatcher DC motor focus units, but for those of us with stepper motors already attached.
Avalon were thinking about a re-chargeable one, but I don't think it came to anything: http://www.avalon-instruments.com/products/x-md, plus the 1 Amp max limits the motors it can control.
Thanks for any info.
How about a 12 volt battery pack, (many options there), with a DC plug on the end, some velcro and plug that into a Moonlite stepper motor focus control box. The one I have, has a 12v input socket for power. Button controls are in, out and there is a variable knob for the speed.
Or DIY
I say that as I'm making a DC motor controller at the moment to control a Meade focuser. Hope to post it here on IIS soon, once it's done. My point is, when doing the research for this build, I found it's very close to doing it with a stepper motor, same hardware. Differences being changes to the code (Arduino stepper control) and slight wiring changes. Cheap from Ebay stuff etc.
So if DIY is an option... That will be my next project.
If you go with DC motor, make sure the dynamic braking is implemented, like in my version (Post #2 in this thead).
This is to avoid motor overshoot, it may be annoying with bigger motors.
I solved this with electronics... you can use QPDT switch and suitable wiring (I didn't have it at hand then). I have the 9V battery inside housing for 10 years, and it is still OK.
If you go with DC motor, make sure the dynamic braking is implemented, like in my version (Post #2 in this thead).
This is to avoid motor overshoot, it may be annoying with bigger motors.
I solved this with electronics... you can use QPDT switch and suitable wiring (I didn't have it at hand then). I have the 9V battery inside housing for 10 years, and it is still OK.
Thanks Bojan,
Yes I have implemented dynamic braking. It was very easy as I used a L298N DC Stepper Motor Driver Module Dual H Bridge Control Board.
By manipulating the I/O pins, you control how it works eg: dynamic braking, standby mode, speed (pwm), and motor direction. The module was under $5
I like what you have done without a micro, I'll have to look into it a bit more.
I say that as I'm making a DC motor controller at the moment to control a Meade focuser.
I have made several of them to drive my Meade microfocusser.
Some used cheap Picaxes, some used std PIC and some used pure passive ICs.
Focus at any speed or direction with only one centre click potentiometer.
As its only driven by PWM, no complicated driver chips are required.
I have made several of them to drive my Meade microfocusser.
Some used cheap Picaxes, some used std PIC and some used pure passive ICs.
Focus at any speed or direction with only one centre click potentiometer.
As its only driven by PWM, no complicated driver chips are required.
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Good one, yep, there's definitely a need for them.
It all started by me wanting to add the focuser to my ETX 125. I had the adapter for the back of the ETX to 2" so added a 2" ring and the focuser. Might have to put the ETX into EQ mode.
Finished it today. I'm going to post an IIS article with it soon just for a laugh. Couldn't help myself and built a Windows app to control it as well. It even works with the Meade classic Ascom focuser driver which I tested with a couple of astro apps. Hand controller is standard jiffy box ugly with yes the ugly buttons too.
Gday Damien
Piccies of PST unit attached.
I made a tilting frame for the PST so when its on a GEM, i can set the eyepice vertical. This allowed me to add a bracket for the focusser motor.
The controller operates as centre OFF and speed is then proportional to distance the knob moves. No switches etc reqd.
Andrew
Gday Damien
Piccies of PST unit attached.
I made a tilting frame for the PST so when its on a GEM, i can set the eyepice vertical. This allowed me to add a bracket for the focusser motor.
The controller operates as centre OFF and speed is then proportional to distance the knob moves. No switches etc reqd.
Andrew
As a pure rank amateur in this Arduino field my resources, both hardware and mental are some what limited but doing a bit of googling I found a very simple rotary encoder controller for a stepper motor with a zeroing button action. Seems to be about my level of build construction.
I just want something on the side of the mount so I can tweak the focus between filters without giving the whole system the shakes. This looks ideal. Just need to pick up a rotary encoder, I've got the rest of the hardware. I may tweak it up a bit with some leds to indicate which RGB filter setting it is on once I've figured the rest out.