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View Full Version : Bigger servos with "Servo 4-Motor"



drit
07-15-2004, 01:26 PM
Hello,

Is it possible to use bigger servos with the "Servo 4-Motor" controller ?

Drit

phidgets
07-15-2004, 04:03 PM
Hi Drit!

Yes you can. But you will have to do some engineering on your own. You don't have to use our power supply to drive the servos. You can supply your own and use the controller to jsut send the commands. This allows you to use quite strong servos which require more amp draw than we have spec'd out our controller for.

Our general guideline goes like this: Our Max mA output is 500mA. So for your servos on your project you want to keep the demand under that limit. But it can be tricky. The specs given for a servo are for idle. So a servo that says 180mA at idle can spike past 500mA under a load.

The general guideline is to not surpass too much over 200mA for the idle rating. If you want to go over that then you should use your own power supply. To use your own you would connect the servo positive to your power supply positive and your power supply ground to the servo controller ground. Then you can play around with your own range and up the strength. Be carefull about over powering your servos though, it won't take much to burn out a $75 servo.

I hope this help out.

Matt

drit
07-16-2004, 06:00 AM
Hi Matt,

Yes it helps a lot.

I'm thinking of powering a light motion simulator.
Here a drawing showing the pivot point and center of gravity
http://www.intergate.be/dritan/cockpit2.jpg

I would like to know your opinion on the following

What torque the servos should have ?
Can the "Servo '4-motor" controll those servo motors ?
If not , can you make a custom one ? Actualy I need a 2-Motor controller.

Regards

Drit

phidgets
07-16-2004, 11:32 PM
I'm thinking of powering a light motion simulator.
Here a drawing showing the pivot point and center of gravity
http://www.intergate.be/dritan/cockpit2.jpg

I would like to know your opinion on the following

What torque the servos should have ?
Can the "Servo '4-motor" controll those servo motors ?
If not , can you make a custom one ? Actualy I need a 2-Motor controller.

Hi Drit,

I hate to burst your bubble, but our servo controllers are made for servos far smaller than the ones that would be needed to move a person around. Our servo controllers are for Hobby Servos. Rated in ounces torque. To move a person around you would need something far more substantial. I like your idea :) yet I'm not even sure where to point you on that one. You may want to look into industrial sites that have servo controllers which move manufacturing robotic arms. But you are going to be looking at big bucks.

Matt

drit
07-17-2004, 09:31 AM
OK Matt,

I'll keep looking

Drit