Author Topic: Beta-DMX Servo Controller Project (See first post for specs and features)  (Read 68367 times)

Offline dlhoppe

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #30 on: March 17, 2011, »
Thanks for the suggestions. Good ideas.


Dave

Offline jess_her

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #31 on: March 17, 2011, »
Hello dave/mike
How about some test point  loops
Jess
Only limitations in life is your imagination

Offline n1ist

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #32 on: March 18, 2011, »
That makes sense; I usually like to put a few extra ground points on my boards so you have somewhere to clip that meter lead on when testing...
/mike

Offline dlhoppe

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #33 on: March 18, 2011, »
I got a jump-start on the software yesterday. I should have the basic structure of all the routines done by the time the PICs arrive from Mouser. If we don't get too carried away with whistles and bells, this should be a slam-dunk.

Get your popcorn out...


Dave
« Last Edit: March 18, 2011, by dlhoppe »

Offline kylec

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #34 on: March 18, 2011, »
 <pop..
Excess is Success
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Offline jess_her

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #35 on: March 18, 2011, »
anybody have butter?
Only limitations in life is your imagination

Offline Freebird

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #36 on: March 25, 2011, »
Im a little late.  But I am interested in all of this.   <pop..

One day I will fly out of the fog and all of this will be seen clearly!

Offline dlhoppe

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #37 on: March 26, 2011, »
The basic DMX reception and PWM generation is done. I have it setup to control 8 servos. The custom endpoint calculations were a little difficult for me to accomplish with an 8bit processor, so I created 4 preconfigured "travel profiles" instead. Each channel having the ability to set it's profile independently of the others. Between these profiles and the ability to alter mechanical ratios, it should provide all the flexibility you would need to control travel limits.

We're going to add some LED output channels to this controller as well, so I'm moving on to that next. Mike suggested an 8 channel LED driver chip, so we'll have 2 complete RGB (2 sets of 3 LEDS) outputs plus two additional LED outputs. For those of you who want to add color-changing eyes to your pirates and skulls.  :)

Oh yeah, all 16 channels (8 servo & 8 LED) can all be assigned individually to their respective DMX channel. That way you can gang servos together on a single channel if you have higher torque requirements than one servo can provide.

I think it's safe to say I'm stretching my assembler skills with this project (only my second attempt at PIC development). I've learned so much, I'll probably go back and re-write the DMX Tester logic eventually to "modernize" it. Very interesting to work out all the timings and math for DMX to PWM conversion. I'm having fun with it.


Cheers,
Dave

« Last Edit: March 26, 2011, by dlhoppe »

Offline egenoup

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #38 on: March 26, 2011, »
Cool more toys!

Offline PJNMCT

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #39 on: March 26, 2011, »
wow...Getting interesting - double popcorn on this one!   <res.
 <pop.. <pop..

-Paul
Leesburg, FL

Offline dlhoppe

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #40 on: March 27, 2011, »
Ok, Mike had a suggestion that greatly simplifies the PIC programming for custom end-points. Looks like that's back on the table.


Here's the current feature set (of course subject to change):

DMX IN/DMX OUT so you can use this in your DMX "daisy chain" (DMX OUT is a re-broadcast)
Support for the Ex/Rx reciever (plug and play with a selection jumper, DMX OUT is active with wireless Rx)
Servo Reversing (independent setting on each servo channel)
Servo End Point Control with Scaling for 256 discreet steps (independent setting on each servo channel)
Servo DMX Channel Mapping (independent mapping for each servo channel, multiple servos can be "ganged" together on one channel)
Fuse protection (independent for each servo)
Programmed settings will be persistent
PC program to enter the settings for downloading into the controller via dongle (either a Vixen sequence generator or direct communication)
LEDs for programming feedback
Common 6v Supply (will provide a power supply/fuse capacity lookup table based on total and individual servo torque)
8 channel LED output (each channel independently mapped to DMX channel)
Trip Sensor that will stop servo output and flash an LED indicating inadequate power supply (power off/on to clear it)


Cheers,
Dave
« Last Edit: March 27, 2011, by dlhoppe »

Offline batdive

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #41 on: March 27, 2011, »
Nice.. 


 <pop..

Offline jess_her

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #42 on: March 27, 2011, »
Dave Mike
Great job...... sounds like it's about to hit the  proto board. Check this guy out he does MIDI servo controlers just an interesting peek
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Jess
Only limitations in life is your imagination

Offline dlhoppe

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #43 on: April 06, 2011, »
Made some more progress interfacing the PIC to the LED driver IC. Once that's polished, it's on to the programming interface and then the prototype build. Things are coming along.   :)



Dave

Offline dlhoppe

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Re: Lynx DMX Servo Controller Project
« Reply #44 on: April 09, 2011, »
After much testing and tweaking I have the servo and LED outputs operating very smoothly. Now it's on to the programming interface and some "whistles and bells".

It's coming together nicely.



Dave