This controller is made as a prototype tool to test mechanics from a stepper motor. On the controller, there is a button which is used to change the state of the motor. The controller can have 2 states set, one while the button is pressed ad one while the button is not pressed. The controller can be set using a serial user interface. There are 4 different states that can be set; stop, move to a position, move amount and continuously moving. <strong>Stop</strong> is stop to stop the motor. <strong>Move to a position</strong> is to move to a set position. <strong>Move amount</strong> is to move a set amount no matter what the other set state is. <strong>Continuously moving</strong> make the motor continuously move at a set speed in a direction.

2 different or the same state can be set, for example; state 1 (button = 0) is continuously moving and state 2 (button = 1) is Move to a position. This will make the motor continuously run but when the button is pressed, the motor will go to the set position. This means that the motor will return to the same spot even tho it has moved away at a random distance.

Another example would be setting the same state but with different speed setting or position settings.

To access the menu, plug the controller into the USB and the menu will appear in the serial console. This menu allows you to set how the controller reacts to the button press.
<pre>Welcome v1.0 Stepper motor controller
Commands:
P - Program (ON Type, ON Distance, ON Speed, OFF Type, OFF Distance, OFF Speed)
A - Move amount (Distance)
T - Move To positon (Distance)
S - Set setting (m1, m2, m3)
D - Display details
H - Help


Type:
0 - Stop
1 - Move to position
2 - Move amount
3 - Continuously moving

</pre>
The Arduino program and PCB is available from <a href="https://github.com/tinkersprojects/Stepper-Motor-Prototype-Tester">https://github.com/tinkersprojects/Stepper-Motor-Prototype-Tester</a>

Stepper Motor Prototype

This robot represents an&nbsp;inverted pendulum where the robot is required to stay upright. If the robot gets pushed or a disturbance is added to the robot, the robot will try and correct it. This robot was made to help learn how a PID controller works as a feedback system, this balancing robot was made. The robots that were given to us to were large and used a&nbsp;potentiometer to&nbsp;sense the angle of the inverted pendulum.

This robot uses MPU5060 to&nbsp;sense the angle, an Arduino UNO to process the PID controller and an L293D to drive the motors. This is a basic feedback system but the main error correction is done within the Arduino ATMEGA328P. The program uses the Arduino PID Library by Brett Beauregard found <a href="https://github.com/br3ttb/Arduino-PID-Library/">here</a>. A potentiometer Arduino Shield (found <a href="https://github.com/tinkersprojects/Servo-and-Potentiometer-Arduino-Shield">here</a>) was used to control the gain and&nbsp;parameters of the PID on the fly, making it easy to set. 2 of the&nbsp;potentiometers were removed from the board to ensure the I2C bus on pins A4 and A5 could work without problems.

Servo and Potentiometer Arduino Shield found: <a href="https://github.com/tinkersprojects/Servo-and-Potentiometer-Arduino-Shield">https://github.com/tinkersprojects/Servo-and-Potentiometer-Arduino-Shield</a>
The PCB can be purchased from:&nbsp;<a href="https://tinkersprojects.com/product/servo-and-potentiometer-arduino-shield/">https://tinkersprojects.com/product/servo-and-potentiometer-arduino-shield/</a>
Arduino PID library: <a href="https://github.com/br3ttb/Arduino-PID-Library/">https://github.com/br3ttb/Arduino-PID-Library/</a>
Get the parts at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2858039" rel="nofollow">https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2858039</a>

Balancing Robot

Using parts from HDD, I have created a spinner that spins a disk, coating PCBs or other flat things in a somewhat even coat of liquid. It is also can be used as a magnetic stirrer by using the magnet from the HDD. The unit uses the brushless motor from HDD to spin the disk. Since the unit does not need to have a lot of torque, this motor is perfect as it can spin at high speeds (depends on the motor driver and HDD type).
It can be used for a different purpose, it is just depended on the disk.
Coating stainless steel did not work well but looks cool. Coating silicon wafers work well (if the wafer can fit) because of the smoothness of the surface

Parts Link:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1665202">http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1665202</a>

Parts list:
1. HDD brushless motor (assuming it's the same dimensions as mine)
2. Motor controller (<a href="http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SUPPO-50A-brushless-motor-speed-controller-/282089041823?hash=item41add12f9f:g:WjcAAOSw3xJVYrya">http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SUPPO-50A-brushless-motor-speed-controller-/282089041823?hash=item41add12f9f:g:WjcAAOSw3xJVYrya</a>)
3. PLEX control unit (see <a href="https://tinkersprojects.com/project/plex-controller/">https://tinkersprojects.com/project/plex-controller/</a>)
4. power plug

with the motor controller, if the motor runs for too long then the motor controller will need a bigger heatsink to help it stay cool and not melt the case. I have not put any air hole in the case or put and heat sink on due to I'm not running it for too long at a time.

2 in 1 spinner from HDD

I made this for a bit of fun. It has an Atmega328p running Arduino connected to 4 motors (2 driving one side), an LCD and buttons for the interface. the 3D printed parts came&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:700835">thingiverse</a>&nbsp;by timmiclark. The design is good but needed to be modified to make it work. Overall it's a good design and with some improvement will be awesome.
<h4>Further development</h4>
Down the track when&nbsp;I have the to development more, I would like to add a robotic arm with a remote control.

Tinkers Projects

Tag: motor

Stepper Motor Prototype

Balancing Robot

2 in 1 spinner from HDD

Robotic Tank