ChristopherB
Mon 07 June 2010, 06:47
I'm really amazed by this forum. And even more amazed that it's run from my city. Thank you to everyone involved.
I'm not building a full MechMate (just yet) but I am building part of one,
I'd be grateful for any advice.
I'm looking to get hold of a stepper motor and controller (i'll be happy to run it from a PC, but a dedicated control unit would be preferable) and use the system to move a camera back and forth on a track. The reason that I'd prefer a stepper motor is that, as far as I understand, it would allow for constant velocities but also have the option of smooth motion with intervals.
I'd be really grateful if anyone has any advice for me on the following questions:
Do I want to be using a stepper motor? Will it allow for intervals between movements? (ie. move the camera into a predefined position, be stationary while the camera takes a photograph, and then move again)
If yes, would it be the same motor that the MechMate uses? (The camera and lens and tripod weigh about 4KGs)
What would be the most basic dedicated control unit to control the movement of the motor? I'm pretty sure I don't need the Geckodrive unit, since the motion is single axis and uniform
Am I totally off the mark?
Is there somebody affiliated or visiting the forum who is in Cape Town and would like to be involved in the project? I have a budget, it's not massive but its something.
Again thanks in advance for any suggestions or help you might have.
Christopher
I'm not building a full MechMate (just yet) but I am building part of one,
I'd be grateful for any advice.
I'm looking to get hold of a stepper motor and controller (i'll be happy to run it from a PC, but a dedicated control unit would be preferable) and use the system to move a camera back and forth on a track. The reason that I'd prefer a stepper motor is that, as far as I understand, it would allow for constant velocities but also have the option of smooth motion with intervals.
I'd be really grateful if anyone has any advice for me on the following questions:
Do I want to be using a stepper motor? Will it allow for intervals between movements? (ie. move the camera into a predefined position, be stationary while the camera takes a photograph, and then move again)
If yes, would it be the same motor that the MechMate uses? (The camera and lens and tripod weigh about 4KGs)
What would be the most basic dedicated control unit to control the movement of the motor? I'm pretty sure I don't need the Geckodrive unit, since the motion is single axis and uniform
Am I totally off the mark?
Is there somebody affiliated or visiting the forum who is in Cape Town and would like to be involved in the project? I have a budget, it's not massive but its something.
Again thanks in advance for any suggestions or help you might have.
Christopher