Drive 4 DC motors without encoder - NO LEGO
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I need the same thing. I have created a post in the feature wishlist category.
https://forum.m5stack.com/topic/2989/a-module-to-drive-four-dc-motors
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Uhhhhh - Iike your post !!
I'm absolutly glad about it - I start to think, that I'm the only one with this "wish".
The best would be a module with adjustable I2C adresses - because I'm thinking to make a Mars rover "copy" - and there I need 6 motors. ( I don't want to be overbearing - It would work with 4 independent motor too :-) )
Thank you and best regards
K.D. -
@ramaker Sorry, wasn't aware you already had the hardware, I just presumed you were planning.
These are the pre-terminated leads https://m5stack.com/collections/m5-accessory/products/m5stack-lego-motor-adapter-cable
Please give me a day or 2 to find the connectors but they are crimp connectors and available on ebay and other suppliers.
Edit - They are JST 6 pin connections
@ramaker have you been looking at JPL's Open mars rover project?
I would be interested in a collaberation as I too was looking into it. -
@ajb2k3
Thanks for the answer.
I have looked for lots of things and I found that the problem is, that M5Stack people are using the 1mm JST connectors and "all over the world" they are using 2mm connectors for motors.
(I have more then 100 pcs with this connectors.....)
And it seems that nobody can - or will - supply adapter cables.I made a curiosity rover about one year ago - based on the original information of the NASA site. It was not "so good" - the design had some big disadvantages and I had not quite good machine to print the part for weels and the rocker bogie suspension. In that time I did not 100% understand this suspension. It was a "flop".
Now I found some more and better information to do it very simple and my new machine ( a Snapmaker A350) gives me more posibilities - now I can print , Laser ans CNC.
I will start again with the rover project, because the first version shows that this vehicle is an abolut brilliant way for an outdoor play.
If you are intrested in, then I'll put all the files from my first design on my website and you can download it. I'm using Fusion360. But I need about 2 weeks to prepare everything.It would be perfect to have another "cracy guy" for talk and learn.
You are welcome !
regards
Klaus -
@ajb2k3:
I looked to the JPL website and the rover project.
It is well documented. But the parts are a littlex complex. Specially the motor mounting and assembly.
I would do it easier with parts from the 3D-printer and by use of ready-to-use assembled motors with gear and encoder.For example: (with JST 6pin connector 2mm space)
https://eckstein-shop.de/V-TEC-6V-Micro-10x12mm-DC-Motor-Gleichstrom-Getriebe-Motor-mit-Encoder-56-RPMThese are the motors we're using as straight or rectangular version - good and powerfull.
The M5Stack components would fit perfectly - very easy to assemble and integrate in the chassis.
But ---- how connect the motors ??
In my first own design I found, that the rocker bogie suspension works perfect, if you control 4 motors indevidually. (on every side I "paired" 2 motors and controlled them together.)https://www.r-a-maker.de/tiger1.htm
Here you can see, how I made an integration - here I can use the M54Stack because I only need 2 DC motorsBut as far as I see, I 'll use again RaspBerry or Arduino. There I have no problems to find all information.
(specially if I use Adafruit component´ts.)I asked the tech-support from M5stack to give me a source were I can get the cables or motors from, they are showing in advertisement. Answer was : " .... sorry we do not support 4 dc motors .... " nothing more.
Because of that advertisement I bought a module and then I found, I cannot use it, it is only for LEGO.
But the text and the picture lets me believe I can use it.
This is "unfair" advertisement or whatever......
It would be easy to add on line of text or a spec of the used connector, so everybody can see --- no -- that's nothing for me.Or - more customer-frindly - simple ad a adapter cable to the catalouge. (they are doing with LEGO cable, why not with othter cables)
Or - just use standard connectors.......regards
Klaus -
@ramaker I brought the official m5stack lego cables and chopped them up for the terminated ends.
Sorry, brain fried at moment and will need to clear brain and think on it.
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@ajb2k3:
I have the original LGO cables too - cutting and crimping would be an option. But I found that the crimping tool is expensive and crimping that lot of cables is "not an exciting job" - and I have to buy all the LEGO cable and throw away one connector.
Woud be ok for 1 or 4 cables but not for 200pcs up.
(I have to take care, that the costs for our clients should be very low - we are private people without sponsoring.)I looked at the JPL mars rover and think it should be easy to make.
I will redesign the main mechanical parts, so that I can use 3D-printed parts, for the weel-drive-motors I'll design my standart motors. (wthout decoder) and for steering I'll design medium servos. This combination works perfect for vehicles in that size. In this design 2 DC motor drivers and 4 servos will work. So I can use the GoPlus2 module.
The plastic parts have a simple design, so I can use them for my training.As far as I guess a M5Stack in the "face display" would be easy to include and the display would look good.
So the complete control unit will be the M5Stack Core2 and the GoPlus2 - very compact.I'll make one side of the rocker bogie suspension and will simulate it.
regards
K.D. -
@ramaker said in Drive 4 DC motors without encoder - NO LEGO:
@ajb2k3:
I have the original LGO cables too - cutting and crimping would be an option. But I found that the crimping tool is expensive and crimping that lot of cables is "not an exciting job" - and I have to buy all the LEGO cable and throw away one connector.
Woud be ok for 1 or 4 cables but not for 200pcs up.
(I have to take care, that the costs for our clients should be very low - we are private people without sponsoring.)I looked at the JPL mars rover and think it should be easy to make.
I will redesign the main mechanical parts, so that I can use 3D-printed parts, for the weel-drive-motors I'll design my standart motors. (wthout decoder) and for steering I'll design medium servos. This combination works perfect for vehicles in that size. In this design 2 DC motor drivers and 4 servos will work. So I can use the GoPlus2 module.
The plastic parts have a simple design, so I can use them for my training.As far as I guess a M5Stack in the "face display" would be easy to include and the display would look good.
So the complete control unit will be the M5Stack Core2 and the GoPlus2 - very compact.I'll make one side of the rocker bogie suspension and will simulate it.
regards
K.D.200+?
For that quantity you should invest in the tool!
I used to use a pair of needle nose pliers to crimp 2.54mm pins and i broke loads (still break them even with the tool)
The connectors are on ebay and LCSCI've tried asking for the firmware for the go unit but they say it not reprogrammable.
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Hello @ajb2k3
thank you for checking regarding firmware. There is a connector (J1 - STM32_SWD) which I guess could be used to (re-)program the STM32 MCU. So I guess they locked the firmware in - that's a pity. At least they should have thought about allowing for the I2C address to be changed then. There are plenty of unused IOs on the STM32 MCU which could have been used for that. Oh well, maybe in the next revision.
Thanks
Felix -
Hi, thanks for reply.
@ajb2k3 :
Every thing you wrote is ok ! And I would suggest to do it - in an open-source project.
But here we have an comercial project. I payed for something which they show not correct in the advertisement.
I cannot use it and I get so support !!I cannot use this system ! I'll go back to Arduino.
BTW: M5Stack cannot be used to control the rover. The rover-system works only correct if I can control all the 6 motor individualy. So -- no change with M5Stack
regards
K.D.
