New builder needing help

[7733star]

My name is Dave and I am from upstate NY USA. I have always wanted to build a motion sim so I decided there is no time like the present.

I am new to this whole system. I want to build a desktop simulator. I have an arduino UNO R3 that I want to use to drive my two servos. I have been trying to set things up myself for about a week but I can not get it to work. I have the X-sim3 software up and running. There are a few codes that I got from the forums and loaded on the arduino but X-sim3 never sees the arduino. The only one that x-sim3 sees is the Arduino Open Source X-PID firmware incl.360°option by sirnoname but that one is not setup for servos. Maybe some kind soul out there can set me on the right path.

Thanks to anyone in advance for giving me a helping hand.

[sirnoname]

As you wrote, the arduino firmware wich comes with a autodetection plugin is this open source firmware.
All others are using some workaround to get it working with X-Sim. So you have to read the posts, where you get other firmware, for setup details.
If you are firm with programming you can change the open source code for servos.

[7733star]

Thanks for the advice sirnoname. I would like to edit the open source firmware to operate servos because I would like to eventually use wiper motors. I am really not good with programming so I will need to do a lot of learning. Maybe you could give me some advice where to start editing the code to operate servos. I understand everybody is busy and can not spend a lot of time on the forums. Thanks again sirnoname for taking your time to help me out. I got a couple of books about programing the ardiuno so I will see what I can learn.

[RacingMat]

I would like to edit the open source firmware to operate servos because I would like to eventually use wiper motors.

Hello 7733star,

Answering to your question depends on what do you mean by "servo" :
- is it RC hobby servo for a prototype ? http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/RC_PRODUCT_SEARCH.asp?strSearch=servo
- or the association of a (wiper) motor and a potentiometer connected to a driver board

PS : from wikipedia
A common type of servo provides position control. Servos use commonly electric motor (or hydraulics, pneumatics) as the primary means of creating mechanical force.
Servos operate on the principle of negative feedback.Where the control input is compared to the actual position of the mechanical system as measured by some sort of transducer at the output. Any difference between the actual and wanted values (an "error signal") is amplified (and converted) and used to drive the system in the direction necessary to reduce or eliminate the error.

[7733star]

Thanks for the reply RacingMat and description that was very helpful. I have decided to not use servos and go with the system sirnoname advices but I will be building it on a small scale.

I have a question about the pot wiring in the diagram. Do I need to apply 5v and Gnd from both the ARD and the h-bridge to the pot. I am think I only need to bring one source of power to the pot either from ARD or the H-bridge. When I power my H-bridge the pins marked 5v are outputting 5v they are not 5v inputs as the diagram seems to imply or am I wrong in thinking this way. I have added a pic of the H-bridge and the connections in questions on the original diagram. Thanks for any help.

[Tombo]

Hi,
the 5v from arduino is an output. You need 5v AT the ot and 5v on the hbridge. You don't need to connect pot with hbridge. I have two wires going out from my arduino, one for pot and one for bridge.
Hope this helps you

[7733star]

Thanks for the help but I seem to be a bit confused. When I connected power to the bridge and I check the voltage at 5v it is showing 5v. When I check 5v volts at the ard that is showing 5v. so they both are outputs that is why I am a bit confused. I know the pot needs 5v to send to the ard for analog to digital conversion for positioning but the way I am thinking I could get that from either source. I just doesn't seem write to hookup two outputs together. Sorry if I am not getting it I just wanna be sure I am understanding what is going on.

[7733star]

I think I figured it out. The bridge sirnoname advices to use does not have onboard 5v. The bridge I am using does have its own 5v so I will not need to bring 5v to the bridge. Well I haven't blown any chips up in a while so I guess it is about time.