Thank you Greg and Art for your suggestions. I'm interested to pursue the standard mechanism (AZ-EL rotors) but also want to inquire about any recent robotics work in this area ? A 2-link robot with a rotary joint manipulator that would point an antenna , could be a candidate solution - with no problems for normal/flip mode. I have some minor experience to use in this area - any collaboration possibilities ?
On Sat, Feb 23, 2013 at 7:58 PM, Greg D <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Samudra, > > See: http://home.wavecable.com/~**ko6th > <http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th>Near the top of the page, on the left, are > links to the design document and > code source for what I created. It's not a kit, but rather a discusson of > the various pieces needed to make such a controller, which you can adapt as > needed to whatever hardware you can get your hands on. The Alliance U-110 > makes for a great Elevation rotor, and there are many Az rotors that can be > had for very low cost. Alternatively, as long as you can supply a contact > closure every 6-10 degrees of rotation, this system can be adapted to a > variety of mechanical contraptions. Let the students and faculty get > creative! > > Good luck, > > Greg KO6TH > > > Samudra Haque wrote: > >> Hi, about two years ago, I started a design for a robotics class project >> of >> a AZ-EL rotator controller system, and a hardware package for the >> mechanism >> for rotating an antenna in any direction subject to mechanical stops. The >> system would have been able to handle regular and flip modes. I didn't do >> anything more than calculations, and moved on to building a classroom >> instructional robot then. >> >> Lately, as I am setting up (K3GWU, the George Washington University >> Amateur >> Radio Club and Research Station) I find that the price of az-el systems >> such as G5500 + Yaesu AZ-EL rotors are expensive, and are not typically >> available on an affordable basis on Ebay or eham.net etc. Well, of >> course, >> expensive is a relative term, for a student hobby organization, it's a >> lot, >> and I guess for small ham operators it is also moderately expensive. >> >> This may be a frequently asked topic: does any one have experienced with >> (tested) kit designs for AZ-EL rotors that can be made with parts from >> current suppliers ? I know there are a number of controller designs, >> but I >> am interested to know if there are any options for suppliers of the >> required gears/motors etc. >> >> I have located several large AC motors / DC motors at my university >> mechanical engineering workshop, but they are not all guaranteed the same >> specs. I now realize if I do embark on a actual design process with my >> model/simulation/hardware, it would be nice to build several of these all >> at once to share the development cost over the production run, and ensure >> those who want a cheap AZ-EL system can get one. Otherwise the production >> cost of one heavy duty system is going to be quite high. >> >> I hope some of you may have suggestions for me, both (+) and (-) or >> perhaps >> (~) in nature. I thought amsat / amateur radio folks have a common need to >> encourage homebrew activity to keep their brain cells in working >> condition? >> >> I'm opening this question up to the national US audience, and welcome any >> discussion on the challenges of making the ever-so-important >> azimuth-elevation rotor. I've studied some of the alternatives: Alliance >> U100 and Yaesu G-5500. I think we can do better in 2013. But ideally, to >> allow the wide adoption of AMSAT ground stations, what price point would >> the system have to be to make it worth building ? >> >> 73 de N3RDX >> George Washington University >> ______________________________**_________________ >> Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: >> http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bb<http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb> >> > _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
