That might work if there was a (near) continuous speed control available. The little beasties I'm trying to follow in the microscope move at widely varying speeds.
> -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Hannu Vuolasaho > Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 5:05 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: gEDA-user: OT - Joystick control of stepper or > servo motors > > > Does it have to be a joystick? I have found quite usable > small touchscreen and one button. It is like trackpad in > mouse size square box and my thumb pushes the button on the > side. I use this with my PCB driller to place it right place. > First I have to use footswitch to operate the arm and then I > just slide drill to first hole and push the button. The arm > lowers and I can see where the drill will actually contact. > And I can't see my hand. Right hand is keeping door open and > my left is operating the arm. My head is inside the machine. > > Just a thought. > > Hannu Vuolasaho > > > Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:55:03 -0600 > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: gEDA-user: OT - Joystick control of stepper or servo > > motors > > > > My first thought is FTDI Vinculum or something like it. I'm > sure there > > are competitors as Vinculum has been around for a few years. I > > couldn't tell you if it is best inexpensive, but it at least looks > > fairly inexpensive. > > > > > http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/Modules/DevelopmentModules.htm#Vincul > > o > > > > -Cullen > > > > On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 9:19 AM, David C. Kerber > > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Hi, electronics gurus! I'm looking for suggestions on > the best inexpensive way to use a USB game joystick to > control stepper or servo motors. > > > > > > The application is using a joystick to drive the the > platform positioning knobs on a microscope, to help me keep > the subjects in the field of view, while I'm photographing > them. I'll also be adding the ability to trigger the camera > shutter with the joy stick, but I don't anticipate any > trouble with that part; it's the motion control side that I > have no experience with. > > > > > > Any suggestions? Are steppers or servos better for this > use? What should I use to control them, Arduino or a generic > motor control circuit? > > > > > > For background, I'm working as a programmer now, so I can > handle the programming. My degree is in EE, but I haven't > used it in ~20 years, so I'm kind of rusty on the electronics > side but I'm sure it will come back. > > > > > > Dave > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > geda-user mailing list > > > [email protected] > > > http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > geda-user mailing list > > [email protected] > > http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user > _______________________________________________ geda-user mailing list [email protected] http://www.seul.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/geda-user
