Alt-BEAM Archive
Message #12758
To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
From: "Leonardo Boulton F." L.Boulton@rocketmail.com
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2000 17:56:32 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [alt-beam] Re: looking for Stepper motors [to phillip]
OK, so i understand a normal electromagnetic motor rotates by the
implamantation of something like an inductor. I mean, it is a coil that
produces a magnetic field when current flows trough it. Then that field
repels the other magnetic field (of the magnet inside the case)..... so
it is a constant matter, because as long as current flows (or a voltage
diferencial is presenta at the two ends of the coil) the motor will
turn continuosly.... so, how's the thing with the stepper?. Now I know
that you have to control it externally with some kind of digital
controler (like a FSM), but how's is the physic of the matter?.
Because, I recon it should be like the same thing, but with some kind
of current controler that doesn't allow more than a given value of it
to flow through the coil....
Please, if you have time explain it to me a little farther.... thanks.
--- "Phillip A. Ryals" wrote:
> You can find stepper motors in all kinds of places, especially
> computer
> peripherals. Floppy disk drives are a good source, as well as
> printers,
> flatbed scanners, etc... Pretty much anything with a motor that's
> controlled by a computer has a stepper in it.
>
> As far as their difference from normal motors... there's quite a bit.
> You
> need half-way complex control circuitry for them. They don't work
> like a
> normal motor in that you can't hook up a battery and expect one to
> turn. It
> takes voltage, and then a control signal to tell it which way to go.
> In
> addition, the signal has to be repeated because each pulse only makes
> a
> small movement (it steps). There are many tutorials on stepper
> control
> cicuits out there. Of course, the one you're looking at might have
> this
> built in.
>
> -phillip
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
> [mailto:owner-beam@sgiblab.sgi.com]On
> Behalf Of Leonardo Boulton F.
> Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2000 11:50 AM
> To: beam@sgiblab.sgi.com
> Subject: looking for Stepper motors
>
>
> Hi, i found this photovore that works with an oscillator
> (square-wave),
> and it works with two stepper motors. Now, where can i found such
> motors.... i understand some clocks work with stepper motors, but are
> there any other places?....
> And, i don't have quite clear what the difference is between a
> stepper
> motor and a usual electromagnetic motor.....
>
> thx.
> Leo
>
>
>
> =====
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12759 Wednesday, March 29, 2000 5:26 AM To those going to the Robot Games... beam@corp.sgi.com Justin excellent idea. many people would like their robots to be seen. take a
note pad, and also give your own opinion since many of us wont be able to
see this event. also inform us or else it will still stay in the dark
>I've just been looking at the cool robot gallery on Solarbotics (again).
>Many of the robots there are unique to places like Solarbotics - their
>creators do not maintain websites or put information about them online,
>the only place to see them is places like the Solarbotics gallery.
>It sounds like the upcoming robot games will have a lot of this kind of
>robot - bots that will only be seen at the games, or that minimal
>info/pics will ever become available online. There are so many robots
>that the online community has never seen (most of mine included).
>With this in mind - a plea to those attending - if you possibly can,
>take a camera (take a digital camera!), wander around and talk to other
>BEAMers, ask to see their creations (it's not like they'll say "no" :-),
>chances are that as well as the competition bots on display, they also
>have many from their collection with them and are all too happy to have
>people see them. Take photos of the robots. Take detail photos. Ask
>about how they work, what they do. (Take some notes if warranted. Find
>out if there is a nearby photocopier so you can get a copy of a
>schematic if you desire).
>
>Bring the unseen robots into the light! Put your findings online -
>perhaps collaborate with other people doing the same thing. Do it for
>your own good - compiling a treasure trove of your personal favourites -
>all the robots that are so cool they inspire you to make bots, robots
>that incorporate neat ideas that might come in handy (provided you
>record them somewhere so as not to forget them), the things you aspire
>too, the ones you aspire to beat at the next games, etc. Doing this
>gives you a _huge_ resource to draw from that you really won't
>appreciate until you've tried it. Try it - then dump it online. We'll
>love you :-)
>
>Hmmm, I think I shall refer to those robots that are unknown to the
>community as "Robot Dark Matter". We know there is a lot of it out
>there, but we're not sure what form it takes...
>(And vast resources should be spent uncovering it :-)
>
>Disclaimer - I've never been to a Robotgames, so if my guestimation of
>how they work is obviously a long way from reality, this is why. Moving
>to a related topic with which I have more experience:
>
>If at all possible, come prepared - miniature photography in wildcard
>conditions is not something you should expect to just be able to do and
>have it come out properly. Practise at home beforehand if need be. Bring
>the appropriate equipment if you can (eg sheets of stiff white card are
>useful for heaps of things, especially to remove shadows. Perhaps a
>tripod, as a narrow aperture gives greater depth of field but requires
>longer exposure times. Try bring high-speed film if using film - needing
>the flash (rather than being able to choose it) can bring ruin in many
>circumstances. If you're extra keen, make a cardboard studio (eg white
>box with 2 or 3 sides removes) that you can put bots in to get great
>pictures of them. If you have the camera ready - sitting on the tripod
>focused on a clean bright surface, with backdrop and adequate light,
>people will _want_ you to photograph their robots and be most obliging.
>A _lot_ of people don't have the time or equipment to get really nice
>shots of their work, but virtually everyone would _love_ really nice
>shots of their work. Damn I wish I was going myself... :-)
>
>BTW, If anyone wants some more stuff on the photography thing, I can go
>into greater detail, and/or provide some good links. You should note
>however that I don't consider myself an expert :-)
>
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