Gary Warner
May 24, 2006, 12:35 PM
Hi All,
New product: YTV Cycler 3 - servo driver and cycler
(Edit 9/22/06) New Web Site at www.york-electronics.com (http://www.york-electronics.com)
I've been working on a servo cycler and driver and have now released version 3. Many ezone members have purchased my first versions and it was a great success. I have now improved the cycler/driver based on wish list input. The new versions are selling for $20 + $3 SH (USA).
If you use servos, you'll love this cycler/driver. Here's what it does:
Instant dead center (1.5ms) that does not drift.
Move and hold to any position from .8ms to 2.2ms. (+/- 120% range)
LED's alert to adjustments made outside normal limits (<1ms and >2ms)
Sweep from end to end at 9 speeds - from 45 seconds per sweep to faster than most servos can keep up with.
End-points for the sweep can be user programmable with memory after power is cut off.
The cycler/driver features:
Drive up to 4 servos at the same time.
Protected pins in hoods to prevent shorting.
Interface is 3 buttons and 2 LED's.
Micro controller accuracy and repeatability.
Small size - 1.6" x 1.2" - about the size of a box of matches.
Any set of pins can be the battery or a servo port.
Operation voltage from 2.5 volts to 12 volts (but your servo won't like 12 volts ;) )
Adjustable sweep end-points so if a servo is already installed you won't bind up the mechanics. End points memorized in non-volatile memory and one button to reset sweep range to factory range.
Possible uses:
Find dead center of servo before attaching servo arms for installation. Also, allows for a chance to center a control surface to the center of the servo position.
Adjust position to see if deflection meets requirements. Shows if the correct servo arm and control horn holes are being used.
By setting the end-point sweep limits to your application, you can automate a control surface animation without binding up the mechanics.
Using the sweep speed adjustment, you can slow the servo to a miniscule speed and identify and binding in the mechanics.
Test your servos if they are new. This is a must. Setup a medium speed sweep at the full range to check for gearing problems. Run the sweep for about 3-5 minutes to bring the interior temperature up to max. This can identify problems with drive circuits in servo.
In the sweep mode, you can load the servo arm with your fingers to 'feel' if the torque is normal and what's required (use reasonable caution as to not hurt the servo). The current handling of the cycler/driver will by far exceed the typical battery and servo wires - you won't overload this cycler/driver.
In slow sweep modes, you can identify poor/bad servos. Some findings customers have found are gears not allowing full range of movement, especially after replacing a gear set, damaged gear teeth that were previously not known, servo driver electronics getting weak after getting warm in extended sweep tests and much more. Though not reported yet, you can assume to identify noisy pots, weak torque maybe in one direction only, large difference in same model servos in speed or torque or differences in displaced servo arm angles among similar servos.
You can drive ESC's. That's right! Bench test your e-motor system without using a transmitter and receiver. Because this cycler/driver uses correct PWM logic, Adjusting to the "Down" normal range limit will arm an ESC that is still in the factory program condition. The sweep, end-points and speed adjustments allows for testing the ESC for smoothness and response across the full range. Or, simply press the up or down buttons to set and hold the desired motor speed. One word of caution: Although this cycler/driver can be used to run an ESC, it was not part of the intended uses. Caution needs to be used as to not press any buttons while the ESC is armed unless you are ready for the motor to respond. For example, accidentally pressing the 'center' switch after the ESC has armed will immediately run the motor at 50% throttle. All safe use of motors and ESC's must be exercised and use of the "SERVO" driver as an ESC driver is at the users own risk.
A good place to use the cycler functions with end-point adjustments would be in animating landing gear and gear doors. The slow but smooth drive can allow you to see binding or ill timed mechanics.
By driving two servos at a time, aileron setups can be a snap.
Since any set pf pins can be battery or servo, you an orient the controller to the most convenient position when dealing with servos that are already installed in you plane.
I like this one! A customer at the University of Southern California used the rock steady 1.5ms center drive to drive the input of an off-the-shelf RC Gyro for a stand alone stabilization system.
Come up with your own ideas on how to use this cycler/driver. I'm sure that there are many more uses than listed here.
Again, they are fully assembled, easy to learn and easy to use. They are made on top quality PCB's and use quality parts - and they are made here in the USA (and who say's we don't make anything anymore?) The current price is $20 + $3 shipping and handling.
To order one, contact Gary Warner at warner1@airmail.net and put Cycler in the heading. You can respond here or with PM but for best service, please use the e-mail address or call 972-418-9000. I can accept Visa/Master Card checks and money orders.
Thanks for reading about this new product. Any comments about product are welcome in this thread.
Gary Warner
warner1@airmail.net
York Electronics
1005 S. Josey LN, Suite 208
Carrollton Tx 75006
972-418-9000
New product: YTV Cycler 3 - servo driver and cycler
(Edit 9/22/06) New Web Site at www.york-electronics.com (http://www.york-electronics.com)
I've been working on a servo cycler and driver and have now released version 3. Many ezone members have purchased my first versions and it was a great success. I have now improved the cycler/driver based on wish list input. The new versions are selling for $20 + $3 SH (USA).
If you use servos, you'll love this cycler/driver. Here's what it does:
Instant dead center (1.5ms) that does not drift.
Move and hold to any position from .8ms to 2.2ms. (+/- 120% range)
LED's alert to adjustments made outside normal limits (<1ms and >2ms)
Sweep from end to end at 9 speeds - from 45 seconds per sweep to faster than most servos can keep up with.
End-points for the sweep can be user programmable with memory after power is cut off.
The cycler/driver features:
Drive up to 4 servos at the same time.
Protected pins in hoods to prevent shorting.
Interface is 3 buttons and 2 LED's.
Micro controller accuracy and repeatability.
Small size - 1.6" x 1.2" - about the size of a box of matches.
Any set of pins can be the battery or a servo port.
Operation voltage from 2.5 volts to 12 volts (but your servo won't like 12 volts ;) )
Adjustable sweep end-points so if a servo is already installed you won't bind up the mechanics. End points memorized in non-volatile memory and one button to reset sweep range to factory range.
Possible uses:
Find dead center of servo before attaching servo arms for installation. Also, allows for a chance to center a control surface to the center of the servo position.
Adjust position to see if deflection meets requirements. Shows if the correct servo arm and control horn holes are being used.
By setting the end-point sweep limits to your application, you can automate a control surface animation without binding up the mechanics.
Using the sweep speed adjustment, you can slow the servo to a miniscule speed and identify and binding in the mechanics.
Test your servos if they are new. This is a must. Setup a medium speed sweep at the full range to check for gearing problems. Run the sweep for about 3-5 minutes to bring the interior temperature up to max. This can identify problems with drive circuits in servo.
In the sweep mode, you can load the servo arm with your fingers to 'feel' if the torque is normal and what's required (use reasonable caution as to not hurt the servo). The current handling of the cycler/driver will by far exceed the typical battery and servo wires - you won't overload this cycler/driver.
In slow sweep modes, you can identify poor/bad servos. Some findings customers have found are gears not allowing full range of movement, especially after replacing a gear set, damaged gear teeth that were previously not known, servo driver electronics getting weak after getting warm in extended sweep tests and much more. Though not reported yet, you can assume to identify noisy pots, weak torque maybe in one direction only, large difference in same model servos in speed or torque or differences in displaced servo arm angles among similar servos.
You can drive ESC's. That's right! Bench test your e-motor system without using a transmitter and receiver. Because this cycler/driver uses correct PWM logic, Adjusting to the "Down" normal range limit will arm an ESC that is still in the factory program condition. The sweep, end-points and speed adjustments allows for testing the ESC for smoothness and response across the full range. Or, simply press the up or down buttons to set and hold the desired motor speed. One word of caution: Although this cycler/driver can be used to run an ESC, it was not part of the intended uses. Caution needs to be used as to not press any buttons while the ESC is armed unless you are ready for the motor to respond. For example, accidentally pressing the 'center' switch after the ESC has armed will immediately run the motor at 50% throttle. All safe use of motors and ESC's must be exercised and use of the "SERVO" driver as an ESC driver is at the users own risk.
A good place to use the cycler functions with end-point adjustments would be in animating landing gear and gear doors. The slow but smooth drive can allow you to see binding or ill timed mechanics.
By driving two servos at a time, aileron setups can be a snap.
Since any set pf pins can be battery or servo, you an orient the controller to the most convenient position when dealing with servos that are already installed in you plane.
I like this one! A customer at the University of Southern California used the rock steady 1.5ms center drive to drive the input of an off-the-shelf RC Gyro for a stand alone stabilization system.
Come up with your own ideas on how to use this cycler/driver. I'm sure that there are many more uses than listed here.
Again, they are fully assembled, easy to learn and easy to use. They are made on top quality PCB's and use quality parts - and they are made here in the USA (and who say's we don't make anything anymore?) The current price is $20 + $3 shipping and handling.
To order one, contact Gary Warner at warner1@airmail.net and put Cycler in the heading. You can respond here or with PM but for best service, please use the e-mail address or call 972-418-9000. I can accept Visa/Master Card checks and money orders.
Thanks for reading about this new product. Any comments about product are welcome in this thread.
Gary Warner
warner1@airmail.net
York Electronics
1005 S. Josey LN, Suite 208
Carrollton Tx 75006
972-418-9000