Hello everyone,

I was wondering if there is a way to center the servo motor any way without using a sensor and when I mean centering, I mean a certain side always facing the front, not centering as in configuring to get the servo to stop moving at a certain pulse width. Here is the servo motor I am using: Parallax (Futaba) Continuous Rotation Servo

and here is a link to the manual of the motor:

http://www.parallax.com/Portals/0/Downloads/docs/prod/motors/900-00008-CRServo-v2.1.pdf

I will be attaching an 80 cm distance sensor on the servo motor as well.


Thank you.

 

I don't think it's possible to do this without any sensor. Your microcontroller will be controlling the PWM and if you want to stop the motor at a certain point, you will have to give the controller an information about its position. However, once you somehow attach a distance sensor to your motor you WILL have this information. Once you calibrated it, you can always stop your motor at the same position.

 

Hm... it looks like I'll be adding a line sensor at the bottom of my turning component and draw a white line at the bottom on a black surface to pin point the center for the servo motor. Anyone have better ideas?

 

How about using a normal servo and a couple of gears if you want something that is capable of rotating 180 degrees either side of centre.

 

Normal servo? Can you give me an example. Also, I am very limited in space.

 

If you put a gear on this and a gear on the output shaft with half as many teeth that would do it.
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Acces...ortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/101/Default.aspx

 

If you put a gear on this and a gear on the output shaft with half as many teeth that would do it.
http://www.parallax.com/Store/Acces...ortField/0/Level/a/ProductID/101/Default.aspx

Son of a.... LOL I bought the wrong servo motor.... Haha, thanks! I guess I'll go downtown tomorrow to get the motor.

EDIT: So, I can modify my motor to become a standard motor?

 

It might be possible to un-modify it, there are tutorials for modifying them if you search around a bit.

Another possible option is a sail winch servo, which usually rotate 360 degrees or more.
http://www.active-robots.com/videos/product-applications.shtml