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Step 6Original Design Using 555 Timer
For ease of construction, I highly recommend going with a modified servo or a gearbox motor instead of using the 555 timer circuit show below.ý There is almost nothing to be gained, or any improvement of operation of the machine using this circuit and a standard servo.
Some drawbacks in using the timer circuit are:ý you have to use a 4 cell battery pack.ý It won't run on any less voltage.ý This will ensure that the servo will run very quickly, sometimes too fast in my opinion.ý Using a modified servo, you can use 3 or possibly even only 2 cells, making the machine run at a slower, more spookier speed.ý
Another drawback of using the 555 timer version is placement of the mechanical parts are limited due to a standard servo only having 180 degrees of rotation.ý Using a modded servo or gearbox/motor will allow easier design and placement of the parts.
The only advantage with using a standard servo and the circuit is that just about any servo can be used, and if it should break or wear out, replacement is simple.
But when pondering the concept of the Useless Machine, perhaps going with the most complicated version is the aesthetically superior choice. ý ý
Note:ý if you need more rotation from the servo, change R3 to 10K.
sirus20x6 edited the 2nd schematic putting the pins in order.
colin55 provided the 3rd version.
All of the schematics are basically the same circuit, just arranged differently.
ý
Some drawbacks in using the timer circuit are:ý you have to use a 4 cell battery pack.ý It won't run on any less voltage.ý This will ensure that the servo will run very quickly, sometimes too fast in my opinion.ý Using a modified servo, you can use 3 or possibly even only 2 cells, making the machine run at a slower, more spookier speed.ý
Another drawback of using the 555 timer version is placement of the mechanical parts are limited due to a standard servo only having 180 degrees of rotation.ý Using a modded servo or gearbox/motor will allow easier design and placement of the parts.
The only advantage with using a standard servo and the circuit is that just about any servo can be used, and if it should break or wear out, replacement is simple.
But when pondering the concept of the Useless Machine, perhaps going with the most complicated version is the aesthetically superior choice. ý ý
Note:ý if you need more rotation from the servo, change R3 to 10K.
sirus20x6 edited the 2nd schematic putting the pins in order.
colin55 provided the 3rd version.
All of the schematics are basically the same circuit, just arranged differently.
ý
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Let me know if that helps!
Thanks again for your advice ... now it perfectly works !
just another question, i'm a beginner in electronics, i want to "pimp" my box with a led so where could i connect it to make it light when it's on ???
a bientot!
When the servo turns, voltage shrinks, which will reduce the pulse length, which might make your servo turn back and forth like hell and might destroy it. so i just added another 6V power which just powers the servo, pulses are powered by their own 6V.
More research shows that I get about .1 volts when I read across ground and common on Switch2 when it is in the closed position. I'd imagine this value should be zero. Am I wrong?
Does anyone else this bleeding voltage issue?
Came across this the other day while searching for info. Has a cool animation on the workings of the 555. I still don't understand them but it's a start. Click HERE.
I have come up with the same circuit but simplified to just 2 switches, motor and battery.
Much easier I think.
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/8618/uselessboxschematics.jpg
Heres some pictures :
http://img694.imageshack.us/i/pc100029.jpg/ - finished device
http://img190.imageshack.us/i/pc100028a.jpg/ - push button used to break circuit
http://img709.imageshack.us/i/pc100027a.jpg/ - inside device
http://img94.imageshack.us/i/pc100026.jpg/ - electronic components
There doesnt seem to be too much force imparted onto the gears, so im hoping it will all hold up nice.
Well, when the lever comes down, it holds the push button down inside the box and breaks the circuit. So, the whole device is turned off without using a timer.
Gotta make sure the motor has a gearbox btw, otherwise it wont hold down the button while theres no power.
Your circuit works great with a plain old motor, but won't work with a servo that hasn't been lobotomized. The servos expect a pulsed input to drive them that the 555 timer supplies. If you rip the guts out of a servo or just solder leads directly to the motor this method would probably work. I don't know what the voltage rating is on a "standard" servo however so you might want to be careful if you were to do that.
Thanks for the great schematic though! It certainly is easier to build than the version with the 555.
www.hobbyengineering.com/H1210.html
It is basically the mechanical bits of a servo without the electronics.
SURE is worth to use a simple wire-switch method instead of a 555 and other electronics components!
Compliments for the NEAT schematics!!!!
ciao
Mairo
Thanks
Zak
The red cable from the servo conects to +ve terminal on the battery pack.
The brown (or black) cable from the servo connects to the ground (or -ve) on the battery pack.
The yellow (or orange or white) cable from the servo connects to pin 3 on the 555 timer.
I hope this helps.
After SaskView and Toy-soldier's advice I changed the +ve connection on my machine.
The details are from TALKING ELECTRONIC website. See 50 - 555 Projects in the left index.
at first great THX to Sasview for this tutorial.
But,i have the same problem as xained described, it only turns in one direction, in my case the back direction.
I have the black wire from the servo on pin 1 and the red one on pin 3, is this correct? What about the white wire from the servo?
Any Suggestions?
(sorry for my bad english, je suis francophone)