Encapsulating the Step Servo Motor With Serial Control Via Arduino Using a 3D Printer - Pt4

In this fourth video of the Motor Step series, we’ll use what we’ve learned previously to build a stepper servo motor with control via serial communication and real position feedback using a resistive encoder monitored by an Arduino. In addition, every assembly will be encapsulated in a plastic housing built using a 3D printer.

In this video, I will show you how we made the stepper engine turn into a servo motor, controlled by commands. This time, we created a box made in the 3D printer. With this, our engine is super compact, and even looks like a professional servo motor model. So, in our specific assembly, I would like to point out that we used an Arduino Nano. This model was chosen because of its size, as it fit optimally in the box we designed.

Step 1: Servo With Serial Communication

Here, we have the 3D view in Solid Works from the box we designed and printed in 3D.

Step 2: Key Features

Allows commands through serial communication
Compact and easy to assemble
Uses stepper motor, a stronger and more precise motor than DC motors
Flexibility in software configurations, allowing for varying forms of control
Return of the actual position information by reading the sensor

Step 3: Assembly

In this assembly, we will use Arduino Nano and a Nema 17 standard pitch motor with double axle.

The potentiometer will continue to operate as a sensor of the current axis position. To do this, attach the motor shaft to the potentiometer knob.

This time, we will connect the potentiometer to analog input A7.

• The AXIS will connect to pin A7 (purple wire)

• 5V power supply (green wire)

• The GND reference (black wire)

ATTENTION!!!

Before attaching the sensor potentiometer to the shaft, test the assembly to verify that the rotation is occurring in the correct direction. When driving a position increase, the motor must rotate in order to increase the sensor potentiometer.

If the rotation is occurring in reverse, simply reverse the polarization of the potentiometer.

As the pitch motor torque is usually high, it can damage the sensor potentiometer by trying to get you into a position that can’t be reached.