Servo - December 2015

How Do You Shut This Thing Off?

We sometimes are faced with the opposite problem and need to control when a motion is paused or stopped. In this situation, limit switches can come to the rescue.

Adding a limit switch or two to your design may be just what the doctor ordered when trying to get a mechanism to start and stop in exactly the right spot. The first time I used this approach was for an opening coffin which followed the design put together by friend and fellow haunter, Gary Adams ( http://tinyurl.com/oln7kjn). It allows a wiper motor to rotate 180 degrees, pause, and then continue rotating another 180 degrees to its starting point to wait to be triggered again. You can see the motor and limit switches in action at http://tinyurl.com/q4d7vf9.

A Small Price to Pay

Trigger components are often overlooked when preparing the design budget, but play a key role in how well a character performs. With a wide range in cost, it does not have to be an expensive component. However, this is not a place to skimp. Spend a little extra if needed and get the correct component to achieve your desired effect.

It’s All in the Details

Finding just the right solution for a problem can be challenging. Do not be afraid to try another method if your current attempt is not working correctly.

You can improve the performance of your sensors with a bit of code manipulation when using your sensor in conjunction with a microprocessor. Consider the example codes presented here as simply guides. Take the code and adapt it to optimize the performance of your particular design. Bend it to your will!

We all have a tendency to use techniques that we are familiar and comfortable with. Use this as an opportunity to build your knowledge base. When up against a deadline, that’s not the time to be investigating new techniques. Spend some off time experimenting with previously untried methods that can then be incorporated into future designs.

Exploring new techniques can help keep your interest high and your passion alive. If you do the same thing over and over again for long enough, you will eventually lose interest and find something more interesting to do. Do not let the spirit die!

It’s Time to Put This Topic to Rest

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to tackle this issue and I have touched on just a few. I hope you take some of the ideas presented here and give them a try in one of your future projects. The ability to precisely determine when a prop will activate is a valuable tool.

As you have seen, sensors can perform the necessary role of tripping your prop, but they can also do so much more. Being able to utilize numerous techniques will elevate your designs a step above the ordinary and make your creations stand out. There are many choices and being comfortable using a variety of different technologies will make you a better builder.

Do you have an idea on how to better utilize these sensors? What is your favorite way to trigger your designs? Please post them in the DIY Animatronics forum at http://tinyurl.com/qjeehjs so that everyone can benefit.