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[HELP] Firgelli Linear Actuator

 
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aficionado



Joined: 14 Mar 2011
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[HELP] Firgelli Linear Actuator
PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:03 am     Reply with quote

Hi

I am planning to use a L12-100-210-6-P firgelli linear actuator for my educational project. Since I am not good enough in electronics, there are a few questions which I need help.

Can anyone help in a more straight forward explanation by what it means of P version (position feedback signal)? I mean, can I simply control the moveable rod position by a potentiometer?

Does anyone know what kind of material the rod is (stainless steel, aluminum, etc)? Because I want to engrave it so that I can put scales (in mm) on it to measure its traveling distance.

Many thanks for your help Very Happy
temtronic



Joined: 01 Jul 2010
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:21 am     Reply with quote

Simply , yes.
According to the datasheet, the wiper of the pot follows the travel of the shaft.You'll have to make some electronics between the pot and the PIC though.Specs say pot is 2.75K / mm x 100 mm travel = 275k. Some sort of opamp buffer will do.Also the ends of the pot are available and typically one end goes to ground, the other to a STABLE reference. That way you'll have good,accurate readings all the time.Be sure to add caps as required to filter out any noise.

I'd setup a stable Vref of 5 volts, use it for both PIC ADC Vref as well as the pot, using 10 bit adc, you'll get .1mm / bit....

Most shafts will be stainless steel, easy to email the mfr. to confirm. I would NOT mark the shaft at all, it will damage the seals, possibly allowing 'bad stuff' inside destroying the pot and other electronics !
Instead mount a small 'flag' or 'pointer' onto the end of the rod to move next to a section of metric tapemeasure.

The RC plane guys must be happy ! With the rc servo option, these would be ideal for landing gear installations, getting rid of the older onboard air reservoir systems !
John P



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:55 am     Reply with quote

However, if you run your pot between Vcc and Gnd and also have a buffer amplifier that runs off the same power supply, you are likely to have difficulty reading the ends of the travel accurately. You'd need to use a wider power supply range for the amplifier, or you could put additional fixed resistors in series with the pot so that the output voltage never reaches Vcc or Gnd.
Humberto



Joined: 08 Sep 2003
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:18 am     Reply with quote

Quote:


Can anyone help in a more straight forward explanation by what it means of P version (position feedback signal)?
I mean, can I simply control the movable rod position by a potentiometer?

It is closed loop controlled, is need a driver to activate the built-in DC motor. If you do not want to fight with
electronics, you can buy the board controller which is ready to use it and has all the electronic functions needed
in order to control the actuator.
The function of the pot - which is mechanically attached to the shaft- to show the actual feedback position.

http://www.ccsinfo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42919&highlight=firgelli

Humberto
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:06 am     Reply with quote

Thanks a lot guys...but...I am not so much into electronics..so I can hardly understand what you all are saying..sorry for that..

Let me tell you what I understand (maybe I am wrong, correct me).
There are 5 connections for L12-P actuator, namely 1 to 5 (as in the datasheet). I simply thought that I can connect 3 and 4 to power supply, and 1, 2 and 5 to a simple potentiometer and that's it..I can control it just by twisting the potentiometer, no need for other electronic devices such as PIC, ADC, op amp or anything else. Is that so? Please guys..correct me if I am wrong..

Ok now, if I do need some electronics, I am not sure I can build it. I may consider buying the control board. But the problem is there are more than one boards (this is what I know), i.e. CIB and LAC. What board is actually suitable for L12-P? And does anyone know the price? One more thing, can the control board show the distance traveled by the rod?

Your help are very much appreciated.
Ttelmah



Joined: 11 Mar 2010
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:33 am     Reply with quote

It depends on the L12 version.
The more basic ones require external control electronics. The ones with numbers like:

L12-SS-GG-VV-I-L

With 'I' in the penultimate position, have the control electronics built in, and can do what you want.
These though have a _six_ wire connector, not five. The ones with the five wire connector, need an external controller. Page 3 of the L12 data sheet, 'Option I', '0-5v Interface mode'.

Best Wishes
Ttelmah



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:41 am     Reply with quote

On 'reading the position', this would depend on the scaling you want, but simplest, if you attach a voltmeter to the voltage on the feedback pin, then this would read 0-5, for the movement of the shaft. Add scaling resistors, and this could show 0-1, --2, etc..

The CIB, was the older control board. The LAC is the newer one. Both would do what you want, the LAC, adds USB interfacing, while the CIB had serial. However both can act as potentiometer to position controllers without using this interface.

Best Wishes
aficionado



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PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:17 am     Reply with quote

Ok, thanks for the info. I think it's better if I briefly describe what I want and seek some help and opinion from you guys.

I want a moveable rod (vertically), which can be moved and stopped anywhere from 0-50mm, and I have to know the exact location/distance when it stops (I can't see the rod. It will be in a closed box with only wires going out).

So what are the options I have? Should I have a control board with the L12 motor? What kind of L12 motor I should have (P or I)?

Many thanks guys. Really appreciate it.
necati



Joined: 12 Sep 2003
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PQ-CIB
PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:17 am     Reply with quote

http://www.servomagazine.com/media-files/797/PQ-CIB_controller.zip
aficionado



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Re: PQ-CIB
PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:02 am     Reply with quote

necati wrote:
http://www.servomagazine.com/media-files/797/PQ-CIB_controller.zip

Thanks. But I do not know what this is.

Can anyone help me please?
Geps



Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 10:33 am     Reply with quote

Quote:
updated November 7, 2006 - NMK
Program written to control the Firgelli PQ-12-20-63-A 5Vdc linear actuator.
This program polls three inputs to determine the type of signal source: RC, Voltage or PWM, or
Current. The appropriate subroutine is then entered and the program remains in the subroutine
until reset. The analog to digital converter and the RTCC (aka timer0) both of which use the
internal oscillator are used. A motor stall condition is determined by comparing the previous
and current feedback reading during either retract or extend.


From the file itself.


It's hard to help a person who doesn't want to help themself.
Ttelmah



Joined: 11 Mar 2010
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:21 am     Reply with quote

Seriously, anyone in our company who downloaded a .ZIP file without knowing what it was, would probably find themselves out of a job....

It was silly, to post the link, without a basic 'what this is' explanation.
However though 'great', given the original poster's lack of knowledge, I'd doubt if they'd be able to use this without a lot of help.

Best Wishes
Geps



Joined: 05 Jul 2010
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 7:54 am     Reply with quote

Ttelmah wrote:
Seriously, anyone in our company who downloaded a .ZIP file without knowing what it was, would probably find themselves out of a job....

It was silly, to post the link, without a basic 'what this is' explanation.
However though 'great', given the original poster's lack of knowledge, I'd doubt if they'd be able to use this without a lot of help.

Best Wishes


Good advice, but you should always exercise caution when clicking a link, description or not the risk remains the same.
aficionado



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PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 10:15 am     Reply with quote

Geps wrote:
Quote:
updated November 7, 2006 - NMK
Program written to control the Firgelli PQ-12-20-63-A 5Vdc linear actuator.
This program polls three inputs to determine the type of signal source: RC, Voltage or PWM, or
Current. The appropriate subroutine is then entered and the program remains in the subroutine
until reset. The analog to digital converter and the RTCC (aka timer0) both of which use the
internal oscillator are used. A motor stall condition is determined by comparing the previous
and current feedback reading during either retract or extend.

so this is what the files about..
guys, i know what .zip file is..i extracted it but i did not know what the files were..
it was posted without any explanation at all..anyway thanks to @necati for the file..
fyi, i want to apply this actuator into my project, which is in high voltage engineering field..with that said, i know something about electrical, but not so much in electronics..that's why i need your help..
i emailed the manufacturer for inquiries..but still no answer..
and just so you know, i am helping myself here..
ep7000



Joined: 25 Mar 2011
Posts: 1
Location: usa

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Source for actuators
PostPosted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 8:25 pm     Reply with quote

Yes I'm new here. Here is a place to get actuators, straightforward, no BS.
http://www.linaractuator12v.com

Hope it helps.

Peace!

ep
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Linear Actuators 12v
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