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Need Help with a Project (a secret box)

Former Member

Okay so as i mentioned in the title i want some help with a Project im doing that i named "A Secret Box".

 

So the problem is that im a big noob when it comes to both the Arduino and the Raspberry Pi so i need a bit of help with everything basically.

  • I need help with what kind of motors to have Pistons/Servos/Steppers.
  • I need help with how to setup the Arduino and the motors (just link a tutorial that i can look at / read)
  • How to connect the Arduino and Raspberry Pi
  • And much more i guess with upcoming problems i will have.

 

So i have made a little picture explaining my design and purpose of this project.

It's a box cut down into a desk that im going to build for my setup. under the box i have the second box with an Arduino and two motors (maybe more).

image

 

I hope this is enough to get some good answers on what to buy because that is my biggest question for this.

I already have the Raspberry Pi and im going to start playing with that when i have time.

Parents Reply
  • in reply to Former Member

    Hi,  I cannot recommend an actuator because I do not know the height and weight you want to lift.  The Arduino can easily receive serial commands from any terminal program, CoolTerm is very good, but why would you want to tie up a PC just to control this mechanism?  You could control the thing with just an up and down switch.

Children
  • in reply to bobcroft

    The high will maybe be something around 10 - 20 cm and weight will be around 1kg.

     

    Also i want to control it from the PC because i think its easier and i dont want a switch that others can click on.

     

    Skickat från min iPhone

     

    26 feb 2015 kl. 21:24 skrev "bobcroft" <messages@element14.com>:

     

     

     

    Need Help with a Project (a secret box)

    created by bobcroft in Arduino - View the full discussion

    Hi,  I cannot recommend an actuator because I do not know the height and weight you want to lift.  The Arduino can easily receive serial commands from any terminal program, CoolTerm is very good, but why would you want to tie up a PC just to control this mechanism?  You could control the thing with just an up and down switch.

     

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  • in reply to Former Member

    Arvid,

                the requirements of the linear actuator are are straight forward just pick one that is,say, 12 VDC and has a movement of 200mm and able to lift more than 1 kg.

     

    Regarding controller the unit from the PC, no problem.  You could look at ‘Firmdata’ (Google ‘Firmdata’ on Arduino) or just use basic serial commands sent from your PC com port using a terminal program (CoolTerm).  When the Arduino receives the appropriate command it will raise or lower the actuator.

    You need to Google ‘receive serial strings on Arduino’ to find code to put the received characters into a string and then parse the result to find the command you sent.  Alternatively you could just use a single letter command such U for up and D for down, you would check the received character and if it was a valid command actuate the actuator.

     

    You will need a two relays to control the actuator, one to control the power On/Off and one for direction.  These relays should ideally opto coupled types so that only a small current is taken from the Arduino and the power side of the system is separated from the control side.

     

    you need a DC supply to provide 7-12 input to the Arduino and if the actuator is 12 VDC you need a 12 VDC supply with a current rating about 1.5 times higher than the  actuator rating.  So if the actuator draws 2 amp then you need a 3 amp supply.

     

    Alternatives to control the actuator are a motor drive board / shield or a H bridge design.

     

    Google is your friend and lots of information on the items I have mentioned can be easily found.

     

    Bob

  • in reply to bobcroft

    Okay thanks this will really help.

    And yes google is always my friend you just have to know what your searching for.

     

    Skickat från min iPhone

     

    27 feb 2015 kl. 09:23 skrev "bobcroft" <messages@element14.com>:

     

     

     

    Need Help with a Project (a secret box)

    created by bobcroft in Arduino - View the full discussion

    Arvid,

     

                the requirements of the linear actuator are are straight forward just pick one that is,say, 12 VDC and has a movement of 200mm and able to lift more than 1 kg.

     

     

     

    Regarding controller the unit from the PC, no problem.  You could look at ‘Firmdata’ (Google ‘Firmdata’ on Arduino) or just use basic serial commands sent from your PC com port using a terminal program (CoolTerm).  When the Arduino receives the appropriate command it will raise or lower the actuator.

     

    You need to Google ‘receive serial strings on Arduino’ to find code to put the received characters into a string and then parse the result to find the command you sent.  Alternatively you could just use a single letter command such U for up and D for down, you would check the received character and if it was a valid command actuate the actuator.

     

     

     

    You will need a two relays to control the actuator, one to control the power On/Off and one for direction.  These relays should ideally opto coupled types so that only a small current is taken from the Arduino and the power side of the system is separated from the control side.

     

     

     

    you need a DC supply to provide 7-12 input to the Arduino and if the actuator is 12 VDC you need a 12 VDC supply with a current rating about 1.5 times higher than the  actuator rating.  So if the actuator draws 2 amp then you need a 3 amp supply.

     

     

     

    Alternatives to control the actuator are a motor drive board / shield or a H bridge design.

     

     

     

    Google is your friend and lots of information on the items I have mentioned can be easily found.

     

     

     

    Bob

     

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  • in reply to Former Member

    Arvid,

                That is very true about Google searches and I often find that by using different search text I can get more information.  with your project you can develop and prove your code by using a couple of LED’s till you sort out the actuator.  If you can turn the LED’s connected to your Arduino on /off from your computer by serial command then the problem is solved.

     

    good luck with your project.

     

    Bob

  • in reply to Former Member

    Arvid Gullqvist wrote:


    Also i want to control it from the PC because i think its easier and i dont want a switch that others can click on.

     

    You could also look into using one of these: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/125Khz-RFID-module-UART-p-171.html

    Placed underneath the top surface of the secret compartment, it could read the code from a key fob on your keyring (as long as the material isn't too thick), and lift the box.

     

    image

    When you take your keys off the desk it could automatically close.