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Roadtest - Tester

MPS MA732 MagAlpha Angle Sensor Kit with Servo Motor - Industrial Sensing

rscasny

Table of contents

Summary

The TBMA732-Q-RD-00A is the round-version test board for the MagAlpha magnetic position angle sensor MA732. The MA732 sensor detects the absolute angular position of a permanent magnet, typically a diametrically magnetized cylinder on a rotating shaft. It comes mounted on a fully integrated smart motor solution for servo motor applications (EVKT-MSM942038-24). The MA732 is used for general purpose angle measurement, or on devices such as Angle Encoders, Automotive Angle or Speed Sensors, and Robotics.

RoadTest Goal

We want the roadtester to evaluate the MA 732: a 14-Bit, Digital, Contactless Angle Sensor with ABZ Incremental & PWM Outputs. It is capable of fast data acquisition & processing to provide accurate angle measurements at speeds from 0 to 60,000 rpm. The sponsor has prepared a testing and setup procedure (see next section) for ease of use for a hobbyist.

Discussion

How Would You RoadTest the MagAlpha Angle Sensor Kit?

Test Procedure

This kit comes with a servo BLDC motor which can be driven in speed or position mode via RS485. Attached to the rotor is a diametrically magnetized magnet which rotates with the motor rotor. Above this magnet is an MA702 with a 1-2 mm airgap.

Download the following document prepared for this roadtest on how the MA702 angle sensor can be read / evaluated. Instructions for running the motor via an Arduino MEGA and RS485 driver are included.

(MA732 Roadtest Setup Guide and Getting Started)

(MSM zip folder)

Product Variants

MPS offers several product variants:

MA735 MA780 MA820 MA310
MA736 MA782 MA704 MA302
MA734 MAQ470 MA730 MA102
MA732 MAQ430 MA710 MA850
MAQ473 MA800 MA702 MA330

MA732 - This is the product variant used for this roadtest.

Kit Contents

  • TBMA732-Q-RD-00A -- round-version test board for the MagAlpha magnetic position angle sensor MA732, which is mounted on the servo motor
  • eMotion SystemTM Smart Motor Module--servo motor kit
  • Communications kit (EVKT-MACOM)
  • Anmbest RS485 Interface board
  • Arduino Mega2560

Hardware Technical Description

The MPS MagAlpha family of magnetic angle position sensors offers a revolutionary way to measure angles. The MagAlpha range offers unique performance advantages compared to rival magnetic sensing technologies.

MagAlpha sensors use the patented SpinAxisTM Hall measurement technique that provides instantaneous angle position in a digital format. SpinAxisTM uses a phase detection approach that eliminates any need for analog to digital conversion or complex angle calculation used by more traditional technologies. Click here for more information.

MA732 Angular Position Sensor

The MA732 detects the absolute angular position of a permanent magnet, typically a diametrically magnetized cylinder on a rotating shaft. Fast data acquisition and processing provide accurate angle measurements at speeds from 0 to 60,000 rpm. The digital filtering is adjustable to optimize control loop performance when used in servo applications.

The MA732 supports a wide range of magnetic field strengths and spatial configurations. Both end-of-shaft and off-axis (side-shaft mounting) configurations are supported.

The MA732 features magnetic field strength detection with programmable thresholds to allow sensing of the magnet position relative to the sensor for creation of functions, such as the sensing of axial movements or for diagnostics.

On-chip non-volatile memory provides storage for configuration parameters, including the reference zero angle position, ABZ encoder settings, and magnetic field detection thresholds. Click here for more information: 

Features

  • 9-Bit to 14-Bit Resolution Absolute Angle Encoder
  • Contactless Sensing for Long Life
  • SPI Serial Interface for Digital Angle Readout and Chip Configuration
  • Incremental 12-Bit ABZ Quadrature Encoder Interface with Programmable Pulses Per Turn from 1 - 1024
  • PWM Output 14-Bit
  • Programmable Magnetic Field Strength Detection for Diagnostic Checks
  • 3V, 12mA Supply
  • -40°C to +125°C Operating Temperature
  • Available in a QFN-16 (3mmx3mm) Package

TBMA732-Q-RD-00A Round Eval Board for MA732

The TBMA732-Q-RD-00A is the round test board for the MagAlpha magnetic position sensor MA732. This configuration is used for end shaft sensing.

It requires the communications kit (EVKT-MACOM) and the Macom App Software (see below) to evaluate MagAlpha functionality and performance with your set-up, such as noise level, refresh rate, power-up time, and magnetic field dependence.

In addition to this round test board, there is a long format version (LT) where the sensor is mounted on the edge of the board and can therefore be used in both side-shaft and end-of-shaft configurations. Click here for more information.

EVKT-MACOM MagAlpha Communication Kit

The EVKT-MACOM is a communication kit for the MagAlpha magnetic position sensor family. The EVKT-MACOM offers a seamless

connection and operation with MagAlpha test boards (TBMA) and evaluation kits (EVKTKNOB). The EVKT-MACOM kit contains a microcontroller motherboard, a collection of daughter boards adapted to different sensor boards, and the related cables. For more information CLICK HERE

Software

  • No Software Licenses
  • Use documentation in Test Procedure Section

Additional Information

Important Dates 

Begin enrollment: June 24, 2022
End enrollment: July 24, 2022
Select RoadTesters: July 29, 2022
Ship unit date: Aug 16 2022
Begin RoadTesting: Aug 23 2022
Element14 follow up: Sept 23 2022
Post Reviews by: Oct 23 2022

Terms and Conditions

Click Here to read the Terms and Conditions.

RoadTesters

shabaz due date Oct 23 2022

Guillaume_Martin due date Oct 23 2022

bac2348 due date Oct 23 2022

Cristi due date Oct 26 2022

DaveTheWalker due date Oct 26 2022

Comment List
Anonymous

  • Interesting kit but I can't buy it anymore on Farnell. Is there another way to get this kit?

  • Hi,

    To anyone working on this RoadTest, or to anyone who comes across the motor supplied as part of the kit;

    there are some bugs in the source code, here are the changes that are needed to the MSM.cpp file:

    In the writeReg function:

    Change:

    msgBuf[0]= BROAD_SA<<1;
    msgBuf[1]= (regAdd<<1) + 1;

    to:

    msgBuf[0]= (BROAD_SA<<1) | 0x01;
    msgBuf[1]= (regAdd<<1) | 0x01;

    In the readReg function:

    Change:

    msgBuf[0] = BROAD_SA << 1;
    msgBuf[1] = regAdd << 1;

    to:

    msgBuf[0] = (BROAD_SA << 1) | 0x01;
    msgBuf[1] = (regAdd << 1) & 0xfe;

    Note that even when you make the changes, the readReg function might not work (it didn't for me), however it's not necessary for the RoadTest (it's not core to anything, since all that's important is writing to the motor controller, not reading from it). But if you solve the readReg, do let me know since I'm curious.

    Also, I have not tested this on the Arduino environment (I used a Pico instead). But the exact same change would be needed for Arduino too; I can't see that it can work without the changes. With the changes, I can successfully control the motor.

  • in reply to me_Cris

    Maybe you just don't see it going to the asked position and look when it's already locked. The function available in the library has a revolutions count parameter. You could try setting it to something big. You would probably be able to see it moving before locking into position.

  • Hello! For those who received the kit recently, can you tell me if the sketch with the motor position control works for you? 

    The motor shaft does not rotate at all.

    *The sketch with the speed control works.

  • in reply to DaveTheWalker

    Guillaume_Martin helped me out with a tip.  You can comment out the "#include "Base.h"" line from the MSM.h file.

    I had actually tried this before, but hit a load more compiler errors and gave up... but I should have read the errors!  It turns out that MSM.cpp is missing the leading "#" from "#include "MSM.h"".  If you reinstate that, it all compiles OK.

    Thanks for the help .  I hope other people can make it work, as well Slight smile

  • I'm trying to work through this roadtest but I have hit an issue.  When I come to try the MSM sketches, I get the error:

    Arduino: 1.8.19 (Windows Store 1.8.57.0) (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Mega or Mega 2560, ATmega2560 (Mega 2560)"

    In file included from C:\Users\davet\OneDrive\Documents\Arduino\libraries\MSM\examples\Speed_mode\Speed_mode.pde:4:0:
    C:\Users\davet\OneDrive\Documents\Arduino\libraries\MSM/MSM.h:10:10: fatal error: Base.h: No such file or directory
    #include "Base.h"
    ^~~~~~~~
    compilation terminated.
    exit status 1
    Error compiling for board Arduino Mega or Mega 2560.

    From which library does Base.h come?  I haven't been able to find it in the Library manager.

  • in reply to robogary

    I guess they could be at slightly different heights too, so they would never hit each other even if synchronization wasn't good.

  • I had a wild thought, if the angle position regulation was really good, two propellers could be in close proximity to get extra lift in a small space.

    image

  • The sponsor write a special setting up guide for this roadtest. The link is above, but I'll repost it here:

    /products/roadtest/m/files/146190

    One roadtest option would be to set up the kit and write a review based on that.

    Randall

  • This could be a real problem-solver for wood/metalworking, and workshops! There are a ton of tools that need precise positioning, and not everyone is CNC-ready, I'm not.

    I'm wondering if it could be used to measure milling machine axes.

    Basically, such tools have three wheels you're supposed to manually rotate, to move the X, Y or Z axes.

    On my machine, one full turn corresponds to 2mm of axis movement.

    So, if I'm cutting a 20.5 mm long slot, with a 4 mm diameter tool (similar to a drill bit but slightly different), then I need to mentally subtract 4mm from 20.5mm, which gives me 16.5mm, and then I need to turn the wheel 8 and one quarter turn. You can imagine that errors can occur, if you miscalculate or forget how much you have turned : ) Also, you're not necessarily turning the wheel from a set position, because you have to compensate for any backlash (often plenty of that in low-cost tools), so some subtraction is needed for the offset.

    It would be awesome to be able to punch in your tool diameter, and the distance you wish to cut, and then just rotate the wheel until (say) it beeps rapidly and then continuously, like a car reversing indicator : )

    A full-blown digital readout (DRO) would be neat too, but that's a bit more of a major project.