Joystick interface to stepper motors!

Does anybody have a simple solution?
i wish to control a camera mount, with two steppers,
from a analog joystik

im thinking to use a simple comparator compuling to determine
"up / down" and somehow rig up a voltage controlled oscilator to make
a frequency depending on the stick position.. so i can "pan" the camera slowly, or fast when the stick is in end positions

and rig this frequency to a counter, that counts up/down according to the direction!

and last, use a Darlington eg. ULN2003 or simular to drive the stepper power

is this posible? and do anybody have simular finished projects
and / or other ideas.
i realise that i could use a microcontroller. But software is really not my strong side!

Any input is appresiated

/Kyndal

I think that microcontroller with built-in ADC is the best solution. For example, you can get Microchip's PIC16F877 (samples along with MPLAB software are available on Microchip's site) and UC1517 as external driver for stepper motor. Free C compiler (with some limitations) is available from HI-TECH. Code exampes are available here: https://www.microchipc.com/sourcecode

Good luck!

Ace-X.

i think i will work on the "analog and logic" solution, a bit more..

but to control the speed, i need a Voltage controlled oscillator. how does i make a simple one?

i have control voltage between 0 and 6 volt (other is posible 6-12?)
and i need frequency ranging from 1-5 Hz to around 20 - 30 50? hz!
how can i make this easyiest?

it could be 1 - 5 khz, then i could use a counter to rig it down!
or something??

the frequency acurancy is not cricital at all. it is just used for speed selection
of the stepper controller

/Kyndal

Why you don't use any RC servo which is very simple to drive and can assolve your job quikly? To set its position you have to sent a PWM.
In WEB you can find everything!

Lollo

if i where to use servos insted of steppers, i would have to make huge changes to the existing camera system!

it has steppers, gears and all.. So ill just use that

/Kyndal

first of all, this if fully digital (not for analog joystick)
i need variable speed, not just full speed or no speed..

and second. this is ment to be plucked into the joystick port of the computer! and controlled by doftware ..

Thanks anyway..

ill just keep looking