lpns
Newbie
I'd like to build my kids a toy elevator (e.g. for placing inside their Lego builds). I'm not sure what all the components I'd need are so at least for now I'm looking for high-level advice.
This is what I think I'd need, but I'm sure there are things I haven't taken into account—comments welcome:
1) Step motor
- I am totally unfamiliar with these, what types there are, etc.
- Let's assume the expected maximum mass of the load (elevator + passengers) is 300 grams. My assumption is that pretty much all step motors are way beyond this requirement.
2) Connection from step motor to a microcontroller
- Is the step motor controlled by changing the voltage (i.e. after a threshold voltage, the more voltage there is, the faster it goes) or using constant voltage and using PWM etc.?
- Anything I need between the motor and the controller besides 2 wires? (Based on the selected step motor and its power usage, I will select the most appropriate AWG rating)
3) Microcontroller
- Do I need an SBC like RPi or Arduino?
- If I can do away with something much simpler than an Arduino board, then what would suffice, and how do I program it?
4) Simple display to show floor count, e.g. if elevator car travels up to the level of 4 vertically stacked duplo legos, then the count would show "1"
- Extra: Display can be programmed to show anything with pixel graphics. It could even be OLED if the price is low. Price is not the #1 consideration here.
5) Adapters for attaching elevator cable to a spool that attaches to the step motor shaft.
- Note: I have the capability to design and 3D print any needed plastic parts
6) Power source
- I have 18650 Li-Ions + BMS boards to handle under/overcharge protections + charging from mains 220V. I can create battery packs of various voltages and max. output currents.
7) Power switch (these I have)
8) Battery level indicator (these I also have)
Extras:
- Ability to control the speed precisely such that I can program "ease-in-out" types of movement starts and endings using my own formulas (or ready-made)
- Voice control. If I say "hey Google, take me to floor X", the elevator would obey
What am I missing? My biggest knowledge gaps lie with step motors and microcontrollers.
Any help and comments are much appreciated.
Thank you.
This is what I think I'd need, but I'm sure there are things I haven't taken into account—comments welcome:
1) Step motor
- I am totally unfamiliar with these, what types there are, etc.
- Let's assume the expected maximum mass of the load (elevator + passengers) is 300 grams. My assumption is that pretty much all step motors are way beyond this requirement.
2) Connection from step motor to a microcontroller
- Is the step motor controlled by changing the voltage (i.e. after a threshold voltage, the more voltage there is, the faster it goes) or using constant voltage and using PWM etc.?
- Anything I need between the motor and the controller besides 2 wires? (Based on the selected step motor and its power usage, I will select the most appropriate AWG rating)
3) Microcontroller
- Do I need an SBC like RPi or Arduino?
- If I can do away with something much simpler than an Arduino board, then what would suffice, and how do I program it?
4) Simple display to show floor count, e.g. if elevator car travels up to the level of 4 vertically stacked duplo legos, then the count would show "1"
- Extra: Display can be programmed to show anything with pixel graphics. It could even be OLED if the price is low. Price is not the #1 consideration here.
5) Adapters for attaching elevator cable to a spool that attaches to the step motor shaft.
- Note: I have the capability to design and 3D print any needed plastic parts
6) Power source
- I have 18650 Li-Ions + BMS boards to handle under/overcharge protections + charging from mains 220V. I can create battery packs of various voltages and max. output currents.
7) Power switch (these I have)
8) Battery level indicator (these I also have)
Extras:
- Ability to control the speed precisely such that I can program "ease-in-out" types of movement starts and endings using my own formulas (or ready-made)
- Voice control. If I say "hey Google, take me to floor X", the elevator would obey
What am I missing? My biggest knowledge gaps lie with step motors and microcontrollers.
Any help and comments are much appreciated.
Thank you.