Arduino Controlling Your Winder

[ken]

I'm curious...

Have anyone here tried to use an Arduino or Raspberry PI microcomputer to automatically control a pickup winder?

If you did, were you successful... and if not what issues did you have?

Ken

[kayakerca]

I wasn't smart enough or skilled enough to code up an Arduino or Raspberry PI to run my CNC winder. I opted for a higher level controller (Phidgets) with all the capabilities/functions (well, all that I needed) already coded in via a proprietary dll (things like ramp up and ramp down).

[ken]

I opted for a higher level controller (Phidgets) with all the capabilities/functions (well, all that I needed) already coded in via a proprietary dll (things like ramp up and ramp down).

I was curious because I got an Arduino Duo awhile back and was hoping that since Arduino was open source. it was evolved enough as of 2018 to run a winder. You would think it was simple enough... just one main drive motor and a stepper to run the traverse too.

I'm going to look at the Phidgets solution too

Thank you

ken

[kayakerca]

I was curious because I got an Arduino Duo awhile back and was hoping that since Arduino was open source. it was evolved enough as of 2018 to run a winder. You would think it was simple enough... just one main drive motor and a stepper to run the traverse too.
ken

The Arduino would definitely be a more cost effective solution compared to the Phidgets bipolar stepper motor controllers that I used. That said, in my situation, the Phidgets controllers represented a much reduced learning curve. I'm certain there are winders out there that have gone down the Arduino road road with success. Hopefully, some of them with pipe in.

[Lyrebird Steve]

Yes ... I went down this path but the fiddly part wasn't the stepper motor control ... rather it was programing a workable menu on the LCD keypad shield that I was using. Gave up and went with a PC based winder using Phidgets USB boards.

[ken]

Steve,

I think you're right. I got the Arduino to react with enough speed to actually work OK, and I got the stepper and main drive motors to work too, but I bought a 3.5" color touchscreen for mine and programming it is absolute murder. I know some people use an Android smartphone or tablet to control the Arduino, but I don't know enough about it to make it all work. I'm not giving up though.

Ken