tmophoto wrote:
yea still have to learn everything i think..

but have quickly learned that this is what i need to learn to really take this to the next level.
the mshield is only 19 bucks and it will drive 4 bi directional motors, 2 stepper motors and an 2 R/C servos plugs right into the ardunio
One of the primary differences is that the easydriver only requires two arduino pins for each motor (any two pins, PWM outs not needed - one for dir and one for step), can run up to 36V, and has a manually adjustable current load. AFAIK, The mshield only lets you run two steppers for the whole board. Also note that the max voltage you can drive the steppers is the same voltage as you feed the arduino - so a max of 14v. w/ 12V steppers, you can chop them at 36V w/ the easydriver and really increase the torque.
Mind you, you can't use the stepper library w/ the easydrivers, but making the motors run a certain # of steps is as easy as:
Code:
for (step = 1; step <= max_steps; step++) {
digitalWrite(STEP_PIN,HIGH);
delayMicroSeconds(100);
digitalWrite(STEP_PIN,LOW);
}
These are one of many options - you can always, of course, make your own h-bridge for a lot less than either *grin*
tmophoto wrote:
I am still an extreme novice here, learning C (to write iphone apps) and i figured this was an easier way to learn in combination with the iphone SDK. + its super fun!! i have tons of R/C components (servos, gyros, TX, RX lipo battereis, etc) I have a few RC helis that i built for taking low aerial photos. I put it on hold after spending a lot more $ than i expected.. its pretty easy to wreck a rc heli

and it gets pretty spendy when a camera is also attached.
going to radio shack tonight to get a bunch of stuff thanks for the optoisolator tip thats probably one of the more valuable ones for this thread.
t
Hey - look at it this way, you have LOTS of donor parts laying around *grin*
Buy a bunch of opto-isolators when you go, can never have enough =)
!c