Difference between revisions of "Metal antenna rotator"

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==Introduction==
 +
 
To build this metal antenna rotator you will need a welder.
 
To build this metal antenna rotator you will need a welder.
  
 
+
==Bill of materials==
 
 
== Bill of materials ==
 
 
{| {{table}}
 
{| {{table}}
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Part'''
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;" |'''Part'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Qty'''
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;" |'''Qty'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Source'''
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;" |'''Source'''
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Price per Unit ($)'''
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| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;" |'''Price per Unit ($)'''
 
|-
 
|-
| <span>Nema23 stepper motor - Wormgear 60:1</span> || 1 || [https://aliexpress.com/item/Ratio-20-1-self-lock-High-Torque-L56mm-NEMA23-3A-RV30-Turbine-Worm-Gearbox-Geared/32681621498.html][https://aliexpress.com/item/Ratio-20-1-self-lock-High-Torque-L112mm-NEMA23-4-2A-RV30-Turbine-Worm-Gearbox/32681645351.html] ||  
+
|<span>Nema23 stepper motor - Wormgear 60:1</span>||2||[https://aliexpress.com/item/Ratio-20-1-self-lock-High-Torque-L56mm-NEMA23-3A-RV30-Turbine-Worm-Gearbox-Geared/32681621498.html][https://aliexpress.com/item/Ratio-20-1-self-lock-High-Torque-L112mm-NEMA23-4-2A-RV30-Turbine-Worm-Gearbox/32681645351.html]||
 
|-
 
|-
| <span>Bearing for the az axis 100x135x25 mm</span> || 1 || [https://aliexpress.com/item/51120-Thrust-Bearing-100x135x25-mm-ABEC-1-1-PC-Axial-51120-Thrust-Ball-Bearings-8120/32813388761.html] ||  
+
|<span>Bearing for the az axis 100x135x25 mm</span>||1||[https://aliexpress.com/item/51120-Thrust-Bearing-100x135x25-mm-ABEC-1-1-PC-Axial-51120-Thrust-Ball-Bearings-8120/32813388761.html]||
 
|-
 
|-
| <span>Stepper motor driver</span> || 1 || [https://aliexpress.com/item/2-Phase-Stepper-Driver-MA860-DSP-24V-80VDC-or-VAC16-70VAC-Output-6A-Current-NEMA-34/32785076340.html] ||  
+
|<span>Stepper motor driver</span>||2||[https://aliexpress.com/item/2-Phase-Stepper-Driver-MA860-DSP-24V-80VDC-or-VAC16-70VAC-Output-6A-Current-NEMA-34/32785076340.html]||
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
==Communication test and setup==
 +
 +
Open a terminal and start the rotctld (the rotator controller ''daemon''):
 +
<pre>
 +
$ rotctld -vvvvv -T 127.0.0.1 -r /dev/ttyUSB1 -m 202 -s 19200 -t10
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
The parameter -t is to use ''\n'' as end of command.
 +
The parameter -vvvvv activates the verbosity - remove some to get less infos.
 +
 +
Open another terminal and start the rotctl client:
 +
<pre>
 +
$ rotctl -m 2 -r 127.0.0.1
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
To test you will need to:
 +
<pre>
 +
Rotator command: P<enter>
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
then enter target position:
 +
 +
<pre>
 +
Azimuth: 360<enter>
 +
Elevation: 90<enter>
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
Or shorten this to:
 +
<pre>
 +
Rotator command: P 180 090<enter>
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
The motors should move, if not: check connections.
 +
 +
Then you have to check that the endstop are working:
 +
 +
<pre>
 +
Rotator command: IP1<enter>
 +
Rotator command: IP2<enter>
 +
</pre>
 +
 +
If the result ends with ',0', and the endstop is not activated, its good. (if it's not good, reverse them in the config)
 +
 +
If the two endstops are at 0 when reset, the homing will be performed.
 +
Homing is always in the opposite way of the motor (-max angle)
 +
 +
[[Category:Hardware]]
 +
[[Category:Build]]
 +
[[Category:Rotator]]

Latest revision as of 01:31, 24 February 2021

Introduction

To build this metal antenna rotator you will need a welder.

Bill of materials

Part Qty Source Price per Unit ($)
Nema23 stepper motor - Wormgear 60:1 2 [1][2]
Bearing for the az axis 100x135x25 mm 1 [3]
Stepper motor driver 2 [4]

Communication test and setup

Open a terminal and start the rotctld (the rotator controller daemon):

 $ rotctld -vvvvv -T 127.0.0.1 -r /dev/ttyUSB1 -m 202 -s 19200 -t10

The parameter -t is to use \n as end of command. The parameter -vvvvv activates the verbosity - remove some to get less infos.

Open another terminal and start the rotctl client:

 $ rotctl -m 2 -r 127.0.0.1

To test you will need to:

 Rotator command: P<enter>

then enter target position:

 Azimuth: 360<enter>
 Elevation: 90<enter>

Or shorten this to:

 Rotator command: P 180 090<enter>

The motors should move, if not: check connections.

Then you have to check that the endstop are working:

 Rotator command: IP1<enter>
 Rotator command: IP2<enter>

If the result ends with ',0', and the endstop is not activated, its good. (if it's not good, reverse them in the config)

If the two endstops are at 0 when reset, the homing will be performed. Homing is always in the opposite way of the motor (-max angle)