PRECISION SERVO CONTROLLERS

Last Updated: 18-Oct-2005
 

MODEL ONE

The Model One servo controller is now manufactured and distributed solely by CK Design Technology
 

The Model One servo motor controller is designed for use with pulse width encoded control signals such as Futaba R/C receiver outputs. At present there are many good servo actuators available, such as those available from CK Design Technology, Ultra-Motion and Motion Systems, but the present servo controllers are often noisy, somewhat imprecise and lack user-friendly features. With such a variety of high quality actuators available, it is a shame that the overall system performance has often been compromised by the available servo controllers.

The Model One servo controller is typically used for continuous currents of less than 3 amps.

Products currently in production include controllers for most models of actuators from CK Design Technology, Ultra-Motion and Motion Systems. Controllers are also available for the Tone (Tonegawa Seiko) SSPS-105. In all of these examples, the 12 bit resolution and quiet high frequency PWM drive of the Precision Controller transforms the servo actuators from noisy annoyances into truly high performance servo systems.

This product, the Model One Precision^TM Controller, is a high quality, reliable design based on over 20 years of experience in servo system design. This proprietary new design uses state-of-the-art digital signal processing techniques to produce a quiet, 12 bit resolution servo controller with many unique user-friendly features including a built-in self test mode, three LED status indicators, built-in servo direction-of-motion reversal, available analog input, and our new Bio-Motion^TM algorithms for smooth, life-like motion.

Our unique Bio-Motion^TM digital signal processing algorithms produce much more life-like motion for animatronics, theme parks and special effects. The high reliability, ruggedness and small size make the Model One ideal for remotely piloted vehicles.

CK Design Technology is now licensed to manufacture and distribute the Precision^TM Servo Controllers. CK Design Technology packages the Precision Controller with their actuators to provide complete plug and play systems. 

SUMMARY OF FEATURES:

• Digital signal processing for precise performance.

• High frequency (31.25 kHz) Pulse Width Modulation motor drive for smooth, quiet operation.

• State of the art, all digital PID servo loop for accurate positioning.

• Bio-Motion^TM digital signal processing algorithms produce much more life-like motion

• Typically 10 to 20 times more accurate servo positioning than the existing products.

• Ultra reliable design.

• 12 bit resolution standard.

• Ignores invalid input pulse widths using digital filtering techniques.

• Built-in user selectable servo "direction reversal" jumper.

• Built-in user selectable "self-test" mode which cycles the actuator slowly without any R/C input.

• Built-in, optional DC voltage control input rather than pulse width, requiring only an external potentiometer for 12 bit position control.

• Any servo track voltage range may be programmed during manufacture.

• Deadband less than 0.001 msec.

• Fault indicator LEDs:
              Red LED indicates loss of input or presence of invalid pulse width.
              Yellow LED indicates overtemp or overcurrent shutdown.
              Green LED blinks to indicate normal operation of the control system processor.

• Opto isolator R/C input to simplify interfacing .

• Stores last valid input signal when input signal is lost or corrupted.

• Operating range of 1.00 to 2.00 msec input pulse widths... other input pulse width ranges may be programmed during manufacture.

• Power supply voltage range of 12 volts to 32 volts .

• Drives servos rated at up to 75 watts at 24 volts continuously, limited only by availability of heatsinking and/or cooling airflow for the servo controller.

• Drives servos rated at up to 150 watts at 24 volts intermittently, limited only by availability of heatsinking and/or cooling airflow for the servo controller.

• Designed to provide up to 3 amps continuous output with adequate heatsinking and/or cooling airflow for the servo controller.

• Designed to provide up to 6 amps intermittent output with adequate heatsinking and/or cooling airflow for the servo controller.

OPTION JUMPERS:

 There are several jumper locations on the circuit board to allow user selection of certain optional features:

LED INDICATORS:

There are several LED indicators to simplify system troubleshooting and mantenance:

DIMENSIONS:

The photo at the left shows the top view of a Precision Driver.

The following illustrations show the outline dimensions of the circuit board as well as the location of four corner mounting holes that are available.

Also note that there is a keying slot between the second and third connector fingers which prevents improper insertion of the circuit board into the mating connector.

Dimensions in inches: 

TYPICAL WIRING:

The design of the circuit board provides for three different methods of system wiring:

1.) Connector:

The Precision Servo Driver is designed with a gold plated card-edge connector which allows quick and easy troubleshooting of the system. When space permits, we recommned use of the connector. The mounting ears of the connector may be removed if desired. The connector is also available with pc board pins, so that a system motherboard can be created.

Note that a connector key is used between the second and third contacts in order to prevent incorrect insertion of the circuit board.

The recommended connector with eyelet terminals for wiring is Sullins EZC10DREH or equivalent. Complete connector specifications may be found on the Sullins web page at www.edgecards.com .

2.)  Soldering to fingers:

When the convenience of the connector is not necessary, or minimum overall size is required, the wires may be soldered directly to the card-edge fingers on the circuit board. Then the entire connector/wiring area can be sealed and protected by a piece of large diameter heat shrink tubing.

3.)  Soldering to holes on circuit board:

The card-edge fingers may be cut off and the wires soldered into available holes on the circuit board. The available holes along the board edge, near the connector fingers, are sized for #18 AWG or smaller for the motor and power wires, while all other connection holes are sized for #24 AWG or smaller. For ease of assembly, power and motor wiring is recommended to be #20 AWG while all other connections can be #26 AWG.

CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS: By use of our products, the user acknowledges that the product performance and the risk of unexpected product failure are acceptable for the intended purpose and that Shelquist Engineering shall not be held responsible for any consequential damages, injury claims or any other claims beyond the aforementioned warranty repair or replacement of our products.

PRODUCT BACKGROUND:

This product is designed with the advantage of my 20 years of experience in servo system design. At some time, the various actuator manufacturers will begin to experiment with such sophisticated servo controllers, but they will be producing their first generation of digital servo controllers. Such first generation product introductions will have to go through all of the customary new product "teething" problems while they learn the ins and outs, the do's and don'ts, of digital servo design. Do you have time to wait for those designs to get into reliable production??

My designs utilize proven, reliable digital servo control technology, similar to the technologies I developed for my last company, which was called Uptown Automation. During the 10 years that I was President and Chief Engineer of Uptown Automation, the company became the world's most popular moving fader automation system for use in professional audio recording. Major audio, video and film production studios world-wide use Uptown Automation day-in and day-out because it is the most reliable,  user friendly, high performance product on the market.

Building on that technology, the new Precision Servo Controllers are the most reliable, quiet, easy to use, high performance servo controllers available. You don't need more problems... we sell solutions.
 

The Model One servo controller is now manufactured and distributed solely by CK Design Technology

NEW.... MODEL THREE:

The new Model Three servo controller will be available in early 2004, featuring on-the-fly servo tuning via optional PC software, which allows precise tuning of the servo controller. The Model Three is designed for motor currents up to 12 amps continuous, with power supply voltages from 7 vdc to 32 vdc.

CONTACT:

Please feel free to contact me for a prompt quotation for any type of servo control system:

Richard Shelquist
Phone (303) 651-2405