The Raspberry Pi Thread [4]


  1. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #361

    alphanumeric said:
    Yeah was looking at the link Jack posted. I will likely download that MagPi, if I haven't already, and have a read to see what it can and can't do. Price isn't too bad, about 37 Canadian. Not counting shipping etc. I'll likely buy one down the road some time. I have other things on my "I want" list I want first though.
    It can control servos at different angles too.
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  2. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #362

    Whoa!

    I didn't know the solenoid I ordered is this small. It won't be strong enough to push the momentary switch.
    Time for Plan B (which I already started in the pic below).

    The Raspberry Pi Thread [4]-img_20180213_193639_1.jpg
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  3. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #363

    badrobot said:
    It can control servos at different angles too.
    That's the deal with standard servos, you can have them move and stop anywhere in their rang of motion. You tell it to rotate to X degrees. Great for robotics. They have a set rotation speed though. And the continuous rotation ones are great for fine movement over a long distance. You tell them to rotate clockwise or counter clockwise etc. Really good control over how fast they rotate and stop on a dime so to speak. They don't move all that fast though, top speed is limited. That's why my rover uses motors in a servo body. They are easier to control, direction wise anyway. You just apply a DC voltage. With a servo you have to send a pulse width modulated signal to have it do anything. I only just started playing with one (normal servo) recently. It came in that free kit I got from Pimoroni.
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  4. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #364

    badrobot said:
    Whoa!

    I didn't know the solenoid I ordered is this small. It won't be strong enough to push the momentary switch.
    Time for Plan B (which I already started in the pic below).

    The Raspberry Pi Thread [4]-img_20180213_193639_1.jpg
    That happens some times. the product picture doesn't have anything else in it to show perspective. And how many of us read the fine print with the dimensions in it? I do but rarely, usually only if I have a small space to fit something in.
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  5. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #365

    Here is the Plan B.
    Since the solenoid cannot push a switch, I made a momentary switch out of the solenoid itself.
    Dry run....

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  6. Posts : 2,662
    W10 Pro (desktop), W11 (laptop), W11Pro (tablet)
       #366

    That might work fine for you but could be finicky in the long run. You could use a micro switch instead of the switch you were using. Another possibility would be to use a relay since a relay is essentially an electrically controlled switch.
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  7. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #367

    strollin said:
    That might work fine for you but could be finicky in the long run. You could use a micro switch instead of the switch you were using. Another possibility would be to use a relay since a relay is essentially an electrically controlled switch.
    Yup. This project started out as a simple button pusher that will be driven by a smart wifi plug. But due to the unexpected size of the solenoid device (my bad for not checking) it is starting to evolve into something else. I do have a micro switch but the solenoid still does not create enough force to push it... haha...
    It is actually working great so far. I made a Y-splitter jumper cable going to the motherboard so that I can still use the physical switch on the PC if I need to.

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  8. Posts : 15,025
    Windows 10 IoT
    Thread Starter
       #368

    Lots of different ways to do it. A micro switch would likely have worked with that plunger. https://www.adafruit.com/?q=micro%20switch
    I personally would have went with a solid-state relay. No moving parts. Cannot for the life of me find a link to one on Adafruit or Pimoroni though. I had one bookmarked at one time, can't find that link either.
    There is also things like the automation pHat or hat, https://shop.pimoroni.com/search?typ...t&q=automation Those may conflict with the AIY board though.
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  9. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #369

    Part of the fun of this project is creativity. The "chassis" of this project is actually from a disposable electric toothbrush (I just love re-purposing stuffs....lol). It is so perfect with one end holding the solenoid and the other end keeping all the wires together. So satisfying. :)
    I just need to find a nice casing for it. Probably a toothbrush tube from dollar store? :)
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  10. Posts : 5,286
    Win 10 Pro x64
       #370

    Thanks for the links alpha...
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