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I am a newbie with a question. Please understand that I do not understand a lot of the terms used in this type of thing. But I could really use some direction as my searches for such technology have been unfruitful.
I made a four actuator lifting system that works great in its field, and many people have asked me to build them one. So commercial application is my goal.
However, the products weakest part is something I can deal with as the person that designed the system. But wouldn’t expect the average user to deal with. That problem will happen, does happen, and causes devastating damage. Unless I can find a motor controller smart enough to realize it’s happening and adjust to compensate.
Think of it this way. I have four custom designed acme thread linear actuators (without feedback at this time). They are actuated up and down via 30 Amp RF remote control and momentary toggle switch outdoors where 12VDC is the only power available. One is in each corner of a large box to lift the box straight up roughly 16 inches. At times, there will be a heavier load shifted to one corner of the box or another. Therefore, causing one or more motor to run slower than the others. This causes a strain/ twist on the box being lifted that I am trying to avoid.
I need to find a way for the circuit to realize that one of the four actuator is running slower (Or drawing more current) than the others. Then make adjustments to the voltage of the remaining motors to slow them all down to roughly the speed of the slowest actuator. I think the adjustment is normally done by increasing the off time of the volts going to the motor?
It doesn’t have to be perfectly synchronized as the box does have some flex. But I would like to see them all run within 20% of each other. Or not power at all if one of the motors is completely over loaded. I would prefer to stay away from encoders if possible, but if that is the only way to do it?
Basically, I want something that monitors current draw on four motors. And reduces voltage to all the motors with lower current as they relate to the motor with the highest current until they are all within range of each other.
I have all the motor specs, and more details. I thought I’d ask if anyone has seen something like this before that I can research? Or ideas on what the next step would be in obtaining such a circuit that I could potentially have produced as the rest of the components are in production now.
Thank you for your time.
I made a four actuator lifting system that works great in its field, and many people have asked me to build them one. So commercial application is my goal.
However, the products weakest part is something I can deal with as the person that designed the system. But wouldn’t expect the average user to deal with. That problem will happen, does happen, and causes devastating damage. Unless I can find a motor controller smart enough to realize it’s happening and adjust to compensate.
Think of it this way. I have four custom designed acme thread linear actuators (without feedback at this time). They are actuated up and down via 30 Amp RF remote control and momentary toggle switch outdoors where 12VDC is the only power available. One is in each corner of a large box to lift the box straight up roughly 16 inches. At times, there will be a heavier load shifted to one corner of the box or another. Therefore, causing one or more motor to run slower than the others. This causes a strain/ twist on the box being lifted that I am trying to avoid.
I need to find a way for the circuit to realize that one of the four actuator is running slower (Or drawing more current) than the others. Then make adjustments to the voltage of the remaining motors to slow them all down to roughly the speed of the slowest actuator. I think the adjustment is normally done by increasing the off time of the volts going to the motor?
It doesn’t have to be perfectly synchronized as the box does have some flex. But I would like to see them all run within 20% of each other. Or not power at all if one of the motors is completely over loaded. I would prefer to stay away from encoders if possible, but if that is the only way to do it?
Basically, I want something that monitors current draw on four motors. And reduces voltage to all the motors with lower current as they relate to the motor with the highest current until they are all within range of each other.
I have all the motor specs, and more details. I thought I’d ask if anyone has seen something like this before that I can research? Or ideas on what the next step would be in obtaining such a circuit that I could potentially have produced as the rest of the components are in production now.
Thank you for your time.