Controlling SC08A with an Arduino

[athyabm]

Hi there, I need some help controlling servo motors via the SC08A Servo Controller using an Arduino Duemilanove.
I used the manual where you simply send binary numbers that determine the servo position, speed, etc.

But however, it doesn't seem to work as expected.

Can anybody please help?

[shahrul]

Just send serial.

CODE: SELECT_ALL_CODE

//turn on
Serial.write((byte)0xC0);
Serial.write((byte)0x01);

//then control servo
Serial.write((byte)0xE1);
Serial.write((byte)0x7F);
Serial.write((byte)0x3F);
Serial.write((byte)0x00);


[athyabm]

thank u shahrul for t reply.

so do we have to put in a hexadecimal number as the 'byte'?
i was using decimal all this time. no wonder it wasnt working lol

[shahrul]

It's dos't matter with hexadecimal or decimal or binary.
You can write 0xC0 (in hex) or 192 (in dec) or 0b11000000 (in binary). All the serial out is still same.

[athyabm]

Ok.

I'm connecting a small servo to open and close the robot gripper as shown
http://cytron.com.my/viewProduct.php?pc ... %20Gripper

and

another servo to rotate the whole gripper through an angle of 180 degrees
http://cytron.com.my/viewProduct.php?pc ... vo%20Motor

could you pls tell me a suitable voltage to apply across the sc08a controller

here are a few video demos of t gripper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_vvW6ZqJnI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K6puD1OqH8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAOTlNAqqwQ

[shahrul]

The video looks servo can run, what's the problem?

You can use voltage 5V with high amp capability, not from USB or Arduino source.
I use voltage regulator 7805 can drive 4 servo, see example here Servo Controller.

[athyabm]

problem is.. t motors suddenly stall, it just vibrates without moving. i think t current/voltage isn't high enough.

plus it doesn't seem tofollow the codes as well.