"Create Some Animation" CTT Dec 2015 Questions

[EIS2]

I was very interested in your "Create Some Animation" in the CTT Dec 2015 issue (pg 68).  I would like to be able to see a video of the animation in action.

I can see how the figure and forklift are moved out, but I cannot see, from the electrical drawing, how they are returned to the retracted position, unless the servos are spring-loaded to the retracted position.  Does anyone know how the forklift and figure are retracted?

I think I may try the project using an Arduino board along with a proximity sensor.

Earl

[Brucky11]

I agree with you, with  the servo and tester used the figure and forklift will keep going back and forth until engine backs out. Also there is nowhere on the servo tester used to input the relay.

 

[Bob Keller]

Hi Earl,

The video was very brief and Carl incorporated it into the February issue preview. It can be seen around the 39 second point.

I contacted the author and here are his comments: "The connection from the relay to the servo driver has the NO relay contact overiding the position control pot on the servo driver. This detail should have been included in the article and I apologize for the omission. When the relay contact opens, the servo will smoothly rotate back restoring the figure to its original position.

 

"I've been using servos to animate accessories for many years and have published a number of articles on this approach. The May 2014 issue of Servo magazine included a collection of these projects. "

[Brucky11]

The servo tester being used does not have a input for the relay. Is the relay solder to the board and if so where does it attach.