Skip to main content

Visual Basic, Arduino and Points

 Step 3 in this process was to get the Servo to rotate more slowly than before.

This is the modified Arduino Code

// the next block of code sets up a loop in the Program to rotate the Servo 1 step at a time.
//  This way, we get a 'smooth' movement, rather than a sudden one

if (Inpchar=='A') {                         // checks Input character A for Anticlockwise
    delay(300);                                 // a wee pause (for dramatic effect!! )
    for (int i = 0; i <= 135; i++) {    //  a variable i goes 1, 2, 3, 4 . . up to 135
          servoPos = i;                              //  send the new value to the Servo controller
          delay(30);                                   // a very wee pause (30 milliseconds)
//        30 milliseconds * 135 steps means 4,050 milliseconds, so just over 4 seconds

           myServo.write(servoPos);         // move the Servo to the new value of i (1, 2, 3, etc)
    }       //  This is used in Arduino code to finish the Loop and go back to the "for" statement  
             //  and then repeat the loop until it reaches 135.
   Serial.print("H"); delay(2000); Serial.write("h");
         // This finishes off the "if" condition      (  Look for the matching pairs of colours ) to help
             // to understand the Program structure.

So far, there's no need to edit the VB Code.   (Yet) 😂

Here's the full code for the Arduino Program

#include <Servo.h>  //  load up the Servo Library
char Inpchar;             // Single Character Input
int servoPin=9;          // allocates pin 9 to control the Servo
int servoPos =00;      // Create a Variable for the Servo position, give it a starting value
Servo myServo;        //  Give the Servo a name

void setup() {
// put your setup code here, to run once:
Serial.begin(9600);                // Enable serial Communication
myServo.attach(servoPin);    // allocate Pin 9 to control the Servo
}

void loop() {
if (Serial.available())                       // Check if Serial is enabled
    { Inpchar = Serial.read();}           // if it is then read a character
if (Inpchar=='E') {servoPos = 0;}    // if the characer is E then set servoPos variable to a value of 0
myServo.write(servoPos);               // return the Servo to the starting position

// the next block of code sets up a loop to rotate the Servo 1 step at a time
//  so that we get a 'smooth' movement, rather than a sudden one
if (Inpchar=='A') {                         // checks Input character A for Anticlockwise
   delay(300);                                  // a wee pause (for dramatic effect!! )
    for (int i = 0; i <= 135; i++) {    //  a variable i goes 1, 2, 3, 4 . . up to 135
    servoPos = i;                              // give the Servo controller the new value
    delay(30);                                   // a very wee pause
    myServo.write(servoPos);          // move the Servo to the new value of i
    }

   Serial.print("H"); delay(2000); Serial.write("h");   // Sends information back to the VB Program
  }

// Exactly the same logic except  'C' makes the Servo go clockwise
if (Inpchar=='C') {  
    delay(300);
    for (int i = 0; i <= 135; i++) {  
    servoPos = (135 - i);                          //  This is the clever line
                                                               //      as  i  goes    0,  1,   2,   3,   4 . . 135
                                                               //      servoPos goes 135, 134, 133, 132 . . down to 0 
     delay(30);
    myServo.write(servoPos);
    } 

    Serial.print("L");delay(2000); Serial.print("l");  // More info. sent back to the VB Program
  } 

Inpchar = 'X';     // sets Inpchar to a 'Non Functional character 
                           // so that it doesn't try and repeat the same action
}

All that this "upgrade" to the Program does is to make the Servo rotate from one position to another at a slower pace than the sudden change that happened before.  Not much in the grand scheme of things, but on a display layout, connected to a set of points, it will look much better.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

3D Printing Presentation

Sunday's Zoom meeting had our largest audience so far with 19 members attending from various parts of the country. Alan Geekie gave us an excellent and well received presentation on 3D printing that included FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) and SLA (Stereolithography apparatus) types He first showed how we can source "things to print" using sites like Thingiverse. His own filament printer was the Prusa i3 Mk 3S which is available either as a kit (£699) or pre-assembled (£899) and features a self leveling bed. It also benefited from an additional multi material upgrade kit and he demonstrated the start up sequence of leveling, homing, clearing remaining filament from the hot end and then beginning the print.  The process of slicing where a 3d object drawing file (.stl) is broken up into the x,y,z drawing coordinates for each individual layer was also explained. Alan then moved on to resin printers using another Prusa model, the SL1 and its associated curing and washing mach

Train sequence / timetable using Arduino

                              Following discussions in a MERG Zoom meeting about potential projects for the Cumbria virtual area group I have started this blog to share my ideas for building a train sequence / timetable system based on an Arduino UNO. The trigger for this project was Andy Robb's article in the MERG journal (June 2020 edition). In it Andy describes using an UNO with a OLED display to produce an electronic station display board.  Having tried out Andy's version I started thinking about expanding the idea and have come up the following list of possibilities: 1. Replace my card index train sequence with an electronic version. 2. Have the train sequence synchronised with the on platform displays. 3. Display an analogue clock on the station display and have it display the train times. 4. Store the position reached in the sequence so that it starts where it left off on power up.  To make the project of greater potential interest to other modellers the following

Arduino Book Recommendation

Welcome to the site which has been set up for all members of the Scottish Borders Group of MERG.  As you know, I have been working on various Arduino projects recently including the station and cafe displays.  There are many resources available online when you come across a problem but a good reference book which explains how things work is essential.  I have tried a few and found the following book the best so far. It is well written and laid out logically for the beginner to be able to develop new skills. The structure of the Chapters makes it easy to find the relevant section.   By clicking on the link below you will be able to look inside and see for yourself. https://amzn.to /38HfrWW If you decide to purchase through this link  you should be aware that I will receive a small commission on any sales generated which will help to finance further projects Andy R