Solarbotics GM8 Motor Shaft Encoder

Describes construction and performance of a encoder disk attached to the shaft of a Solarbotics GM8, gear motor. Why use a shaft encoder verses a wheel encoder? Problems getting shaft encoder attached and keeping it attached. Conclusion pro's and cons.

(pictures of finished motor and disc here)

For the purpose of this experiment a PARTS Mark III controller programmed using the JAL language, feeds a PWM signal to a Solarbotics Compact L298 Motor Driver Kit, CMD. The shaft encoder disk is read by an IR Encoder designed by Dafydd Walters of SRS. See the block diagram below.

( block diagram )

Construction techniques -

Steps, materials

Tests (post code link here)

Performance results - 8, AA 1.2V 2100mAh NiMH batteries

PWM in verses sectors per seconds. Graph, Oscope pwm output and encoder output

Additional links -
David P. Anderson's Home-Brew Shaft Encoders
Robotics Connection - Hamamatsu P5587 Wheel Encoder Module
Nubotics WheelWatcher WW-02.

If you have any questions or comments about this page please email me at: debots_replacethis_dinkdaze.org with at sign.