Hi and boy am I glad to find this place. I'm trying to build a winder to keep my collection of automatic watches operating. Wiring a motor is no biggie but I'm totally lost when it comes to the controller. Some commercial units I've seen use "fuzzy logic" to accomplish the control I'm after. I need the unit to alternate between clockwise and couter clockwise rotation and also fixed periods of operation and rest on a fairly consistent daily basis so I can regulate the # of rotations. I hope this explains my needs adequately but I'll try to elaborate more if necessary. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated
would i be correct in saying to need a microcontroller to turn a motor in one direction and then turn it in another direction? what microcontroller have you thought of using?
I not only have no idea, I honestly don't even understand the question. I was hoping something was available that just did what I wan out of the box. I've gone to a number of other electronic hobyists sites and get snowed with technical jargon. I am a bartender and this is pretty much a one time shot project not the start of any interest in electronics
I need the device to allow the motor to spin in one direction for a specified time: pause for a period: reverse directions and spin for another specified time. I can't tell you as yet the exact time for each cycle or the number of cycles per day as I haven't yet gotten the motor and determined the RPM's. Most watches should function adequately at about 1000 revolutions per day
If I were you I would first get a suitable motor (one that is easy to control from an MCU) and sort out the mechanics - presumably you will need a turntable or something like it to hold the watches which is driven by the motor. Check that you can control the motor with switches, and then substitute an MCU and driver transistors for the switches. Then you can start developing your software to control the motor.
What you need is a motor driver (a H-bridge), choose one to suit the motor you have, or you can build one yourself. Mail me at olariu@my-tronic.de if you need further details.