In today’s guide we will be going over how to find out how much force a linear actuator is applying by monitoring the amount of current it is using. This will be one of our more advanced guides and will require some complex coding, calibrating and programming. We will be covering the monitoring of an analog input and how it utilizes its functions. For this project we’ll be using a MegaMoto Plus, a linear actuator (we are using our PA-14 mini actuator), an Arduino Uno and a power supply of at least 12V.
To start off we’ll need to do wiring to connect everything together. Start by plugging the MegaMoto into the Arduino, just place the MegaMoto on top of the Uno to do so. Then connect a wire from the BAT+ terminal found on the MegaMoto to the Vin pin found on the Uno.
Now we need to connect the linear actuators wires to the A and B terminals on the MegaMoto and connect the 12V power source to BAT+ and GND to BAT-. We’ll also need to wire two buttons for control by wiring them each between an unused pin and GND. We recommend wiring the buttons on to a breadboard.
Now it is time for some coding with the Arduino Uno. We want to program the buttons so that they can control when the actuator will extend and retract. The current will start to be monitored once the actuator extends and this will let us observe whether it surpasses the max current limit or not. If it does pass the limit then the actuator will automatically stop until you choose to retract it. Taking into account that the motors inside actuators have a large current spike when they are first powered, the code we enter will have a short delay before it starts monitoring the current. This code will be able to read when the actuator has reached its limit switches, which is when the current drops to 0.
const int EnablePin = 8;
const int PWMPinA = 11;
const int PWMPinB = 3; // pins for Megamoto
const int buttonLeft = 4;
const int buttonRight = 5;//buttons to move the motor
const int CPin1 = A5; // motor feedback
int leftlatch = LOW;
int rightlatch = LOW;//motor latches (used for code logic)
int hitLimits = 0;//start at 0
int hitLimitsmax = 10;//values to know if travel limits were reached
long lastfeedbacktime = 0; // must be long, else it overflows
int firstfeedbacktimedelay = 750; //first delay to ignore current spike
int feedbacktimedelay = 50; //delay between feedback cycles, how often you want the motor to be checked
long currentTimefeedback = 0; // must be long, else it overflows
int debounceTime = 300; //amount to debounce buttons, lower values makes the buttons more sensitive
long lastButtonpress = 0; // timer for debouncing
long currentTimedebounce = 0;
int CRaw = 0; // input value for current readings
int maxAmps = 0; // trip limit
bool dontExtend = false;
bool firstRun = true;
bool fullyRetracted = false;//program logic
void setup()
{
Serial.begin(9600);
pinMode(EnablePin, OUTPUT);
pinMode(PWMPinA, OUTPUT);
pinMode(PWMPinB, OUTPUT);//Set motor outputs
pinMode(buttonLeft, INPUT);
pinMode(buttonRight, INPUT);//buttons
digitalWrite(buttonLeft, HIGH);
digitalWrite(buttonRight, HIGH);//enable internal pullups
pinMode(CPin1, INPUT);//set feedback input
currentTimedebounce = millis();
currentTimefeedback = 0;//Set initial times
maxAmps = 15;// SET MAX CURRENT HERE
}//end setup
void loop()
{
latchButtons();//check buttons, see if we need to move
moveMotor();//check latches, move motor in or out
}//end main loop
void latchButtons()
{
if (digitalRead(buttonLeft)==LOW)//left is forwards
{
currentTimedebounce = millis() - lastButtonpress;// check time since last press
if (currentTimedebounce > debounceTime && dontExtend == false)//once you've tripped dontExtend, ignore all forwards presses
{
leftlatch = !leftlatch;// if motor is moving, stop, if stopped, start moving
firstRun = true;// set firstRun flag to ignore current spike
fullyRetracted = false; // once you move forwards, you are not fully retracted
lastButtonpress = millis();//store time of last button press
return;
}//end if
}//end btnLEFT
if (digitalRead(buttonRight)==LOW)//right is backwards
{
currentTimedebounce = millis() - lastButtonpress;// check time since last press
if (currentTimedebounce > debounceTime)
{
rightlatch = !rightlatch;// if motor is moving, stop, if stopped, start moving
firstRun = true;// set firstRun flag to ignore current spike
lastButtonpress = millis();//store time of last button press
return; }//end if
}//end btnRIGHT
}//end latchButtons
void moveMotor()
{
if (leftlatch == HIGH) motorForward(255); //speed = 0-255
if (leftlatch == LOW) motorStop();
if (rightlatch == HIGH) motorBack(255); //speed = 0-255
if (rightlatch == LOW) motorStop();
}//end moveMotor
void motorForward(int speeed)
{
while (dontExtend == false && leftlatch == HIGH)
{
digitalWrite(EnablePin, HIGH);
analogWrite(PWMPinA, speeed);
analogWrite(PWMPinB, 0);//move motor
if (firstRun == true) delay(firstfeedbacktimedelay); // bigger delay to ignore current spike
else delay(feedbacktimedelay); //small delay to get to speed
getFeedback();
firstRun = false;
latchButtons();//check buttons again
}//end while
}//end motorForward
void motorBack (int speeed)
{
while (rightlatch == HIGH)
{
digitalWrite(EnablePin, HIGH);
analogWrite(PWMPinA, 0);
analogWrite(PWMPinB, speeed);//move motor
if (firstRun == true) delay(firstfeedbacktimedelay);// bigger delay to ignore current spike
else delay(feedbacktimedelay); //small delay to get to speed
getFeedback();
firstRun = false;
latchButtons();//check buttons again
}//end while
dontExtend = false;//allow motor to extend again, after it has been retracted
}//end motorBack
void motorStop()
{
analogWrite(PWMPinA, 0);
analogWrite(PWMPinB, 0);
digitalWrite(EnablePin, LOW);
firstRun = true;//once the motor has stopped, reenable firstRun to account for startup current spikes
}//end stopMotor
void getFeedback()
{
CRaw = analogRead(CPin1); // Read current
if (CRaw == 0 && hitLimits < hitLimitsmax) hitLimits = hitLimits + 1;
else hitLimits = 0; // check to see if the motor is at the limits and the current has stopped
if (hitLimits == hitLimitsmax && rightlatch == HIGH)
{
rightlatch = LOW; // stop motor
fullyRetracted = true;
}//end if
else if (hitLimits == hitLimitsmax && leftlatch == HIGH)
{
leftlatch = LOW;//stop motor
hitLimits = 0;
}//end if
if (CRaw > maxAmps)
{
dontExtend = true;
leftlatch = LOW; //stop if feedback is over maximum
}//end if
lastfeedbacktime = millis();//store previous time for receiving feedback
}//end getFeedback
With this basic code you should be able to successfully monitor the feedback of your linear actuator. In Part 2 we will go more in depth into how the code works and how to edit it to your liking. Hopefully you found this post helpful and stay tuned for Part 2 in the coming weeks. If you'd like to order any units we used in this example or want to learn more about our products, please contact us.