In search of motor control solution

[fredgeck]

I am looking to set up a test apparatus in order to test some motion sensors. The entire unit under test will weigh < 1/3 lb.

The requirement is to have a repeatable test in terms of velocity and acceleration that are about the speed of human handling.
Rotation required is about rotation per second.
The first idea was to use a servo driven rotary stage but
cost will be about $7k for the rotary stage, servo and controller. Then... to expand the setup by adding more linear stages.

There are so many robotic and control companies around, where can I start looking for a lower cost solution.
Thanks in advance.

 

[automatic2]

using 'human handling' as a reference, you should be able to drive a dc gearmotor using a simple pot feedback. An H-bridge output driven by a PWM device with positioning reference from a DAC plus reverse. Although this simple servo will have some degree of following error, you would utilize the feedback as reference to your devices under test, as opposed to the using the drive signal. The precision of your feedback loop is what matters.

 

[jraef]

Does the motion need to be rotary or are you converting it to linear? If you are duplicating human movement, that usually implies linear or quasi linear movement. There are some very inexpensive linear actuators out there that are simple to use and relatively accurate. One such is available from Intellegent Actuator Corp. For something as light weight as what you descibe I doubt it would cost more than $600-700. There are plenty of others as well.

Here is a link to the IA cheapy actuator.

http://www.robocylinder.com/products/actuators/erc/default.asp

&quot;Venditori de oleum-vipera non vigere excordis populi&quot;