By purchasing via the specified affiliate links, you support HOITG without any additional costs for you - thanks!
You can find the chapters (including videos) on what can be done with this demo board on my second project HomoFaciens.
How Open Is This Gadget?
The design data required to manufacture a circuit board can be created with open source software. I used KiCAD for this project.
The design files of this freely programmable H Bridge are available as Download-Package.
Figure 1:
On the previous page I presented version 1.0 of the programmable motor controller. Anyone who has ever designed and soldered an electronic circuit will agree that there is always something to improve once you have the board in operation. The motor driver demo board I developed is no exception from that rule. Again I uploaded the design files to the PCBWay online shop and received the manufactured circuit boards after a few days. Design evolution is fast with PCBWay.
Technical data
Category
Value
Remark
Dimensions
330x160mm
Weight
200g
Layers
2-Layers
Changes in version 1.3
Another resistor and a zener diode ensure that no more than 5V is passed to the pin of the microcontroller under all conditions.
Next, I swapped two of the control pins to the H-bridges to make programming the microcontroller easier.
Holes were milled for the cable of the mini voltmeters and for attaching a 3D printed socket and the Arduino UNO board.
The pins used as control inputs for the the dual H-bridge have also received upgrades. LEDs now indicate whether a HIGH or a LOW signal is present. Furthermore, resistors and zener diodes ensure that no voltages higher than 5V are forwarded to the microcontroller.
5V logic levels can now be output via 7 pushbuttons. This allows input signals to be simulated at the H-bridge.
In order to be able to measure voltages at critical points in the circuit, several pins have been implemented in the design.
I used the option of having any graphics and lettering printed by PCBWay more intensively. The functional groups of components are now marked by lines and labels, which is useful for understanding the circuit. A graphic with the circuit diagram of the core element of the motor driver also contributes to this. It is not only possible to print on the front but also on the back of the circuit board. As one tends to confuse left and right with the front side when turning the circuit board around, the additional labeling, especially on the pins of the microcontroller, is very helpful. Instructions for populating the circuit board can also be printed here, which should make the assembly even more error-free.
Going from an idea to a finished, professional circuit board and then evolve the design is no rocket science! There's plenty of information on what can be controlled with a double H-bridge on my second project: HomoFaciens.