MobiFlight Community Support

Hi, I have a TQ A320 built from myself and I use JeeHell and Mobiflight cards throughout my simulator.

in order to make motorized my trim I put an encoder to get trim value and a 57BYGH013 stepper motor for whell.
(which I can no longer change unfortunately)

Can anyone help me to manage the stepper motor? I think I need a driver controller to drive a 57BYGH013?


Thank you in advance...
Massimo

PDF datasheet of my stepper motor.
https://www.phidgets.com/productfiles/3306/3306_0/Documentation/3306_0_Datasheet.pdf

Hi prosoft,

yes, you will need a driver board for this stepper motor. A good one is the Easydriver board.
How to connect this board is described under https://www.mobiflight.com/en/tutorials/community-guides/easy-driver-tutorial.html.
BUT setting the same pins for pin1/2 and pin 3/4 does not work anymore in the GUI. Manually changing in the .mfmc is still working, but not recommended and risky.

Furhtermore this will not help you to build a motorized trim wheel as a closed loop control in the firmware is needed which is not part of the actual version.
The GUI sets absolute positions for the stepper motor but you would need a relative position (deviation between setpoint and actual value).
I have a modified firmware version with these addtions, but I would recommend to read the other post regarding a motorized trim wheel.
They use a modified servo for turning the wheel and a second servo to decouple the wheel in case the autopilot is switched off.
This version is running the original firmware and GUI.

Regards

Ralf

Hi Massimo,

i don't want to frustate you but i think there is a "better" way for a motorized trim wheel.

In the past i also tested with a stepper but failed dramatically, as either i didn't know "where" the wheel stands or i was not able to move the wheel manually, what is possible also in an Airbus (but only when the AP is faulty).

Therefore i took another approach.

I use a geared motor, a 10-turn-poti and the electronic of a 20kg Servo. This builds a servo which is able to turn 10 times (instead of only 180° or 270°).
And as it is a "real" servo, you or MF always knows where the wheel stands.

This in combination with a 3D-printed box (basic idea from Volker, modified by me) with some gears, an additional 10-turn-poti, one 9G-Servo and a 3kg servo i have now following:
If Autopilot is on:
- the wheel turnes according to the value of the sim
- the smaller indicator ring (the one with the numbers on it) will be turned by the 3kg-Servo
- the mentioned box with the gears also turns the other poti to keep both synced (in the next paragraph you will know why)
If Autopilot is off:
- the 9G-Servo moves with a swivel one gear "away" from the motor-driven gear
- if turning the wheel manually MF knows the desired value with the extra 10-turn-servo
- over MF input/output the indicator ring follows the wheel
- over MF input/output the motor turns to the position where you moved the wheel to
When turning AP back on:
- the small servo moves a gear over a swivel back to the motor-gear and everything is still in sync

As soon as i finished the painting of the wheel and the indicator ring i will post pictures.
But right now it is working as desired and without any problems.

Bur for start you could read this post: https://www.mobiflight.com/forum/topic/6941.html

Kai