The pots in transmitter gimbals are finicky to find replacements for (because they need to be 0k-5k over only 60* of rotation), and there have been many threads on many forums concerning the topic.
I see now that some manufacturers are using hall effect sensors and there is some debate over sufficient resolution vs analog pots.
I'm also wondering if anyone has tried using optical rotary encoders to replace gimbal pots? Is it an issue of resolution? I see many affordable/cheap optical rotary encoders with resolutions in the several thousands of points range.
Why don't we use optical rotary encoders in our gimbals?
Optical encoders for gimbals?
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- MikeB
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Re: Optical encoders for gimbals?
Price in the past probably and quite likely size as well. How about some links to suitable devices.
Mike.
Mike.
erskyTx/er9x developer
The difficult we do immediately,
The impossible takes a little longer!
The difficult we do immediately,
The impossible takes a little longer!
Re: Optical encoders for gimbals?
Lack of absolute position reference is not cool.
Resolution is a tradeoff with speed and physical size, quick stick movements skipping steps would be even less cool.
Resolution is a tradeoff with speed and physical size, quick stick movements skipping steps would be even less cool.
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Re: Optical encoders for gimbals?
Oh, I don't know that I found suitable devices. But cruising throught ebay and digikey, I found a few for $6-$16 that looked like they might do the job.
Honestly, i think I agree with Kilrah about a center position and if it skips for some reason are two drawbacks I would not be willing to risk.
Thanks, I figured it was a simple answer that was alluding me.
Honestly, i think I agree with Kilrah about a center position and if it skips for some reason are two drawbacks I would not be willing to risk.
Thanks, I figured it was a simple answer that was alluding me.
- MikeB
- 9x Developer
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Re: Optical encoders for gimbals?
If you are still looking, it would need a sensor that gave an absolute position, not one that gives an incremental position.
Mike.
Mike.
erskyTx/er9x developer
The difficult we do immediately,
The impossible takes a little longer!
The difficult we do immediately,
The impossible takes a little longer!