Dual Channel High Power Digital Motor Controller
AX3500
User’s Manual
 Version 1.9b. June 1
AX3500 Motor Controller User’s Manual
 Revision History
Revision History
Date
Version
 Version 1.9b. June 1
 Revision History
 General Operation
 SECTION
SECTION
SECTION
 SECTION
 SECTION
 SECTION
 Programming using built-in Switches and Display
 Version 1.9b. June 1
 Avoid Shorts when Mounting Board against Chassis
Important Safety
Do not Connect to a RC Radio with a Battery Attached
Warnings
 Important Safety Warnings
 AX3500
Locating the Switches and Connectors
Quick Start
What you will need
 AX3500 Quick Start
 Connecting to the Batteries and Motors
Connecting to the Batteries and Motors
 Important Warning
Connecting to the 15-pin Connector
Signal
RC Mode
 Connecting the R/C Radio
Powering On the Controller
Connecting the R/C Radio
 Button Operation
Prog and Set button status
Function
 Default Controller Configuration
Default Controller Configuration
Default Values
Parameter
 Connecting the controller to your PC using Roborun
 Obtaining the Controller’s Software Revision Number
Obtaining the Controller’s Software Revision Number
 = Software version 1.9b
Exploring further
 Product Description
SECTION 3AX3500 Motor Controller Overview
 Multiple Command Modes
Technical features
Automatic Joystick Command Corrections
AX3500 Motor Controller Overview
 Low Power Consumption
Technical features
High Efficiency Motor Power Outputs
Optical Encoder Inputs
 Advanced Safety Features
Data Logging Capabilities
Compact Open Frame PCB Design
 Connecting Power and Motors to the Controller
Power Connections
Power Connections
 Connecting Power and Motors to the Controller
Controller Power
 Power Control input is
Controller Power
And Main Battery
mended Off Configuration
 Powering the Controller from a single Battery
Controller Powering Schemes
 Controller Powering Schemes
Powering the Controller Using a Main and Backup Battery
 Connecting the Motors
 Single Channel Operation
Converting the AX3500 to Single Channel
Single Channel Operation
 Power Fuses
 Power Regeneration Considerations
Wire Length Limits
Electrical Noise Reduction Techniques
Wire Length Limits
 Undervoltage Protection
Overvoltage Protection
 Using the Controller with a Power Supply
Using the Controller with a Power Supply
 Connecting Power and Motors to the Controller
 General Operation
Input Command Modes
Basic Operation
Basic Operation
 Open Loop, Separate Speed Control
Selecting the Motor Control Modes
Open Loop, Mixed Speed Control
General Operation
 Closed Loop Speed Control
Close Loop Position Control
Selecting the Motor Control Modes
 Temperature-Based Current Limitation
User Selected Current Limit Settings
Position Feedback Position Sensor Gear box
Setting
 Battery Current vs. Motor Current
Battery Current vs. Motor Current
Motor Current = Battery Current / PWM ratio
Temperature
 Motor Current = Battery Current / PWM Ratio
Regeneration Current Limiting
 Setting Using
Programmable Acceleration
Switches
Programmable Acceleration
 15 Hex
Command Control Curves
17.97%
0.089 second
 Left / Right Tuning Adjustment
Left / Right Tuning Adjustment
Exponentiation Parameter Value
Selected Curve
 Parameter Value
Speed Adjustment
 Emergency Stop using External Switch
Emergency Shut Down Using Controller Switches
Activating Brake Release or Separate Motor Excitation
Activating Brake Release or Separate Motor Excitation
 Using the Inputs to Activate the Buffered Output
Special Use of Accessory Digital Inputs
Using the Inputs to turn Off/On the Power MOSFET transistors
Inverted Operation
 Self-Test Mode
Self-Test Mode
 Encoder Speed or Position
 Connecting Sensors and Actuators to Input/Outputs
AX3500 Connections
AX3500 Connections
 Connecting Sensors and Actuators to Input/Outputs
AX3500’s Inputs and Outputs
 AX3500’s Inputs and Outputs
I/O type
Activated
 I/O List and Pin Assignment
Pin1
Signal depending
Input or
 Connecting devices to Output C
Connecting devices to Output C
 Important warning
Connecting Switches or Devices to Input F
 Connecting Switches or Devices to EStop/Invert Input
Connecting Switches or Devices to EStop/Invert Input
 Analog Inputs
Connecting Position Potentiometers to Analog Inputs
 Connecting Tachometer to Analog Inputs
Connecting Tachometer to Analog Inputs
Ana2
Operating Mode
 Ana2 p10
Ana 1 p11
Ana 3 p12
Ana 4 p8
 Connecting External Thermistor to Analog Inputs
Connecting External Thermistor to Analog Inputs
Temp oC
Resistance kOhm
 Using the Analog Inputs to Monitor External Voltages
 Internal Voltage Monitoring Sensors
Connecting User Devices to Analog Inputs
Internal Heatsink Temperature Sensors
Connecting User Devices to Analog Inputs
 Temperature Conversion C Source Code
Value
Analog
 else
Internal Heatsink Temperature Sensors
LoTemp = i * 5
HiTemp = LoTemp + 5 lobound = TempTablei hibound = TempTablei+1
 Connecting Sensors and Actuators to Input/Outputs
 RC Pulses Output
RC Pulse Output Overview
RC Pulse Output Overview
 Connecting Servos to Controllers
Connector Location and Pinout
Servo Connection to RevA Controllers
RC Pulses Output
 Connecting to Slave Controllers
Servo Connection to RevB Controllers
Connecting to Slave Controllers
 Command Value
Pulse Timing Information
Pulse Width 1.00ms
1.50ms
 RC Channel Testing Using the PC Utility
RC Channel Testing Using the PC Utility
 RC Pulses Output
 Connecting and Using the Encoder Function
Optical Incremental Encoders Overview
Optical Incremental Encoders Overview
 Connecting and Using the Encoder Function
Recommended Encoder Types
 Connecting the Encoder
Connecting the Encoder
Pulse Frequency in Hz = RPM / 60 * PPR
 Motor - Encoder Polarity Matching
Cable Length and Noise Considerations
Name
Cable Color
 Voltage Levels, Thresholds and Limit Switches
Voltage Levels, Thresholds and Limit Switches
 Wiring Optional Limit Switches
 Effect of Limit Switches
Wiring Limit Switches Without Encoders
Wiring Limit Switches Without Encoders
Motor 1 Fwd
 Using the Encoder to Measure Speed
Using the Encoder Module to Measure Distance
Motor 2 Fwd
Motor 2 Rev
 Using the Encoder to Track Position
Important Notice
Using the Encoder to Track Position
 Distance = Destination - Counter value / Divider
The actual formula is as follows
 Encoder Testing and Setting Using the PC Utility
RS232 Communication with the Encoder Module
RS232 Communication with the Encoder Module
 Connecting and Using the Encoder Function
 Mode Description
Closed Loop Position Mode
Selecting the Position Mode
Mode Description
 Sensor Mounting
Position Sensor Selection
Position Feedback Position Sensor Gear box
Closed Loop Position Mode
 Feedback Potentiometer wiring
Feedback Potentiometer wiring in RC or RS232 Mode
Feedback Potentiometer wiring
 Feedback Potentiometer wiring in Analog Mode
 Feedback Wiring in Analog Mode on Single Channel Controllers
Feedback Wiring in RC or RS232 Mode on Single Channel Controllers
Analog Feedback on Single Channel Controllers
Analog Feedback on Single Channel Controllers
 Sensor and Motor Polarity
Using Optical Encoders in Position Mode
 Encoder Error Detection and Protection
Important Safety Warning
Adding Safety Limit Switches
Encoder Error Detection and Protection
 FIGURE 62. Safety limit switches interrupting power to motors
 Using Current Limiting as Protection
Control Loop Description
Using Current Limiting as Protection
 PID tuning in Position Mode
 Applied Power = Command Value - Actual Position * Proportional Gain
PID tuning in Position Mode
 Closed Loop Position Mode
 Selecting the Speed Mode
Closed Loop Speed Mode
 Tachometer wiring
Using Optical Encoder for Speed FeedbackDigital Optical Encod
Tachometer or Encoder Mounting
Closed Loop Speed Mode
 Speed Sensor and Motor Polarity
Speed Sensor and Motor Polarity
 Adjust Offset and Max Speed
 PID tuning in Speed Mode
PID tuning in Speed Mode
 In Speed Mode, the Integral component of the PID is the most important and must be set first. The Proportional and Differential component will help improve the response time and loop stability
 Normal and Fault Condition LED Messages
Use of the LED Display
Use of the LED Display
 Normal and Fault Condition LED Messages
Motor Direction Status
Possible Display
Motor
 No Control
Fault Messages
Fault Messages
Rapidly Flashing
 Temporary Faults
Permanent Faults
Self-Test Display
 Self-Test Display
= Software version 1.9b
 Normal and Fault Condition LED Messages
 SECTION 12 R/C Operation
 Selecting the R/C Input Mode
Connector I/O Pin Assignment R/C Mode
Pin1
R/C Operation
 R/C Input Circuit Description
Supplied Cable Description
R/C Input Circuit Description
 Powering the Radio from the controller
FIGURE 74. RC Cable wiring diagram
FIGURE 75. RC connection cable
 Powering the Radio from the controller
 Operating the Controller in R/C mode
Connecting to a Separately Powered Radio
 Reception Watchdog
Reception Watchdog
 R/C Transmitter/Receiver Quality Considerations
Important Notice about PCM Radios
 Joystick Deadband Programming
Joystick Deadband Programming
Deadband Parameter Value
Deadband as Percent of full Joystick Travel
 Joystick Calibration
Left/Right Tuning Adjustment
 Automatic Joystick Calibration
Automatic Joystick Calibration
 On before entering joystick calibration
Data Logging in R/C Mode
 Data Logging in R/C Mode
DB15 Male
To Controller
 R/C Operation
 Analog Control and Operation
 Analog Control and Operation
Connector I/O Pin Assignment Analog Mode
 Connecting to a Voltage Source
Connecting a Potentiometer
Connecting to a Voltage Source
 Selecting the Potentiometer Value
 Analog Deadband Adjustment
 Under Voltage Safety
Power-On Safety
Data Logging in Analog Mode
Motor Power at 0%
 Data Logging in Analog Mode
 Analog Control and Operation
 Serial RS-232 Controls and Operation
Use and benefits of RS232
Use and benefits of RS232
 Serial RS-232 Controls and Operation
Connector I/O Pin Assignment RS232 Mode
 Cable configuration
Extending the RS232 Cable
Cable configuration
 Communication Settings
9600 bits/s, 7-bit data, 1 Start bit, 1 Stop bit, Even Parity
Establishing Manual Communication with a PC
 RS232 Communication with the Encoder Module
Establishing Manual Communication with a PC
Roboteq v1.9b 06/01/07 s
 Data Logging String in R/C or Analog mode
Entering RS232 from R/C or Analog mode
 RS232 Mode if default
Commands Acknowledge and Error Messages
Command Acknowledgement
Command Error
 RS-232 Watchdog
Controller Commands and Queries
Command
Type
 Set Accessory Output
Set Motor Command Value
Query Power Applied to Motors
Controller Commands and Queries
 Syntax
Query Amps from Battery to each Motor Channel
 Query Heatsink Temperatures
Query Analog Inputs
?r or ?R
?m or ?M
 Reset Controller
Query Battery Voltages
Query Digital Inputs
Examples
 Apply Parameter Changes
Accessing & Changing Configuration Parameter in Flash
Accessing & Changing Configuration Parameter in Flash
Read parameter
 Flash Configuration Parameters List
Location
Active after
 Motor Control Mode
Input Control Mode
Access
After Reset
 Amps Limit
Acceleration
Definition
 Input Switches Function
 RC Joystick or Analog Deadband
Left/Right Adjust
Exponentiation on Channel 1 and Channel
08 - Channel
 Default Encoder Distance Divider
Default Encoder Time Base 1 and
0B - Encoder
0C - Encoder
 Joystick Min, Max and Center Values
Default PID Gains
0F - Proportional Gain
10 - Integral Gain
 Reading & Changing Operating Parameters at Runtime
Reading & Changing Operating Parameters at Runtime
 Read/Change PID Values
Operating Modes Registers
Access Read/Write Effective Instantly
80 - Channel
 Controller Status Register
PWM Frequency Register
Address Access Read/Write Effective Instantly
Fault Condition
 Current Amps Limit Registers
Controller Identification Register
Model or Function
8B - Channel
 Set/Reset Encoder Counters and Destination Registers
RS232 Encoder Command Set
Read Encoder Counter
RS232 Encoder Command Set
 q or !Q n
Read Speed
7 Set Encoder 1 destination register with value in buffer
8 Set Encoder 2 destination register with value in buffer
 Read Encoder Limit Switch Status
Read Distance
Read Speed/Distance
 Read / Modify Encoder Module Registers and Parameters
Important Note
Switch
n Value
 Size
Parameter Description
 Register Description
Switch Status
Encoder Hardware ID code
Address *84
 Counter Read/Write Mailbox
Speed or Distance 1 or
Counter 1 and
Destination Register 1 and
 Speed 1 and
Distance 1 and
Time Base 1 and
Encoder Threshold
 RC Pulse Outputs Activation
Counter Read Data Format
Default Value
Counter Read Data Format
 Decimal
32-bit Hex
Controller Output
 Automatic Switching from RS232 to RC Mode
Automatic Switching from RS232 to RC Mode
 00 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 99 AA BB CC
Analog and R/C Modes Data Logging String Format
Data Logging Cables
 Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion Table
Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion Table
 AX3500 Motor Controller User’s Manual
 AX3500 Motor Controller User’s Manual
Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion Table
 Version 1.9b. June 1
 SECTION 15 Configuring the Controller using the Switches
Programming using built-in Switches and Display
Programming Methods
 Entering Programming Mode
Configuring the Controller using the Switches
Program
 Changing parameters
The Special Case of Joystick Calibration
Programming using built-in Switches and Display
 Exiting the Parameter Setting Mode
Restoring factory defaults
Programmable Parameters List
This manual is for software version 1.9b
 For safety reasons, the modes below
Possible Values default
cannot be selected using the switches
Programmable Parameters List
 Possible Values default
 SECTION 16 Using the Roborun Configuration Utility
Downloading and Installing the Utility
System Requirements
 Using the Roborun Configuration Utility
Connecting the Controller to the PC
 Roborun Frame, Tab and Menu Descriptions
Roborun Frame, Tab and Menu Descriptions
1- Program Revision Number
2- Controller and Communication Link Information
 3- Parameter Selection and Setting and Special Functions
Getting On-Screen Help
4- File and Program Management Commands
5- View Controller Connector Pinout
 Loading, Changing Controller Parameters
Control Settings
Loading, Changing Controller Parameters
1- Controller Input
 3- Input Command Adjustment
Power Settings
4- Emergency Stop or Invert Switch Select
5- Effect of Digital Inputs
 Loading, Changing Controller Parameters 2- Left/Right Adjust
Analog or R/C Specific Settings
3- Acceleration Setting
1- Deadband
 Closed Loop Parameters
Encoder Setting and Testing
 Encoder Setting and Testing
Encoder Module Parameters Setting
 RC Output Testing
Exercising the Motors
Viewing Encoder Data
 Running the Motors
Running the Motors
 2- Motor Power setting
1- Run/Stop Button
3- Measurement
 4- Real-Time Strip Chart Recorder
6- Input Status and Output Setting
5- Transmit and Receive Data
 7- Data Logging and Timer
Logging Data to Disk
8- Joystick Enable
4- Reset Timer button
 Parameter Header
Connecting a Joystick
Data type/range
Measured Parameter
 Using the Console
2- Command Entry
1- Terminal Screen
 Loading and Saving Profiles to Disk
Viewing and Logging Data in Analog and R/C Modes
4- Send Reset String
Viewing and Logging Data in Analog and R/C Modes
 Operating the AX3500 over a Wired or Wireless LAN
 Updating the Controller’s Software
Updating the Controller’s Software
 Updating the Encoder Software
Creating Customized Object Files
 Creating Customized Object Files
 Using the Roborun Configuration Utility
 Mechanical Specifications
Mechanical Dimensions
Mechanical Dimensions
 Mounting Considerations
Thermal Considerations
Mechanical Specifications
 Attaching the Controller Directly to a Chassis
Attaching the Controller Directly to a Chassis
 Precautions to observe
 Wire Dimensions
Weight
Wire Dimensions
 Mechanical Specifications
AX3500 Motor Controller User’s Manual
Version 1.9b. June 1