Motor power and compatability questions

#1

I’m new to motors and have a few questions.

I’m looking to have my starter kit robot support a 3-5lb laptop on its back, so I need more motors or more powerful motors than the normal starter kit has (along with some extra framework, but that’s not the concern here). Getting another baseboard and motors making him 4-wheel drive might work, but I’d like to know if there are more powerful motors first, since that would be a simpler design. Can the baseboard handle just as many of the more powerful motors as it can the regular ones? What numbers tell me how powerful a motor is? Are they programmed the same as the ones that come with the starter kit? If anyone has tried something like this, I’d like to hear from you.

Thanks.

#2

Hi @kevin,

Thanks for your posting.

Here’s the answers for your questions:

1. So I need more motors or more powerful motors than the normal starter kit has.

Sure, no problem, check here:
http://www.makeblock.cc/dc-motor-37-12v-50rpm/
So far it’s our most powerful DC motor, Rated voltage： 12.0 V(DC).
And here’s the matched bracket for this DC motor:
http://www.makeblock.cc/dc-motor-37-bracket-blue-pair/
Kindly advise you might need to use this motor driver on port 1 & 2:
http://www.makeblock.cc/me-motor-driver-v2-0/

2.Can the baseboard handle just as many of the more powerful motors as it can the regular ones?

Normally, it can handle 4 DC motors/16 servo motors/8 stepper motors.

3.Are they programmed the same as the ones that come with the starter kit?

Yes, they are programmed the same as the one come with the starter kit.

Please feel free to contact us if you need further help, thanks.

Christina
Makeblock Community Team

#3

Thanks for the detailed reply! I’ll definitely check out the stronger motors.

#4

I’d love to get the starter kit / tank working, but the motors are not powerful enough. I’d love to go ahead and order the items above, but you don’t have the controller board in stock.

Can you recommend any other solutions?

#5

Six AA batteries only generate 9vdc power, and probably only output 5v, but the motors are rated for 12v. Do you know what the torque and rpm would be at arduino voltages?

#6

The Orion uses a built in motor driver so it outputs 6v to the motors the standard motors are rated at 6v if they receive more than 6v it will shorten the life of the motors. The torque is 1.5±Kg.cm and it is185rpm. for the 12v motors there 2 different types Specification:

1 Test condition

1.1. Rated voltage： 12.0 V(DC)；

1.2. Ambient temperature：+25±3℃；

1.3. Ambient relative：60%±5%；

  1. No-load characteristic

2.1 Gear Ratio:1:144 ;

2.2 No load current：≦ 100 mA

2.3 No load speed： 50 ±10%rpm;

  1. Load characteristic

3.1. Rated torque： 4.5±Kg.cm;

3.2. Rated current：≦ 300 mA;

3.3. Rated speed： 40±10%rpm;

3.4. Stall torque: 10.0± kg.cm;

3.5. Stall current：≥ 1.1 A;

  1. Direction of Ratation：CW

and the other one is

Specification:

Voltage: 12V
Gear Ratio: 1:56
No Load Speed: 200±10%rpm
No Load Current: <=120mA
Load Torque: 1.5±Kg.cm
Load Speed: 160±10%
Load Current: <=450mA
and you will need to buy a 12.6v NMHD battery the LIPO battery is only rated at 11.1v

#7