Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

Can someone outside of Virginia comment on their experiences with these motor controllers? Just looking to eliminate any potential regional bias.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

Per http://www.firstinspires.org/robotic...-the-numbers-2 only 7 teams uses SDS540s. Of those 3 used it as their only motor controller, 2 used it as their primary motor controller, and 2 used it for 50% or less of their motor controllers.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

I'm not affiliated with the company, but I do those that used it to post Amazon reviews. That's a strong factor in me selecting or not selecting a part.

Currently, there is only one review and it's very negative.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

Here is a link to that review.

This review echoes many of the concerns myself and others had when this product was initially announced.

-Mike

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

I read that Amazon review. That may have been an earlier model. The single banks that we used had a black molded case and held up very well. We also used two double banks. They were 3-D printed, but they too had no issues.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

I'm glad they attached pictures to the review but wish they had provided a better one of the soldering.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

Pictures?

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

Were they 3D printed or were they molded?

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

The single banks we used had black molded casings. The multi-bank options had the 3-D printed casings. All controllers worked great. The product page has pictures of the older gray 3-D printed casings and the black molded casings that we received.

Here is the link:
http://www.mindsensors.com/frc/135-s...roller-for-frc

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

I just don't see how to get over this huge difference in performance;
http://www.ctr-electronics.com/downl...er-Testing.pdf

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

I truly hope they didn't lose too much money with these things. Frc doesn't need more motor controllers at this point and there was really nothing special about these that made them worth the risk..

Frc could use more cots components however.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

I remember these being the cheapest when they came out, but perhaps the SPARKs came out after the SD540's and dove below the price point? Am I remembering this correctly?

Aren't all legal motor controllers COTS components? So simultaneously FRC does and doesn't need more motor controllers?

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

Really? I thought the multi-bank feature sounded pretty cool. Sure the other specs of the controller are less desirable but maybe the next iteration will be better.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

Iirc the sparks came out a month or so before at a lower price point.

Re: SD540 Motor Controller
 

QFT - usually tech gets better with more iterations, and this one definitely has a niche that isn't seen elsewhere. For performance, there's "THE FASTEST!" vs 'fast enough', and I think the SD540's demonstrated the latter just fine.