Hey guys. I am an alumni of FRC Team 514. I am not completely sure this is the correct location for this thread, if a moderator sees it fit, please go ahead and move it...
So, as part of a college project, we are working on developing a machine that is going to pump a very precise amount of fluid. Our basic design idea is one similar to that of a syringe pump. We are going to take a large syringe, and compress the plunger using a lead screw, which we plan on powering using a stepper motor we purchased.
Now the problem is that none of us have ever used a stepper motor before, and we are having trouble coming by anyone, professor or otherwise, who knows enough about them to recommend what kind of control board we will be needing.
The control of the system is going to be handled entirely within Labview, and we plan to do all of the controlling of the stepper motor using a National Instruments DAQ board (model 180955-01B).
What I am basically trying to learn is whether or not we will be needing a separate control board, and what kind of board we will be needing that would be compatible with our daq board. None of us really have any experience in this, so some basic information to get us started and have a working stepper motor is all I really need.
Here is a link to our motor:
http://cgi.ebay.com/177-oz-inch-STEP...em19b954 4621
Thanks!
-Rich