MVPWM-101, cheap servo tester

[asid61]

Lately I've been working on a cheaper alternative to the Pulsinator and Thrifty Throttle, because I am so cheap that I don't want to spend $30 on testing mechanisms.
So I've created MVPWM-101, a $5 servo PWM generator that can be powered through USB port, plugged into a Talon SRX, or take any 5v input voltage.
Picture is attached.

I did screw up slightly on the potentiometer boundaries, which is why it sits partially on top of the USB port. MVPWM-102 will feature a micro-usb port to let users power it from laptops or external phone battery packs.
I'll also be releasing a through-hole component version that should only be slightly more expensive, but let any team with a soldering iron make one.

Here's a video of it controlling a servo (analogous to controlling a Talon or Victor): https://youtu.be/HDhfyetcpek

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by asid61

... I am so cheap ...

Frugal not cheap. Thanks for sharing cause otherwise this would be penny wise pound foolish.

Link does not seem to work on my Android phone.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

Frugal not cheap. Thanks for sharing cause otherwise this would be penny wise pound foolish.

Link does not seem to work on my Android phone.

I edited the link, if it's still not working I'll just upload to youtube.

[techhelpbb]

Originally Posted by asid61

I edited the link, if it's still not working I'll just upload to youtube.

Not working for me.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by techhelpbb

Not working for me.

Uploaded to youtube.

[Brutick]

Can you post source code and hardware BOM? Is it using an ATTiny85 or some other 8-bit MCU?

Just curious what you're doing in code.

[kgzak]

Originally Posted by Brutick

Can you post source code and hardware BOM? Is it using an ATTiny85 or some other 8-bit MCU?

Just curious what you're doing in code.

I can't really tell from the picture but it looks like it could be a 555 timer meaning no code.

[Brutick]

Originally Posted by kgzak

I can't really tell from the picture but it looks like it could be a 555 timer meaning no code.

Oh, good call, it probably is a 555 timer.

[asid61]

Originally Posted by Brutick

Oh, good call, it probably is a 555 timer.

Yup, no code! That's why it's so cheap to make. That also puts me at the mercy of the potentiometer and capacitor tolerances to determine the pulse length, but I accounted for those errors in the design.