The SD540 Motor Controller is now shipping! A seemingly weightless, low cost solution with great functionality is now here and ready to order.
We had great feedback at the recent FRC workshop in Richmond, VA. Many local teams got a chance to experience using the SD540 Motor Controller first hand and witness its amazing control.
Do you have a CAD model of the controllers? I looked around the website but didn’t find them, I’d like to add them to our CAD library.
Why are the dip switches on the bottom of the unit, seems like it would make it difficult to adjust once they are on the robot.
Go to the product page, and click on the download tab on the left hand side of the page.
My 2 seem fine, thanks!
Thanks, I thought I looked there but I guess I missed it.
See how the SD540 Motor Controller compares with the other FRC controllers available:
The majority of the information on this chart has been taken from the comparison chart form REV Robotics.
See their chart here:
http://www.revrobotics.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Spark_comparison-Chart-e1446132225162.jpg
Similar charts can also be found in Talon SRX, Victor SP, Victor 888, Talon SR, and Jaguar documentation.
Quick question, does having a higher output frequency cause any sort of performance difference?
Not to be a buzz kill but did you guys just copy the data complied by REV for the Spark? Even the disclaimer is the same.
I would compare this to the Spark or Victor SP. In terms of weight it beats both, is only $5 more expensive than the Spark, has a limit switch input, and has a thinner form factor than the Spark (although not as flat as the others). The output frequency is also higher, although I’m not sure what effect that has.
The banking option looks handy to slightly lower the cost and use less mounting hardware.
Looks pretty neat, overall! We would buy them if not for the twenty Talons we already own. 
Higher switching frequency will make thing more efficient, and power delivery will be continues rather than discrete. In other words better linearity and smooth operation.
What does “multi-bank” mean? I see nothing on the web pages that gives me even a hint of a clue. The price sounds pretty good, but perhaps if I understood what “multi-bank” means it would actually be worth buying.
I’d like to know how the upgradable firmware works. Can you shed any light on that?
Packaged as single, dual, or quad
Examples:
http://www.mindsensors.com/frc/139-motor-controller-for-frc-bank-of-4
http://www.mindsensors.com/frc/138-motor-controller-for-frc-bank-of-2
If you scroll down the the bottom of the webpage, you’ll see there’s a “pod” of 4 motor controllers referred to as the “Quad-Bank Model” and a subsequent Dual Bank Model. It’s essentially a block of motor controllers.
At the workshop they said you could replace one of the controllers on the bank without having to replace the entire bank. Not entirely sure how that works in relation with the rules though.
For the 7 people who say they “do not like this product” could I ask why? Seems like a perfectly competitive option. What is there to not like?
Have you tested the higher switching frequency for interactions with the locking pins in the window motors?
It could be that it’s new. It might also be kids who have no idea what they are talking about. I really think it’s the fact that some folks just like to be snarky when a poll is anonymous.
I like both the sd540 and spark for the same reason-cost. The Spark currently wins this albeit only slightly. The size difference isn’t enough for me to really care and the low weight scares me for use with higher power motors (whether that fear is justified has yet to be seen-if it doesn’t matter then it’s definitely a nice boon).
Of those two my favorite is the one that’s more reliable, available and has better customer support.
There’s also no “I’m ambivalent about these features” option. “I do not like it, Sam-I-Am” becomes the default option, since the others are super positive about the product.
From my chair, none of the features of the SD540 stand above my primary criteria for selection of a speed-controller, which is “Reliable, as verified by real FRC teams using real hardware on a real robot”.
Not to imply that the product isn’t reliable, just that being burned to the tune of a set of speed controllers during build/competition season is enough disincentive to keep me preferring more tried-and-true offerings.
