Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Force feedback handwheels

I've been thinking roughly about the same thing except in the context of a
vehicle autopilot that can tell when a driver touches the steering wheel.
The problem with current monitoring is that slightly uneven friction forces
in the column (or the screw in this case) can easily be mistaken for an
operator touching the wheel.

A better solution is a wheel with a torsion sensor in the weel's drive
shaft. It wouldn't need to be complicated, any piezo force transducer should
do. I don't think the techniques they use for power assist would work
because that power is less than the turning force. I haven't tried it
though.

If you find a cheap way to do it, let me know.

On 7/24/06, Les Newell <lesnewell@...> wrote:
>
> I have been busy designing electronic hand wheels for my latest lathe
> conversion and I have been wondering about force feedback. This machine
> will be used half as a manual and half as a cnc so in manual mode I want
> it to feel like a manual. It is not difficult to monitor the servo
> current. This can then be used to feed back to the wheel. There are two
> options for generating the feedback:
>
> 1) use a servo motor on the wheel. This would be the most realistic but
> could potentially end up back driving the wheel if you don't have hold
> of it - a very bad idea.
>
> 2) Use a variable brake on the wheel. This is easy enough to do using a
> simple solenoid operated brake. It also has the advantage of being
> failsafe and there is no chance of back driving the wheel.
>
> Has anyone done this or used commercial machine with force feedback
> (assuming any manufacturer does it)? If so is it worth the effort?
>
> Les
>


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