I am looking on information to control a hydraulic solenoid valve used
as a flow control valve by using PWM on the solenoid. I am trying to
control a machine by skid steer, and will use the flow control to
provide some trim control on slopes to cause it to go in a straight
line. I am trying to develop a method to control it by radio control.
there are a lot of cheap radio transmitters and receiver out there, but
I do not know where to get started. I have been told to incorporate a
hand held computer to program the PWM function for joystick controls,
and some just say I need a microcontroller.

Is anyone interested in giving me some help. I know you guys have done
a lot of this.

I am back after quite a while away from metalworking.
Cecil Bearden
Oklahoma

The handheld computer vs. microcontroller is just how much hardware you want
to do to get it to work.
I don't know if you really want to bang a solenoid back and forth, I'd
rather do needle valve control or something else like that for the job.
That would be easy with the R/C as the outputs of the receivers is a PWM
signal to the servo motors and you can do big powerful servso with that
system.

--
Why isn't there an Ozone Hole at the NORTH Pole?

there are special servo valves for this purpose, not solenoids - look at how
aircraft servos are controlled and you'll see the special spool valves they
use -
wrote in message
ups.com...
I am looking on information to control a hydraulic solenoid valve used
as a flow control valve by using PWM on the solenoid. I am trying to
control a machine by skid steer, and will use the flow control to
provide some trim control on slopes to cause it to go in a straight
line. I am trying to develop a method to control it by radio control.
there are a lot of cheap radio transmitters and receiver out there, but
I do not know where to get started. I have been told to incorporate a
hand held computer to program the PWM function for joystick controls,
and some just say I need a microcontroller.

Is anyone interested in giving me some help. I know you guys have done
a lot of this.

I am back after quite a while away from metalworking.
Cecil Bearden
Oklahoma

I have looked at the servo valves. They will work, and also
proportional hydraulic valves. My problem is trying to develop the
controller that will control it by wireless. I can't afford the 4K
Hetronix controller. I have thought about a flow control on each side
connected to a stepper motor. This would allow for trimming the
downhill side of the machine to keep ot straight. However, I never
learned how to program these controllers so they knwo what I am trying
to send. I also don't know where to start.....

cbear

On 29 Jan 2005 06:03:20 -0800, "
wrote:

I am looking on information to control a hydraulic solenoid valve used
as a flow control valve by using PWM on the solenoid. I am trying to
control a machine by skid steer, and will use the flow control to
provide some trim control on slopes to cause it to go in a straight
line. I am trying to develop a method to control it by radio control.
there are a lot of cheap radio transmitters and receiver out there, but
I do not know where to get started. I have been told to incorporate a
hand held computer to program the PWM function for joystick controls,
and some just say I need a microcontroller.

Is anyone interested in giving me some help. I know you guys have done
a lot of this.

Joystick pot and two IC's. Spehro devised a cute circuit using a
555 and a CD4053 to produce 0 to 100% PWM with a pot. Spehro, may I
send cbear a schematic?

Mouser has Radiotronix radio modules for under $10. Digi-Key has
Linx radio modules.

You might take a look at the hobby RC suppliers - that field has come a
long way. Try www.spektrumrc.com for an advanced controller ($160) and a
"speed control" (what I would call a motor driver) ($170) to run a
brushless servomotor controlling the position of the spool valve. Not a
solenoid valve - sorry.

All bolt/plug together - no custom hardware or software. There are also
dead-man modules that will take the motor to a defined position in case
the radio link is lost.
--
Fred R
________________
Drop TROU to email.

On Sun, 30 Jan 2005 11:30:16 -0600, the renowned Don Foreman
wrote:

On 29 Jan 2005 06:03:20 -0800, "
wrote:

I am looking on information to control a hydraulic solenoid valve used
as a flow control valve by using PWM on the solenoid. I am trying to
control a machine by skid steer, and will use the flow control to
provide some trim control on slopes to cause it to go in a straight
line. I am trying to develop a method to control it by radio control.
there are a lot of cheap radio transmitters and receiver out there, but
I do not know where to get started. I have been told to incorporate a
hand held computer to program the PWM function for joystick controls,
and some just say I need a microcontroller.

Is anyone interested in giving me some help. I know you guys have done
a lot of this.

Joystick pot and two IC's. Spehro devised a cute circuit using a
555 and a CD4053 to produce 0 to 100% PWM with a pot. Spehro, may I
send cbear a schematic?

Sure.

Mouser has Radiotronix radio modules for under $10. Digi-Key has
Linx radio modules.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

The RC receiver sends pulses to the servo. This is from an old book but I
think it still pretty accurate, at least for non PCM radio controls. The
transmitter sends a 4.5 millisecond sync pulse followed by a series of
pulses ranging from 1.0ms to 2.0ms with 1.5ms servo center. The first pulse
after the sync pulse is channel 1, second pulse is channel 2, etc.. I have
used a BASIC STAMP microcontroller to read pulses from the receiver and
control outputs.

For the valves, it sounds like you would want proportional valves or servo
valves. Also, you might be interrested in the heading hold gyro's that they
use in R/C helicopters, this would help you hold a constant heading on
slopes,etc.

Hope this helps!



wrote in message
ups.com...
I am looking on information to control a hydraulic solenoid valve used
as a flow control valve by using PWM on the solenoid. I am trying to
control a machine by skid steer, and will use the flow control to
provide some trim control on slopes to cause it to go in a straight
line. I am trying to develop a method to control it by radio control.
there are a lot of cheap radio transmitters and receiver out there, but
I do not know where to get started. I have been told to incorporate a
hand held computer to program the PWM function for joystick controls,
and some just say I need a microcontroller.

Is anyone interested in giving me some help. I know you guys have done
a lot of this.

I am back after quite a while away from metalworking.
Cecil Bearden
Oklahoma