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Simple Motion Calculations 1

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Clyde38

Electrical
Oct 31, 2003
533
This is a simple spreadsheet to manipulate four physical quantities associated with motion calculations: position (x); its first derivative, velocity (v); its second derivative, acceleration (a), and of course, time (t). These quantities are related by several familiar equations, which can in turn be expanded by substitution to cover any combination. The spreadsheet is protected without a password to avoid inadvertent destruction of the formulas. Keep units consistent.
 
Can you modify the spread sheet after you have posted it? I have two equations that you might like to add. I think it is best that the work sheet be kept in a place where it will not get lost in all the posts.

I use these equations when doing tech support when the customer says he wants to move a distance in so much time. I can quickly calculate the velocity and average acceleration.

v=1.5*?s/?t
a=4.5*?s/?t2

These equations that the acceleration and deceleration ramp are 1/4 of the total distance, ?s and that acceleration and deceleration ramp times are about 1/3 the total movement time, ?t. These equations assume the motion profile uses linear ramps. However, most motion controllers use s curves so there are modifiers to use the average acceleration/deceleration to calculate the peak values.
3rd order s curves 2.0 x average acceleration or deceleration
5th order s curves 1.5
7th order s curves 1.875
cosine s curves 1.57 or PI/2

I have memorized so I can quickly bang out estimates on a calculator when talking on the phone.
 
PNachtwey,
I'm not sure if the spread sheet can be modified after posting. Does anyone know? I have attached a spread sheet that addresses the "travel" portion of the velocity profile. I'm not sure where I downloaded this from, so if you recognize it please give or take credit.


[link ]
btn_liprofile_blue_80x15.gif" width="80" height="15" border="0" alt="View Clyde Hancock's profile on LinkedIn
[/url]
 
Clyde, you should find a FTP site or some similar site where you can post your files and update them. I have my own FTP site so that I can correct and improve files.

This one needs some improvement. This shows how one can generate 3rd order motion profiles using symbolic processing. I used wxMaxima to generate the html. If you have wxMaxima installed you can just cut, paste and run the code.

Try doing this in a spread sheet:
ftp://ftp.deltacompsys.com/public/Maxima/Seg1234567.html
You need to wait a while for the images to download at the bottom of the file. If you have your own website then you can easily add html files to it.

wxMaxima is not perfect but it is free and can do most math required to generate motion profiles.
 
I remembered where I came across the spread sheet (Motion_Profile(1).xls). It is from the “Mechanical engineering other topics” forum. The post was from “volpegrigia (Mechanical)”. It was in response to a spread sheet I had offered (see attached).


thread404-238396

PNachtwey,
I'm afraid that I'm not in a position to have my own FTP site, nor am I able to take advantage of the software you suggest (Scilab & wxMaxima). Maybe some day, sounds interesting. .

[link ]
btn_liprofile_blue_80x15.gif" width="80" height="15" border="0" alt="View Clyde Hancock's profile on LinkedIn
[/url]
 
Get a google or gmail account and post in your documents section. Mine says I have used 65 mb out of 7350 mb. That is a lot of storage that I have left. You can even selectively provide access rights to each file.

wxMaxima and Scilab are free.

PLC people may use linear ramps but motion control people normally use s curves. 3rd order profiles are the lowest order to provide s curves.


 
PNachtwey,
My willingness to embrace your suggestions about free software and ease of distribution is not the problem. "IT" is the problem. And I know it's hard to believe, I do not have personal access to the internet. Alas, I must live within the guidelines established by the all wise "IT" department. As for your comments about motion control, I think you have a lot to contribute and look forward to your participation.
[yinyang]

[link ]
btn_liprofile_blue_80x15.gif" width="80" height="15" border="0" alt="View Clyde Hancock's profile on LinkedIn
[/url]
 
I don't understand the problem. IT is exists to serve engineering, production and marketing/sales, not the other way around. You just need to make it clear to the IT guys and the management what IT's purpose is.
 
Peter said:
I don't understand the problem.
Neither do I.

Peter said:
IT is exists to serve engineering, production and marketing/sales, not the other way around. You just need to make it clear to the IT guys and the management what IT's purpose is.
Well said. I'm off to set them (IT) straight!


[link ]
btn_liprofile_blue_80x15.gif" width="80" height="15" border="0" alt="View Clyde Hancock's profile on LinkedIn
[/url]
 
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