Good Morning,
I am trying, with zero success, to send cycle counts from a Moog smart motor to one of your LCD-09395 displays. I can tell you the motor model # is an SM23375DT motor. We use them frequently to life test components or products, and have cameras fixed on them that record the test. But the only way to view cycle counts is “motor view,” which is on the desktop of the laptop running the software. I’d like a display right in front of the sample so I don’t have to guess or calculate out the cycle count when it failed.
My problem is how to address the LCD. What commands do I need for it to receive a string from the motor and display?
I’m only just starting to play with arduinos, so if your solution includes one of those, please be patient. I will try whatever.
Thanks for your assistance!!
You will need to receive the data the motor is sending and then write a program to convert that information into a format the LCD can display. Check the [quick start guide for the LCD to get a list of commands and some sample code.](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/pic-based-serial-enabled-character-lcd-hookup-guide)
But what is the format the LCD needs?
The only examples given are for use with arduinos.
None of the command characters for the screen do anything when entered into the motor’s RS232 port. I know there needs to be some conversion, but I would prefer not to have another component to accomplish what should be a simple task. Just not finding it.
You need to look at it this way:
Your motor speaks French and your LCD speaks German.
If you connect the motor directly too the LCD, it’s going to talk to the LCD in French but that’s going to look like gobbledygook on the screen since the LCD is expecting German and it’s hearing French.
What you need is a device that can speak French and German and act as a translator and sits between the LCD and motor. That way, the motor speaks in French to the translator, the translator converts that to German and then forwards the message onto the LCD.
The translation process listens to the motor in Fench, then tells the LCD in German “I want you to print this line of text and here is where on the display I want you to print it.”
The quick start guide TS-Chris linked has that code that explains what the LCD is looking for data wise and how to send it. It also explains to the LCD what needs printed and where to put it. It also does things like clearing the display and printing new information (in the proper place on the display) when the motor has new information to display.
There’s no way to get around using an arduino (or your favorite other micro controller) to do the conversion and that guide explains how it’s done. Sadly there’s NO example code for your specific situation so you will need to write that on your own.
You will probably want to experiment with sending data from the arduino to the display to learn how it works first, then learn how to ask the motor for what you want to display. Once you’re able to do those two things, then you can combine them into one program that does both and then you will be display cycle counts on the LCD.
Okay, thanks guys…guess I’m learnin’ arduino today !!!
Thanx or the tips !!