Greetings;

        I once tried to use stepper motors as shaft encoders. I just had
comparators set so the hysteresis trip level was just enough to triger the
threshold and latch it into binary ( with positive feedback ). The problem
I was having was that you have got to turn the "pot" at least FOUR clicks
before a direction can be realized. The reason being, unlike optically
encoded predecessors a coil could go positive or negative DEPENDING on
which DIRECTION you came from. If someone has come up with a way, though ,
of course I would love to hear it  ;->
p.s You've got to at least try it, it's fun!

        Hamilton



At 04:45 PM 1/24/97 EST, you wrote:
>How are they wired up?
>
>myke
>>> > Anyway, to sum up. I haven't been able to find optical encoders in
the UK
>>> > for less than 35 pounds. However, I am now using a Bourns mechanical
>>> > quadrature encoder from Farnell which is relatively cheap at 3 pounds.
>>> > Cirkit doesn't stock Bourns anymore.
>>> >
>>> > Thanks to some edge detection code, I am now Sorted!
>>> >
>>> > Anson Chuang
>>>
>>> Hi, I'm following this discution and did anyone have ever used Step Motor
>>> as shaf encoder? I did a small test and it works very fine.
>>>
>>> Octavio
>>> ========================================================
>>
>>Yes, they are very strong and relatively cheap. I use them to replace
pots on
>>interactive exhibits, even the strongest most destructive child cant
>>seem to break them.
>>Paul Waterfield



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