Taking a look at a motorized linear potentiometer

These motorized linear potentiometers are used in mixing desks to playback changes in values, but I use it to provide tactile force feedback which could be quite cool in games, menu screens and maybe even for controlling a robot...
Code: pastebin.com/bg...
Change the call in loop() to "Lumpy", "SpringA" or "SpringB" to try out the examples used in this video. "SlideToValue" can be used to, well, slide to any value.

[@R4MP4G3RXD]

These potentiometers are usually used in higher end studio gear, it's really a eye pleaser seeing linear pots move :D

[@FOHGeek]

Not really hi-end... Even cheap digital sound boards like Behringer x32 use this type of slider

[@stephenjones8928]

This is brilliant; especially the notch functionality.

[@mikelean66]

This is excellent work! You articulate everything so well, especially the ‘springy’ retraction!

[@user-ii8dz4vu7n]

Love your description of the applications and it really got my brain turning! I got a motorized radial pot for a project but now I want the linear ones too for a similar application as you!

[@thanhavictus]

This is one of the coolest things I've seen. Had no idea it was a thing

[@Fly3rman]

the notches are brilliant! very well explained and thanks for the code. i need to buy one.

[@giz02]

Great video chap! Lots of ideas rush to thought after your demonstration.. thanks for the inspiration.

[@Mregoldsbo]

This is genius. Great job on making your video concise and thank you for sharing the code

[@Shadow__X]

Technically the motor is a servo, it's just that you have to write the firmware yourself

[@codebeat4192]

It can also feature a lock by shorting the pins of the motor. Try it, you are unable to move it.

[@dg-hughes]

My father is on oxygen this device would be great to move the potentiometer on the O2 machine. Dad has the machine in a separate room because he finds it too noisy. At night he lowers the O2 litre/min since it bothers him but in the morning he needs it set higher. Your device would be great to allow him to adjust the O2 machine remotely. But as simple as it is it may be too complex for him to figure out.

[@PatchBOTS]

Great video!

[@harryking5636]

Trying to create a new force feed back flight stick and is it possible.

[@stanf3531]

i wonder if you can use these for haptic feedback VR gloves 🤔

[@GRBtutorials]

Technically, it's a servo, because you have the feedback from the pot. A servo is just a motor with position feedback.

[@Critters]

I'm going to say it's not. For the same reason a motor with an encoder on it is not a servo, it lacks the logic needed to make it a servo. This + an Arduino programmed to accept a position signal from an external source would make the combo behave like a servo

[@GRBtutorials]

Good point! Something to note is that modified "servos" aren't really servos any more, because you lose the position control. A real 360º servo would have an encoder, an absolute one (or a system that saves the position forever).

[@Snugggg]

Would be great for the manual wing sweep handle in an F14 simulator.

[@SnaptowelsNetConnect]

Very helpful Wish these were standard in arduino kits

[@xkondi00]

Can you tell me how to connet outputs to driver pls? I am using HG7881CP H-Bridge and it is not working for 100%. We have defined 3 outputs, in1, in2, en0. What is used for what? How to connect it ? Thanx

[@fernwood]

That is so cool. I need to find a use for this.

[@gandal_]

what is this third that manages the potentiometer pls?

[@Wee-WorldMiniaturesandProps]

I can't figure out how to message users anymore. I need help with a project and it includes one of these motor driven slide pots thingys

[@RobertGeez]

Hi. I have a non moterized slide pot that has blue red and yellow. Could you tell me which colour is which?? Thanks.

[@Shadow__X]

I am planning on using one of these as my smart home light switch, moving itself when I use Amazon echo or an app to adjust the lights

[@Critters]

Very cool, bonus points if you put 2 switches in line-of-sight of each other and adjusting one by hand makes the other move too ;)

[@Shadow__X]

@@Critters my room's not large enough unfortunately, but that's a really cool idea... I might even use the touch detection that many of these have to "lock" the lights and prevent people from changing them, just by holding one for a while without moving it, or to adjust a different light by double tapping it first and then dragging. These have so many possibilities, I feel like they deserve more attention, they seem to be really easy to integrate too

[@Shadow__X]

by the way, what arduino and motor controller are you using? I have a (maybe broken, shorted out some analog pins to gnd or 5v at some point) arduino leonardo knockoff and will use an L293D PMIC driver, but I have severe space constraints as I will put the power supply in the wall with everything else since there is already mains in there

[@PetrVacek]

Very interesting. I wonder how precise it is... Can it somehow reach precise "steps", so it becomes somehow linear actuator?

[@paulbarker5295]

What board are you using to control the motor on the slider, and what voltage is the motor?

[@luisprobst9461]

where can i buy them

[@1pvr]

Can this be used without a microcontroller to control PWM fans ?

[@danielorta1893]

I can't find that here... Can u give me the code or a website???

[@feliwein_cc]

could you give me your schematics please? really useful video, thanks

[@andylasers7288]

What part is that pot, have a link?

[@essenceofaaron]

got a question about this... Would it be possible to program these to move in a direction until it reaches an obsticle? like.. could they be programed to stop moving if they touch someones hand? i was thinking they could sence the resistance on the slide pot staying the same for more than half a second, they would know that they hit something, then stop moving in that direction?

[@essenceofaaron]

David Scott awesome! thanks. I'm trying to build a thing, but have never programmed before. it's nice to know that these things should do what I think they will before I waste my time.

[@xtorsam8306]

What is the brand and model number? I really need to know and your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[@ReelSpider]

So, I'm a little confused. Are you saying that it is a "linear" pot because it is a slide pot? Linear does not refer to the form factor, please look up "logarithmic vs linear pots".

[@Boslandschap1]

Very interesting. Is it powered by the Arduino or does it have a separate power source? If it's powered by the Arduine, do you know if it is 5V or 3,3V?

[@Critters]

You need a motor driver to power a motor in both directions. The Arduino reads the POT value and then tells the motor driver which direction to turn the motor and (through PWM) with how much power. Look for videos on "adruino motor PID" to learn more, this is the same as most of those, just with linear motion vs rotary and used to give some tactile feedback

[@sametkarakoyunlu8835]

Does it work with servo motor ratios? for example 0.5-2.5 ms ...

[@Ray-ej3jb]

Hi Critters, Is it possible you could post the code for your motorised potentiometer video. Other than for the basic Pot read you didn't show the screen again. I don't use the Arduino IDE but would like to know how the software works especially the PWM side of things. Many Thanks

[@Critters]

LInk to code in the description

[@FrankLopezx]

gotta say it i freaking love that lens on that Sony but i hate that it fades off things of interest such as that motor drive in the background, is that a L293D/L298N ? lol i thought my vision was getting blurry on me "im like, let me get my glasses" then i forgot about your comment of the lens

[@Critters]

+Frank Lopez smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M6OB8ZY

[@FrankLopezx]

+Critters one last question, and sorry for my asking but, do you know if i can use this audio pot www.ebay.com/itm/10K-Ohm-Slide-Potentiometer-Stereo-75mm-/381396472432?hash=item58cd005270:g:28YAAOSwWnFV8aSb or any logarithmic pot for arduino servo ir dc geared motor or even something like what you just did?

[@Critters]

Sure, but you'd need a DC motor and some way of connecting it to the arm on the pot and having the motor pull it in both directions. Maybe fishing line going in a loop and wrapping a few times around a pulley on the motor shaft would do it.

[@tom_something]

This is really cool.

[@xkondi00]

May I need motor module for arduino to run the code? Thanxň Awesome video

[@Critters]

Yes. You'll need a motor driver as you need to be able to drive the motor in both directions.

[@xkondi00]

@@Critters Ehich kind pls?

[@michaeltyers7336]

Landing gear lever?

[@practicetennisbyjaeshin3231]

Can you do this wirelessly?? Cool as sheeeet

[@OscarSommerbo]

Looks like you are using an arduino nano and a motor shield. Is the shield for both dc in and Half H bridge, or just for the bridge? And in the code you use a digital PWM pin for "in1" and a regular digital pin for "in2" can I get away with using just digital pins? I am new tok all this and I am trying to spec out my design and I am short on PWM pins on a arduino uno. Pin "enA" must obviously be a PWM pin since you use analog write exclusively.

[@Critters]

+Oscar Sommerbo The motor controller is this one: smile.amazon.com/DROK-Controller-H-Bridge-Mega2560-Duemilanove/dp/B00CAG6GX2 The in1 + in2 are digital pins and used to set the direction of the motor, the analogWrite on enA is used to set the power via PWM so needs to be a PWM enabled pin (see the spec sheet for whatever arduino you are using) and finally the potPin needs to be analogue to read the pot value.

[@OscarSommerbo]

+Critters Great! Thanks for the quick answer. I might just buy that H-bridge, saves on soldering and burnt fingertips. And the pins are just enough on an arduino uno. Doing a RGB controller for LED lights with motorized sliders for cool factor. Three PWM pins for slide pots and three for RGB channels.

[@Jai_Lopez]

can you email me that email used in the end of this video for my home made version of what you bought ? thanks

[@Jai_Lopez]

+jai Lopez what type of camera did you use ? amazing quality at 720p

[@Critters]

+jai Lopez Camera is not as important as the lens which is f1.4 for that nice blury background. Sony A7s + 50mm f1.4

[@Jai_Lopez]

Critters very nice res!

[@Critters]

Added link to code in description

[@samda7109]

nice work.

[@reiklap]

Hi, what pins are ground, voltage and digital read on the linear pot?

[@Critters]

It was so long ago, I honestly can't remember. Each one is probably going to be different and these were just some I found on e-bay, I probably just tried some pins at random until I found a combo that gave me the readings I expected to get as I moved the pot

[@karlvonkrakau3719]

Thanks for sharing!

[@youtubak777]

Where did you buy it? I found some on eBay, but they're very expensive... It's basically just a potenciometr and a small motor. Both of those are really cheap so there's no reason for motorized potenciometr to be expensive.

[@Critters]

eBay too, just got lucky and found 2 for cheap, just gotta keep looking

[@deltaray3]

Yeah, $25 for one is pretty steep. It could be since there is a limited market for these that they prices are high. I've only ever seen them used in high end mixer boards.

[@anishabaveja]

What Brand is that stuff?

[@maskystudio9193]

Potentiometer 10k?

[@giz02]

Here www.top-up.com.tw/front/bin/ptlist.phtml?Category=451611 courtesy of the worlds greatest googler.. This is where SparkFun Sources them

[@DanieleGiorgino]

Really cool

[@oedebiri]

Where can I get this part?

[@Critters]

I don't have a part number, I found it 2nd hand on ebay searching for "motor driven slide pot". I think it came out of or was a spare part for a mixing console, so maybe search for that.

[@ralphbooger4756]

you can find some on aliexpress for around 15$, might not be exactly the same... search electric fader

[@jaredrozen7119]

hi, can you please confirm what the motor controller is? You have two different links below? Also can you post a link to the schematic, I'm not sure how to wire it up. Thanks,

[@krzysztofcybulski5559]

I'm also curious about the kind of motor controller used

[@elpedomasgrande1]

2:10

[@eliasleine3689]

Where do you buy one of these?

[@Critters]

I found them on eBay, did not find a good source of them other than random 2nd hand ones on there.

[@badpennylocker5097]

very nice

[@spiksplinter]

much appreciated!

[@by-systems]

Fantastic, Do you have the same for raspberry pi4 in c or javascript ? Best Regards, Youssef

[@profsacin]

intersting, thanks for the video.

[@maskystudio9193]

Hi sir, i want to discuss with u Can i contact u by email