Arduino Servo Shield: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to controlling servo motors with the Arduino platform, the CNC shield can be a bit tricky to work with. In this article, we will explore how to get started with using the CNC shield to control your servo motor and provide you with a comprehensive guide on how to do so.

Firstly, let's understand that the CNC shield is designed primarily for stepper motors, not servo motors. However, many plotter projects have successfully integrated both stepper motors and servo motors together, which shows that it's possible with some creative problem-solving.

To get started, you will need an Arduino board, a CNC shield, and of course, your hobby servo motor (SM-S2309S). Since you are using an external power supply of 12v (8xAA), make sure to connect the power supply accordingly to your Arduino board.

Now, let's focus on pin configuration. The Arduino Uno has six PWM pins (3, 5, 6, 9, 10, and 11) that can be used for controlling servo motors. However, with the CNC shield, you need to find the correct pins to use for output to your servo motor.

After researching online, I found that many users have successfully used the following pin configuration: Pin 3 for direction and Pin 9 for speed control. You may need to experiment with different pin configurations to find what works best for your specific setup.

Once you've configured the pin settings correctly, it's time to write some code! Since you want to understand and write raw code for this project, I'll provide a basic example of how to get started.

Here is an example code snippet that demonstrates how to control a servo motor using the CNC shield:

```c

#include

const int servoPin = 9; // Pin 9 for speed control

const int dirPin = 3; // Pin 3 for direction

Servo myServo;

void setup() {

pinMode(dirPin, OUTPUT);

myServo.attach(servoPin);

}

void loop() {

myServo.write(0); // Move servo to 0 degrees

delay(1000);

myServo.write(180); // Move servo to 180 degrees

delay(1000);

}

```

This code snippet attaches the servo motor to pin 9, sets the direction pin as an output, and then writes a simple loop that moves the servo from 0 to 180 degrees and back.

In your project, you will likely need to modify this code to suit your specific requirements. You may want to add more functionality, such as controlling the speed or direction of the servo motor, or even integrating it with other components like stepper motors.

Remember to always check the documentation for your CNC shield and servo motor to ensure compatibility and proper usage.

In conclusion, while the CNC shield is designed primarily for stepper motors, it's possible to use it with servo motors by configuring the correct pin settings and writing custom code. With some creative problem-solving and experimentation, you can successfully integrate your servo motor into your project.

Happy building!

Arduino servo shield