Repair the treadmill controller

[moorepants]

The treadmill controller is kaput. We need to try to repair it or make/find a replacement. We could start with the meetshop and see if they can fix it or maybe we can pay DEMO to fix it. Asking Jan van Frankenhuizen for suggestions on getting it fixed, maybe he can help or point us to a person in 3mE that can do this.

[moorepants]

Frank van Straten used to work at ForceLink and may be able to help us. I have his phone #.

[moorepants]

We need the treadmill working for January 2024 for Marten's experiments. Here are some notes on what we can do.

• There is a working controller on the second treadmill in the basement. This, as well as the connection wire on our treadmill should be able to be used to determine what the pins do.
• We can try to arrange to share the working controller with the lab in the basement. Mostly just needs coordination as it is unlikely experiments will all be at the same time in both labs. Maybe we can even borrow if for a long period.
• A student group tapped into our treadmill with an ardiuno to automatically control the speed. maybe we can utilize that setup to manually control the speed. We need an emergency stop button working and speed control. It should be possible to make our own rudimentary controller.

[moorepants]

There is a sticker on the other lab's controller that says "Motek Medical service date 2020". Given that they were servicing it up to 2020, we should call Motek. Motek bought forcelink at some point. @pcvanderzalmtudelft

[pcvanderzalmtudelft]

That is a good idea, I will try to contact them this afternoon.

[pcvanderzalmtudelft]

They didnt answer my phone call, so I have send them an email, with @moorepants in cc (although the email is in dutch). Lets hope they respond soon, but I will try to call again tomorrow.

[pcvanderzalmtudelft]

I have called Motek again and they said that it would be possible to buy a new controller. I have send them another email with photos of the controller we have now with the serial number to see if they have a matching one laying around.

[moorepants]

Perfect, if they have it let me know the price.

[pcvanderzalmtudelft]

Motek said that these controllers are pretty old and they hope that they can still support them; I have had to send photos of the PCB and they will now internally discuss the options.

[moorepants]

Ok, any replacement of something new or used is fine too.

[moorepants]

The new board is here but two of the ribbon cables need new connectors or new cables for the new board. Also seems one chip may need to be transferred from the old board to the new board. Marten will take it to the meetshop in the morning for advice.

[moorepants]

From Marten:

I just brought the board to the meetshop. He said the connector on the new board is also for a ribbon cable. He is going to check if he has the right connector, and will otherwise order it. He will let me know when he has an update.

[pcvanderzalmtudelft]

I got a message from Jacques that the controller is fixed and I will pick it up today

[moorepants]

Woohoo!

[pcvanderzalmtudelft]

I just tested to controller on the treadmill and the controller just gives an error with high pitched sound..... I have given Jacques the information of the contact person at Motek and he will call them for specific questions..

[moorepants]

One other possiblity: you could post request on the Biomech-L forum to see if anyone round the world might have one of these old controllers and we could buy it from them.

[pcvanderzalmtudelft]

Later today (or tomorrow, depending on the availability of Jacques) I will go over to the meetshop to pick up the controller and ask him for suggestions for the next steps. I will also taka look at the forum, although it seems that at the sales section, there is not much traffic.

[moorepants]

Doesn't' hurt to make some traffic. Lots of people still watch that forum.