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by theamk 413 days ago
Did my favorite search query, and the result were pretty bad, as expected:

"robotics servo motors with two-directional control for under $100"

1. https://mjbots.com/ - their motor are $1369. FAIL.

2. https://www.pololu.com/ - this is huge store, but they do have some motors like that. Pass, but wish it linked to specific page and not top top-level one.

3. dh-robotics.com - no prices, but some products on open market are few K$. Likely fail as well.

4. https://www.robotarticulation.com/ - The product is not for sale (early beta), and it looks likely much more than $1K. FAIL.

5. https://www.lynxmotion.com/ - another huge store, most two-directional motors are expensive but there are some under $100... Pass, but wish it linked to specific page and not top top-level one.
2 comments
85392_school 413 days ago
It sounds like they have yet to focus on products yet. Loosely quoting https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43907634:

> So the search should work best for people, companies, papers, high quality written content.

> Types of searches Websets doesn't currently do well at: products, content that requires authentication/permissions to access, and non-English content

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gertlex 413 days ago
Curious: what is an example of a robotics servo motor with one-directional control?

My experience around such started with pwm hobby servos, includes dynamixels, and I've worked with larger stuff using harmonic drive gearboxes. Can't recall encountering a "servo" that is one-directional.

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theamk 413 days ago
PWM-controlled hobby servo (1-2mS pulse evert 20mS or so) is the one-directional control I had in mind. When you are under $100 range a surprising number of servos use the same simple 1-wire protocol, even large-ish 150 kg-cm / 100W units.

Dynamixels are two-way, and they are an exact thing I'd wanted to see in search results.

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gertlex 413 days ago
Ahh, you seem to be referring to two-directional (two-way) communication, and I took it to mean rotational direction. Was imagining servos analogous to devices that simply power a motor in on/off states, so can't reverse.
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