I have a project for work that I would like some feed back on. I work for a Fiber Optic Independent test lab. We test fiber optic connectors most of these are no larger than 1” with a 3mm fiber optic cable attached.

There are three repetitive tasks that I would like to automate.

1. Flex test the connector is held in a vertical position a weight applied >5 Lbs and it is turn from 0 to +90 to -90 100 times.
2. Twist test a connector is held in a vertical position weight applied >5 Lbs and it rotated from 0 to +900 degrees back -1800 degrees and back +900 to 0. This is done 100 times
3. Applied load test the connector is held in a vertical position a weight applied from 1 to 15 Lbs and it is turn from 0 up to +135

I was thinking six stepper motors;
Three for lifting the weights up and down to control the load rate, some type of lead screw
One each of the other test, to control the rate and rotations.

Would control of all six of the stepper need to be split in pairs? The test is successive in the order above, 15 total devices with measurements at intervals.

Can the controllers be programmed to start one pair of steppers while the next test is being loaded? Starting independently the next test as it is readied?

Thanks for your input, any recommendations on Steppers, Drive, Power Supplies, Software, etc. is greatly appreciated.

Smitty