Toto's Traversers

Charlestons

Testing this morning - slowed the speed and acceleration / deceleration down, seems a lot better.
Time to move from track 1 to 4 is approx 9 seconds.

Just tweaking the stop positions, track 2 is the datum until the homing routine is sorted, track 1 and 4 just about spot on, track 3 half the thickness of the rail out.

Paul

 

ed in this place I get led a merry dance all the time

As promised

Test run



Paul

 

The recoil will be Toto, when he realizes he just put his Deltic on full power off the open end of the traverser

 

Thanks Guy's

The homing mods have been completed, and all the positions setup.

The sketch also outputs to the serial monitor - a useful tool for fault finding or feed back

By putting in print statements to the serial monitor I can get information on the progress of the sketch

On start or restart of the arduino the sketch will start to home to the zero point - see video below



Then it will move to track 2



After that any move provides the decoder accy address, the position it is moving from the new position and the stepper value of that location



Homing video



Paul

 

Oh I forgot to mention ...... that same information could be sent to a LCD screen instead of the serial monitor, but don't tell Toto otherwise I'll have another job.

Paul

 

Ah but ...... the LCD screen is for you to do, as you have the bits in your arduino kit, it'll be a learning experience for you

Paul

 

IT'S finished

Number 1 done, currently DCC only, but it works and his highness can pick it up and play.

One modification, I replaced the push button with a limit switch for the home position detector, as the push button did not give a consistent zero position.



The control system


The underside - red bits are NCE BD20, block detectors, his lordship wants this in the future

I've used a few of the Wago 3 and 5 way connector block - really easy to use, and take seconds to connect / disconnect - for when you change your mind, or to re-route a wire.

and finally


Time for a rest - chance would be a fine thing Dundee in 3 to 4 weeks, and I still have to get the points working never mind the rest

Paul

 

Aye - that's why for final deployment I use the Arduino Nano at approx £1.50 to £2 a pop. The circuit development is done on the Uno plus breadboard, then when working is moved over to a stripboard and Nano.

This may get a 3D printed case, but would then need a cooling fan.

I still need to add some form of support as the 8mm steel bars flex under the weight which the effects the height of the track .

Looks like a move over to 12mm bar and linear bearings for future projects, but traverser 2 will still get 8mm bars as I have all the supports etc.

And of course Toto wants some form of manual operation - not sure if he means push buttons or intends using it just once per year

Paul