Re: C6C controller. [TANKS]

["Stacy Hilton" <stacyj-at-defnet.com>]

Joe?

I'm not sure if a month constitutes "several" weeks or not, but I was hoping 
that you may have had a bit of  "hobby time".  I was especially wondering if 
you had worked out the whole throttle mapping business.  I hope that this is 
do-able.  I have since found a cheap source of scooter motors that have 
internal speed controls.  The on-line blurb even says "use any 5k 
potentiometer" to control the speed......

Another thing popped into my mind the other day.  A whole single motor 
scheme where the motor is a 300-400 watt speed controlled scooter motor and 
the skid steering and reverse is brought about by means of electric 
clutches.  The clutches (in my mind) could be controlled by an Anvilus mini 
relay controller.  This could save me space by eliminating one motor and by 
letting me use smaller relays.  The gearing would be minimal because of the 
speed control, also saving space.  I would like your thoughts on this as 
well.

In fact I would like the thoughts of anyone involved in this "sport" (it IS 
a sport, after all isn't it?  It involves balls, right?  We keep score, 
right?).  My learning curve in this thing is quite steep.  I haven't built a 
model of anything since I was 10 years old.  I'm on my 4th set of motors and 
Congress (my wife) keeps cutting my Defense Budget.  I have made a lot of 
progress, though at times, it seems slow in coming.  I have a turret shell 
and most of a lower hull complete.  The suspension.....   hah, I have 
learned SO much about springs, coil springs, spring rates, gas springs, 
third class levers, bearings, third class levers acting on gas springs using 
bearing surfaces as a fulcrums......  I'm sure you get the picture.  I've 
also learned about scooter motors and what "makes them go".  I learned a LOT 
about fiberglass casting (saran wrap doesn't work, try aluminum foil held in 
place by aluminum duct tape).  I'm starting to learn about forming rubber 
tires on metal wheels.  I am VERY interested in spin casting, and am 
wondering if I could build a spin casing machine myself  (purchasing one 
would cost me about 3 grand).  I have some experience in sand casting (high 
school, when we used to do industrial arts).  I've learned loads about 
adhesives, substrates, shock loading.....

I can chalk all this up to a bunch of guys, mostly in Maryland, who caught 
my attention during a random Google search for "J. Walter Christie".  So far 
I have been assisted by folks in Belarus, Russia, Poland, hell even Aberdeen 
Proving Ground, in Maryland.  I'm not sure where I was going with this 
but...  Old guys, we're coming, just give us a couple months.....  New guys, 
keep at it, It's not THAT hard.  And if you're not careful, you might just 
learn something.

Paul Hilton.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <anvilus9-at-comcast.net>
To: <tanks-at-rctankcombat.com>
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: C6C controller. [TANKS]


>
> Paul,
>
> Option B is purely software and should be quite
> simple if I can find time.
>
> Unfortunately, I am leaving on holiday 8/16 and then
> our Fall semester begins on 8/27.  Consequently,
> I will not have any hobby time for several weeks.
>
> Do you already have a C6C assembled and working?
> If yes, you must make two choices.
>
> 1)  Which joystick do you use for driving - right or left?
>
> 2)  Which channel should get mapped for throttle - 5 or 6?
>
> I will send you a note when I return from holiday.
>
> Joe
>
> --
> Joe Sommer, Anvilus Machine Works
> 2378 Nantucket Circle, State College, PA 16803
> 814.234.4773     anvilus9-at-comcast.net
> http://www.anvilus.com
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Stacy Hilton" <stacyj-at-defnet.com>
>> Could you PLEASE work on option "B" for me?  Also do you think that my 
>> idea for
>> using scooter speed controls is viable?  There is another guy who seems 
>> quite
>> keen on the idea and is looking into building a digital potentiometer 
>> contolled
>> by a servo signal (at least I think this is what he said!).  If you think 
>> this
>> is a workable idea, I would LOVE to purchase another PIC from you.
>> Paul Hilton
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>   From: anvilus9-at-comcast.net
>>   To: tanks-at-rctankcombat.com
>>   Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2007 8:59 AM
>>   Subject: Re: C6C controller. [TANKS]
>> b)  The joystick direction that you use for FWD/OFF/REV
>> could additionally be mapped into a throttle signal on
>> channel 5 or 6.  For example, when the joystick is centered
>> the throttle would be zero.  When the joystick is full forward,
>> the throttle would be full value.  When the joystick is full
>> reverse, the throttle would be full value.
>>
>