How To Build a Micro Tank

[Overlander]

This thread will be for tracked or 'skid steer' vehichles and possibly vector thrust boats.

[Silentbob343]

Can you use Bit motors? Or do you have to use the GWS motor?

I was thinking about making a tank with two motors, one controlling each tread. What would be involved with this? I was thinking about using two RXs but then I would need a Tx for each RX unless the make TXs that can have controls with two channels at once. Would a six channel RX and six channel Tx solve this problem?

I know this would be too hard for my first 1/87 so I was thinking doing it first on a larger scale and working my way down to 1/87th. I just need to get controlling two motors independently figured out.

I was thinking about it some more:
Instead of connecting a servo to the Rx I just connect another ESC to the second motor. So I would have two ESCs each connected to their respective motors. Will two ESCs and two motors create too much of a power draw for the tiny Rx?

[Thorsten]

Hi,
to power a tank, the bit motors will be to tiny. The easiest way to get an usefull motor (or two) is to dissasemble one (or two of the same) servos.
This will be strong enough to power the tank.

I am use two micro gear motor (50 USD each) from any medicine tools (I dont know it exact) to power the chains of my crane.

The chains was made of a fiend of mine. He made it of brass.

To command this driveline, you need a 2channel remote control (one channel for each chain).
OK, shooting, turnig the pipe, lifting the pipe, lights, smoke, commander comes out of the tank. It should be good to get a 6-channel remote control to power all toys on the tank ;-)))

What is the meaning of "ESCs" ?????

best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de

[Dux]

ESCs are electronic speed controls.

I hope this link gets your imagination started http://www.servocity.com/ServoCity/Products/Sprockets__Gears__Chain/sprockets__gears__chain.html

[Overlander]

Thorsten,
You are either a mad-man or a genious or both!


ESC is a common English term for Electronic Speed Control.


SilentBob,
A 4 channel STICK radio is best for tracked vehicles. You can use the two sticks by pushing them forward and rearward kust like a real tank. This allows you to use the two servo/speed controls proportionally.

More later

-Todd

[Overlander]

Dux,
I have used those .12 pitch chains before! Theey are great.

I used them on the drive line when I converted this toy into a rock crawler!

[Thorsten]

Hi,
thank you for declaríng!

In this sice of rc-modeling it is the same thing to use a servo or a speed contoler.
It is better to connect the +voltage and the -voltage of a speedcontoler not to the reciver. The better way is to conecting this directly to the main switch or the battery.
So the amps can't influence the reciver. You need only 1x + and - from the battery to the reciver and each servo/speedcontroler is conected by the signal-wire to the reciver. Nut by the +/- wire.

(I hope you undestand this writing)

If you dissasemble a servo to get the motor, so you can also use the servo contorler as the speed controler.

On the picture you see 6 motors 2 relais 4 speedcontroler 4 batterys and 1 reciver. It works together without any problems (until yet)

@ overlander: nothing of all, just a guy who like to play with small trucks ;-)))))

best regards

Thorsten

[Silentbob343]

I was planning on using a 4 channel Tx, but would I be able to control the turret with a 4 channel Tx?

I purchased my model tank, a Russian T-62, it's only a 1/72 scale though:( . My local hobby shop didn't have a good selection of HO scale stuff so I made due with what I could find.

I still need to fabricate some moving parts to allow for articulation with the wheel with in the tread, but I need to use a drill press for the precise holes.

The next step is to purchase the electronics but I'm a poor college stundent with little money and little time so the electronics will have to wait for a bit. I need to finish my Bit rally course first before I get to far along in my tank.

What would be involved to run two motors per tread? Is it possible to have two motors wired into one speed controller and keep the motor sets on a channel? Or would each motor need a seperate channel?

[killer]

:ö:Bob,
yes you can control still control the turret with 4channel radio, wherein;

channel 1 : for your right wheel in tank case it's right track (forward & reverse)

channel 2 : for your left track (forward & reverse)

channel 3 : for your turret (left to right)

channel 4 : for you cannon (up and dow)

on channel 1 and 2 you would be needing one speed controller and one motor for each channel, and for channel 3 & 4 you can use 1 micro servo for each channel to move those parts.

just a suggestion ;) -æ

[killer]

Originally posted by Silentbob343

What would be involved to run two motors per tread? Is it possible to have two motors wired into one speed controller and keep the motor sets on a channel? Or would each motor need a seperate channel?

:ö: now as i understand it, you need two (2) speed controller to run those track (left track and right track), in order to run two motor using one (1) speed controller, i have in mind using a 2 diode in each motor, but i think this will eliminate reverse i'm not sure yet, but i'll test it first if it will work, but i think it would be easier if you'll use two speed controller to run each motor for each track, (channe 1 & 2) push both stick forward and your tank will move forward, release one stick and your tank will move either left or right direction, depending on which side of the tank you want it to turn.- æ

[Silentbob343]

Thanks killer

and thanks Thorsten I did understand you writing:)

[arch2b]

any update on the tank project?

[Thorsten]

Hi arch2b,
I don't know about finishing the tank-project. But my Menck-crane is finished yesterday ;-)



best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de

[arch2b]

thorsten- that is amazing:D can you get some video of it working?

[Overlander]

WOW!!:eek:

Thorsten thats incredible!!

What functions does it have??

[Thorsten]

Hi Overlander,
nearly the same as the big one ;-)

turn, move the arm, digging (open and close the bucket), lift the bucket, driving.
The operation time is nearly 90 minutes until recharging (this is definitive not enough to dig up my garden)


best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de

[arch2b]

thorsten- your crane is, well i'm at a loss for words. i hope i can work up to your level of skills.

[killer]

:ö:

when i was in elementary (ei! i'm only 26!), i always love to watch big earthmovers in a construction site, and i have quite a few collection of "matchbox construction series(?)" and now it's possible to have a micro construction site on top of your table!!! :cool:

another great work Thorsten!

-æ

[Squishy]

OMG! That is a sweet crane thorsten. I have been following the "How to build a TTTT..." thread, and have seen some of you work, but that is freakin amazing!:eek: :eek: :eek: Major Props!

[SlowbutCourious]

how long did it take u 2 make that wonderful piece of art:eek: :confused:

[Thorsten]

Hi,
thanks for your compliments ;-)

It tooks nearly 2 years from the first idea to finishing the crane. The hardest problem was to get the chains.
One year ago, Georg, a friend of mine, made the chains.

So I can started to put the other thinks into the KIBRI kit. That tooks nearly 6 month.

I put some aditional pictures about the crane on www.mikromodell.de

best regards

Thorsten

www.mikromodell.de