Out of computers and into RC

[Produkt]

Well I needed a practice stage before I went through building a fully drivable RC APC (LAV-25) computer case, which would be all from scratch.

The first step is to manage how to make an efficient RC car.

Right now I'm using an old car that was retail, meaning avalible parts arent going to fit without some heavy chassy mods. the original servo containers are extreamly wastfull as far a space goes... so... I'm going to cut out the parts I can and then I'll follow up by cleaning it to a smooth form.

Not sure it deserves a worklog just yet as I havent "compleated" my first project, which I'll show the results of soon...

If any one here knows much about RC Chassy building I'd love some help if not critiques would be greatly appreciated aswell... pics of the car and hardware will come soon.

[Malatory]

Might want to look into Battle bots to get idea's.

also I know there was one guy that just added the wheels to the bottom of a case and it was able to get up to 8mph with it.

[BoilermakerFan]

I'm a noob here, but I'm heavily into RC 4x4 rockcrawlers and I have two rc projects underway with litle time to finish them.

Check out RCCrawler.com for ideas. Lurk and comb through the posts because they can be ruthless on noobs who don't use the search first. There is a lot of talented peeps on that site and they will help you. Most guys start with Tamiya TLT-1s, ClodBusters, or TXT-1s as the basis of their custom projects...

I'm on the road travelling for business so I don't have my usual links available at the moment.

PM me if you have any specific questions.

[Produkt]

Basicly last night I went out, purchased a new pistole grip controler, with an electric servo kit.

The old motor in it isnt all that tough (can manage 12mph..) but I'm just using it for testing.

I have an old chassy which works fine (I had to carve out alot of the frame to make the steering servo fit.)

Its not going to be 4x4 or a rock crawler just something for practice...

I'll check out that site though. pics tonight (at work..)

[Produkt]

OK well I had the car working perfectly TILL!, I broke the steering servo...
Ok... Well I'm officialy a n00b at it...

I switched out the servo slots on the reciever and it worked... but now I turn the wheel for go and stop and press gass and break for steering...

[BoilermakerFan]

Switch your steering servo and esc or throttle servo back to the correct channels on the receiver.

How did you "break" your steering servo if it works when you switch their positions in the receiver? Sounds like you just screwed up the EPA or centerpoint of your steering channel. What radio did you buy? I just need make and model...

I reread your original post. I mis-read it last night. If you want to make a radio controlled case, then you'll definitely want to start with Tamiya Clod axles. Your going to have to mod them quite a bit like the peeps do for rockcrawling, i.e. - Integy Lathe motors with a very small pinion to maximize torque. If you want more speed, you'll have to run the motors at 12V (10 cells in a NiMH batt pack) through a Novak ESC that can handle up to 14.4V like the SuperRooster or new SuperDuty. There are several reputable companies making aftermarket pieces for the Clod axles to allow you to mount high-torque steering servos on the axles themselves. Your going to need servos with at least 100oz. of torque, the crappy stock servo that comes with most radios won't work, unless you bought a high-end Synth. FM 3-channel radio. Dive into RCCrawler's vendor section to track down the bits you need.

[Produkt]

I got a HiTech AM Agressor (IFH AGGRESSOR-A75)

75MHz Transmitter with
HAS-02MC 2 Channel Receiver, one HS-311 Standard Servo, 1 EZX-R Reversible Speed Control, Switch harness and Dry AA Battery box, no Transmitter NiCd's'

Unfortunately when I was driving it around it hit a bump and flipped...

When it did It hit with little remourse... The steering was shot, It had clicks when It was turned and it would get stuck... To check what was going on I opened it up and found that the hit had ripped off 3 teeth on one of the gears...

I'm going crazy now... I dont think I can return it... especialy since its my fault and the servo is fine aside from that damned gear... BAH! Where the hell am I going to get a replacement...

I'm going to tear up some broken RC cars and pray they have a gear that is similar... chances are no... but I can dream...

::EDIT::

I found this... http://www.shopatron.com/product/product_id=RCD55002/110.0.594.0.0.0.0

The gear I broke is on the bottom...

Ugh... I dont wanna spend any more money :(

[crazybillybob]

My best advice.....Buy a heavy duty servo if you pick them up on the net you can get them for about $20us.....The gears are made of a heavier plastic, they are more forgiving.

Also was this brand new or used? The object you hit did it leave any visable marks on the car?
It is possible that you just got a defective gear, and it would have broke no matter what. If you got it new from a hobby shop take it back and talk with them...If there's no visable damage to the car they may replace it with notrouble if there is damage you maybe able to get them to help you find the gear or get you a new servo at a discount...You will not know if you don't ask.

Good luck
Crazybillybob

(Even if they replace that servo....I'd looking into a heavy duty on or a device that pops loose before it brakes the servo...I think they're call servo savers?? ask the hobby guys about them)

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[Produkt]

Well it was brand new I already had a chassyI buy a remote and servo set...

When it came in nothing visibly wrong with the servo...

The car flipped and I'm guessing the sock from flipping upside down poped it. (I didnt have the shell on it)

I'm looking around for a smaller and more durrable one... see what I can find.. .

[BoilermakerFan]

Sounds like you don't have a servo saver on it either.

You can order the HiTec parts from TowerHobbies.com

I would suggest that you invest in a HiTec HS-645MG or HS-945MG servo (both have metal gears and a lot more torque) and a GS Racing or Kimbrough brand medium or heavy-duty servo saver.

The retail r/c's like Nikko and Tyco are "cheap" and end up costing a lot more than a beginer's hobby grade r/c. To really do what you want to do with a medium-sized case is going take at least a $400 investment if you want to work for more than one or two runs.

Not trying to be a jerk, but if $5 for replacement gears is causing you pain, then this probably isn't a project to pursue.

I've had numerous r/c vehicles and if a wreck only cost $5, that would have been awesome! I've had wrecks that totalled outt he front end of a race 4x4 truck and the damage was in the $100's of dollars. If the case's r/c drivetrain isn't built right or stable, it could dump over, costing a lot more than a few hundred bucks to fix, depending on which PC bit bite the dust with the rest of the r/c goodies.

I think you to spend some time on Jason Carter's personal site:
http://www.projecttwin.com/Welcome_to_ProjectTwin_com.cfm

I've known Jason from r/c forums for years and finally got to meet him at a r/c rockcrawl last year. He writes a monthly column for R/C Driver magazine as well.

I know one other diehard r/c'er built his PC into a 1/6 scale Humvee, but I can't find the link right now...

[Produkt]

Its not a pain I just need the money for other things right now...

Like food, gas... and my diseaced computer...

the money truely isnt the problem its more or less the turn around time. the first car was more or less a practice job, after I understood what I needed to get working I was going to start building the case I wanted. Which is what I wanted to save the money for.

Yea I saw the humvee, but I thought he took out half of the stuff that made it an RC car..?

Any way I have about 285 bucks left to build another car. aswell as the computer parts to go in it. (aside from a graphics card... ugh...)

[BoilermakerFan]

There have been several r/c cars converted to PCs, but most have lost their r/c functionality in the process. I thought the Humvee retained it's r/c capability, but I don't remember.

You might have better luck with a SFF case and buy a used E-Maxx for the r/c side, but it will be much harder to convert since it has indipendent suspsension and centrally mounted motors and tranny. That's the beauty of the Clodbuster axles. Everything can be mounted on the axles. Everything.

[unknownconcepts]

its gonna be top heavy.
but you should get somthing like a tmaxx.