RC Locomotive 'Diesel-Electric'

[Roog]

@WickedFog one thing i wasn’t expecting is EN8 is quite tough. This material was recommended to me for use on wheels over EN1A, but on my small machine it needs sharp (new) tct tips to make reasonable progress

 

[WickedFog]

@WickedFog one thing i wasn’t expecting is EN8 is quite tough. This material was recommended to me for use on wheels over EN1A, but on my small machine it needs sharp (new) tct tips to make reasonable progress

So how is it cutting? If you're roughing, if you can get your toolholder positioned in such a way as you can have the tip trailing the heel of the insert, you can sometimes get a much better and much heavier cut going. But you need a sturdy setup.

Like this is not good.

This is much better

 

[Roog]

So how is it cutting? If you're roughing, if you can get your toolholder positioned in such a way as you can have the tip trailing the heel of the insert, you can sometimes get a much better and much heavier cut going. But you need a sturdy setup.

Like this is not good.
View attachment 266488

This is much better
View attachment 266489

Thanks @WickedFog I’ll bear that in mind for the next phase. I noticed that it cut better after experimenting albeit without applying any science

 

[WickedFog]

Thanks @WickedFog I’ll bear that in mind for the next phase. I noticed that it cut better after experimenting albeit without applying any science

It's really interesting how different materials cut so much differently. Like when I saw a buddy cutting 718 Inconel one time. His cut dept was around 3/4", feeding down .030" per rev, at a decent RPM. I would have never known a cut that aggressive would cut so well when a cut 20% of that with a different tool angle would just destroy inserts. The chips were the size of a snail, and hurt like hell if you got hit by one.

 

[Roog]

It's really interesting how different materials cut so much differently. Like when I saw a buddy cutting 718 Inconel one time. His cut dept was around 3/4", feeding down .030" per rev, at a decent RPM. I would have never known a cut that aggressive would cut so well when a cut 20% of that with a different tool angle would just destroy inserts. The chips were the size of a snail, and hurt like hell if you got hit by one.

Agreed, it is very rewarding when you get it right (in my case entirely by accident) yesterday my first cuts were digging in, I managed to blow a fuse by ignoring it and pushing on.

 

[Spksh]

I could eat this thread with a spoon! Love your work @Roog and thank you for documenting the detail! Makes all the difference

 

[Roog]

I could eat this thread with a spoon! Love your work @Roog and thank you for documenting the detail! Makes all the difference

Cheers @Spksh I'll try to remember to take photos during the build.

I do have a more on-topic 'RC' question for all.

At some point in the future I will need to buy a multi channel RC setup, obviously it not a plane or drone so it can't fall out of the sky so I have been thinking of a low cost RC set up, I am thinking of a 6 or 10ch flysky FS-i6X rather than slash out on big name stuff like 'Futaba'. I will hopefully be able to keep the loco in sight. The other thing are the ESCs, one for each bogie motor I am hoping that the signal cables to these can receive the same signal from a single channel so that they both do the same thing? I plan to run the RX from a dedicated 5V battery pack to keep the traction battery away from the sensitive electronics.

 

[CertifiedMike]

Are you a computer savy type person?
The Radiomaster MT12 is a pretty amazing radio. It has a crazy number of channels and can be user-configured to do just about anything that you can imagine a Tx could do.

Fully user programmable, repair and upgrade parts are readily availible.
Prices are very reasonable imo.

It has a steep learning curve. Ppl say its easy once you dive in. If I were into computers, I would own a few of these radios by now.

There are tons of youtube vids that can help you get your MT12 programmed. I hear lots of ppl using AI to help with programming too.

I am pretty positive you can use the MT12 to get your escs to operate simultaniously on multiple channels. Each bogie motor could be fine tuned individually in a set up like this.


I am not a computer person and opted for the Flysky Noble NB4+.

 

[Roog]

Are you a computer savy type person?
The Radiomaster MT12 is a pretty amazing radio. It has a crazy number of channels and can be user-configured to do just about anything that you can imagine a Tx could do.

Fully user programmable, repair and upgrade parts are readily availible.
Prices are very reasonable imo.

It has a steep learning curve. Ppl say its easy once you dive in. If I were into computers, I would own a few of these radios by now.

There are tons of youtube vids that can help you get your MT12 programmed. I hear lots of ppl using AI to help with programming too.

I am pretty positive you can use the MT12 to get your escs to operate simultaniously on multiple channels. Each bogie motor could be fine tuned individually in a set up like this.


I am not a computer person and opted for the Flysky Noble NB4+.

Thanks @CertifiedMike the flexibility does sound attractive although I am a bit stressed out by the idea of writing software. The idea that you can customize your radio to dual up the throttles is interesting, plus there is an opportunity to throttle up the engine driven generator to keep up the main battery charged, I like the idea of that. Otherwise I might be happy to juggle sticks to get the desired result!

 

[CertifiedMike]

@WickedFog has one and knows way more than I about the MT12.

There certainly could be a splitter or some other arduino type space modulator contraption that can control a bunch of outputs from your signal...
These young kids are pretty slick these days.

Seems like a multi rotor prop type setup from a drone would get you a similar control.

 

[Roog]

@WickedFog has one and knows way more than I about the MT12.

There certainly could be a splitter or some other arduino type space modulator contraption that can control a bunch of outputs from your signal...
These young kids are pretty slick these days.

Seems like a multi rotor prop type setup from a drone would get you a similar control.

Yes the drone connection is apt, or it was until I decided that 4 BLDC motors might be a bit much! I now have one motor per bogie and tooth belt drives to connect the axles. I definitely need all 4 axles driving for traction

 

[CertifiedMike]

I am not into drones so I couldn't say if such a beast controller might exist or how those giant drones operate.
I'm sure someone here has experience with them though.

I am thinking about compensating for the wheelspeed differences around bends. Is that going to be a problem?

 

[Roog]

Took the day off today, so like a gent I offered to take Mrs Roog to the garden centre to look for stuff for the garden, plants, bird box etc but it seemed the bad weather put her off so i spent the afternoon in the shed.

 

[Roog]

First up make a mandrel to mount the prepared wheel blanks

Then mount a wheel and machine the final diameter and tire diameter

Next set up the 20 deg taper on the flange, much gnashing of teeth getting the angle set accurately

I told my self i would finish the 2 degree taper on the tire surface on all wheels in one go but felt it would be good to complete at least one wheel, note front wheel face recess also completed, i might drop some black enamel in this. I did consider making a form tool but judder with my small lathe would likely be too big an issue, so I ended up blending the two angles with a fine needle file which happened to be the right diameter.

Final profile is ok, just need to make seven more!

 

[Roog]

Just had a delivery, last year i bought a boring head to make accurate big holes and whilst its good for what it can do it is a bit fussy and time consuming so i thought I’d try an alternative. I have bought a rotabroach cutter sized to suit the axle bearings the idea being to cut a pilot hole then cut the full size hole in one go. I plan to use it with my mill which has an r8 taper, so i needed an arbor that would hold the rotabroach cutters but fit in my mill. I managed to find one, it came from china but supplied through the USA go figure. I'm going to take it easy but hoping that i can do each bearing hole as one operation. If its a bit loose i can always use bearing retainer

 

[Spksh]

That angle blend looks very tidy.

 

[Roog]

That angle blend looks very tidy.

Thanks @Spksh, now I just have to make 7 more that look just the same!
I have a work plan, just got to stick to it.,

 

[Doom!]

Thanks @Spksh, now I just have to make 7 more that look just the same!
I have a work plan, just got to stick to it.,

By the 8th one you should have it all figured out.

 

[WickedFog]

If you have any material to do a couple test holes with it will be goid to know it cuts onsize . We had a few specialty tools like that, but we made them ourselves. You have choked up on it good.

Cheers @Spksh I'll try to remember to take photos during the build.

I do have a more on-topic 'RC' question for all.

At some point in the future I will need to buy a multi channel RC setup, obviously it not a plane or drone so it can't fall out of the sky so I have been thinking of a low cost RC set up, I am thinking of a 6 or 10ch flysky FS-i6X rather than slash out on big name stuff like 'Futaba'. I will hopefully be able to keep the loco in sight. The other thing are the ESCs, one for each bogie motor I am hoping that the signal cables to these can receive the same signal from a single channel so that they both do the same thing? I plan to run the RX from a dedicated 5V battery pack to keep the traction battery away from the sensitive electronics.

The Radiomaster MT12 is definitely the one to get. You can setup the sickest drive modes and telemetry to automate a lot of things. In it's price range, there is nothing better. But yes, there is a steep learning curve. But you can go right to EdgeTX's Discord channel for help directly from the folks that made the EdgeTX firmware

 

[Roog]

If you have any material to do a couple test holes with it will be goid to know it cuts onsize . We had a few specialty tools like that, but we made them ourselves. You have choked up on it good.

Agreed @WickedFog i must try it for size first, although ultimately glue will be a fall back, I'm not ashamed. I was converted when an experienced model engineer told me that he uses 2 part glue to mount things to faceplates, then heat gently to get it off!

The Radiomaster MT12 is definitely the one to get. You can setup the sickest drive modes and telemetry to automate a lot of things. In it's price range, there is nothing better. But yes, there is a steep learning curve. But you can go right to EdgeTX's Discord channel for help directly from the folks that made the EdgeTX firmware
View attachment 267399

Thanks that's two who have mentioned this open source system, I'll not deny it, I really dislike coding so its not at the top of my list but i do appreciate it would be helpful when coupling channels but also mapping the engine throttle opening to the traction motors power demand. Part of me wanted to do that bit by hand, got to have something to think about! An anti stall function would be useful.