Tram Engine

thingiverse

This is a Tram Engine based on the Bobber Caboose, but now with the "planks" horizontal like photos of LNER J7. A video of the prototype being tested can be seen here: https://youtu.be/43rY8J1DrOc. You can add the "Toby Face," modified from http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:293591, and a driver, http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1413975 (here he is enlarged in x and y to make him a "fat driver!"). Four of the wheels are powered by "TT Motor" gearboxes from EBAY, search for "TT motor Ardunio." They cost around £2 each. The wheels are designed to G1MRA guidelines for "standard" wheels on 45mm track. There are also "treaded" wheel versions that take two 20mm*1mm square cross section rubber bands to improve traction. In the photos, I did not notice that I had fitted three treaded wheels and three standard wheels. UPDATE March 30, 2016: Following tests, I recommend using a 20% infill setting. Screws are #4, either 6.5mm (roof and cowcatchers) or 13mm (for the battery retainers). Screws are not shown on the CAD model! DRILL 3mm clearance and 2mm for threads. Parts for AA battery contacts come from a 2 AA switched battery box. See EBAY, "AA Battery Holder Enclosed Box with Switch for 2x AA." I printed wheels and hubs at 0.10 layers, while the rest of the parts were printed at 0.2. I used Cura with supports switched on for the roof and cowcatchers and battery retainers. The sides to the cabin and base ended up very stressed in my print and have torn after use. I would recommend using a heated enclosure to reduce stress, as I have not managed to get a perfect print yet. I was asked about the hardware so: The RC receiver gear was Turnigy TGY-Ia6 (bought as a RX/TX set from Hobby king. Search "Turnigy TGY-i6 AFHDS Transmitter and 6CH Receiver"). I ended up using a 2200mAh battery to power everything ("Turnigy 2200mAh 2S 20C Lipo Pack "). Unfortunately, I have not managed to find a way to hide it neatly in the cab! The fan was "AEO Aircraft 4300KV Brushless Motor 55mm 8 Blade Electric Ducted Fan" (Ebay). For the DC drive motors ("New 4pcs Intelligent Car Gear Motor TT Motor Robot Gear Motor for Arduino"), I used either a "Useful 10A Brushed ESC Motor Speed Controller for RC Car Boat Tank without Brake" or "RC ESC 20A Brush Motor Speed Controller+Switchable Brake for RC Car Boat Tank UK" (Ebay) (they were both very similar). BUT I cut the 5V wire off the servo connector to the RC receiver so that only the Brushless motor controller would be powering the receiver. For the Brushless Fan motor, I had some failures of the controllers, but any 20A or so Brushless ESC should work. I think the one in the photo that I eventually used was a "RC Model Airplane / Helicopter 30A Brushless Motor Speed Controller ESC SL031" (Ebay). If you want the non RC, non fan version, one of the boiler designs is designed to fit a "New DC 1.8V 3V 5V 6V 12V 2A Low Voltage Motor Speed Controller PWM 1803B" (Ebay again!) DC speed controller, and then the funnel can replace the knob so you can control the tram via the funnel. I treated myself to a Little "Railway" time yesterday after finishing cutting the lawn, and thought I would video the tram blowing some of the rubbish off the lines. Providing I drive SLOWLY... the tram negotiates the track well, but go too fast and it derails quite easily.