Tram Way

thingiverse

NEW Train built TRAM CARS! NEW GEARBOXES! Just updated this with a new train cars, new cable mounts and separate drive and slave gearboxes that are single piece. If you want just the cars, they are here. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4163240 It Uses an Arduino nano for driving the system. Note that I don't offer support in programming and using an Arduino nano. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=arduino+nano&ref=nb_sb_noss It uses motors. Because they are easy, have torque and are speed and direction manageable. The motors. You get 1 and 3 spare. (More things to build!) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CP18J4A/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The code below uses the AccelStepper library for Arduino. http://www.airspayce.com/mikem/arduino/AccelStepper/ Here is a great tutorial on the programming of the motor and the arduino. The nano does the same, but is a smaller formfactor. https://www.mschoeffler.de/2017/09/23/tutorial-how-to-drive-the-28byj-48-stepper-motor-with-a-uln2003a-driver-board-and-an-arduino-uno/ The string is a nylon type of sewing craft thread. It does not get hairs or stretch. Basically string cable. The Car cable carriers print with a slit to run the string through. After tying the cable taught, slip the string in the carrier and use a dab ( very small amount )of superglue. You don't need the cable super tight, but tight enough for the drive wheels to keep friction. Was thinking of metal bead cable and lighting the cars with the power. You may code your motors however you wish, it is just the basic program that sets speed and direction. However; with the Nano you can address the inputs. I plan on using either optical or magnetic sensors to slow down for unload. Then go, with random reversing. At Christmas I had it going from the Mountain station on the mantle next to the Xmas Tree to a top ski lodge across the room. Here is code that will get you going. It just runs for some time, and then slows down, stops and reverses. #include <AccelStepper.h> #define HALFSTEP 8 #define motorPin1 3 #define motorPin2 4 #define motorPin3 5 #define motorPin4 6 AccelStepper stepper1(HALFSTEP, motorPin1, motorPin3, motorPin2, motorPin4); void setup() { // setup code stepper1.setMaxSpeed(1000.0); stepper1.setAcceleration(100.0); stepper1.setSpeed(200); stepper1.moveTo(20000); } void loop() { // run repeatedly if (stepper1.distanceToGo() ==0) { delay(500); stepper1.moveTo(-stepper1.currentPosition()); } stepper1.run(); } Have fun, print and build!