HandCab-DC

[Sumner]

Decided to try and make a ….



…. DC version of my HandCab (DCC) HandCab (DCC) shown above that is a WiFi throttle. This one will connect to the bayou with a tether wire. The controls wont be as advanced as the DCC HandCab since you can't do as much with a DC throttle as you can a DCC throttle. It won't have the display, keypad or most of the buttons. I do hope to experiment with horn and bell audio possibly.



As far as I am working on it using the non-commercial Fusion CAD program. About a good days work.



There is a two step pulley attached to the bottom of the $4.00 12v PWM DC controller. One step is connected to a brake pulley attached to the brake handle. The other step of the pulley is attached with a line to the throttle pulley/handle.



I made enough progress on the third day to test the concept and I'm fairly happy with it. Made changes to the above (see previous image) and need to do another print of the housing and the double pulley.  When the reverser handle is pulled to either side (fwd/rev) it trips the limit switches on that side and changes the track polarity. In the middle the track power is off and the loco won't move.

To be continued.....

A link to the DCC HandCab (modeled off a GP7/9 control stalk ( HERE ).

Sumner

[Sumner]

Continuing on.....



Modified the main housing some and other parts also. After printing most of the new pieces there will still be some small changes to a few of the parts but I'm able to use what was printed. The changes will be for any others that want to build the throttle.



Exploded view of the parts above. A lot of parts just to turn the pot shaft on the motor controller board. Need to finish the case now that I'm comfortable with how it works. So far I've printed everything with the resin printer but might switch to the filament printer for the main case parts.

Put up a demo of the project to this point ( HERE ).



Next I'll finish the wiring and hopefully the case also.

To be continued.....

A link to the DCC HandCab (modeled off a GP7/9 control stalk ( HERE ).

Sumner

[Jesse6669]

Really like this Sumner! I'm interested in using one on my under-construction Z scale layout.   

[Sumner]

Took a detour from designing/printing parts for the HandCab-DC. Wanted to see if I could add some sound to this throttle. No it won't be in the loco but in the throttle in your hand so not the same but wanted to try it anyway. Let me know your thoughts on this.

I seem to end up trying to write code for an Arduino about every other year. Meaning I forget about all of the syntax for writing it. Know how I want the code to go but spend way to much time writing it so that it compiles. I was about ready to give up on this sound deal as I couldn't get the buttons to work and thought the sound wasn't all that good using the small speaker.

About 'give-up-time' I figured out how to use Audacity (sound recorder and editor) to create a decent .wav file that would play using the Arduino Nano. See video above ( HERE ). So now back to finishing up the rest of the case design and printing the rest of the case and finishing up the sound files for the throttle.

To be continued.....

A link to the DCC HandCab modeled off a GP7/9 control stalk ( HERE ).

Sumner