Electric Chassis
- Tony Bird
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Cardiff, South Wales, UK.
Electric Chassis
Hi,
I have just finished an electric chassis for a child's toy. Being only 100 mm long I think it is the shortest chassis that I have made that will hold up to 4 AAA cells so it could be radio controlled. I have another similar chassis to finish which I think I will rig for 4 cells and maybe fit radio when I can afford it.
Regards Tony.
I have just finished an electric chassis for a child's toy. Being only 100 mm long I think it is the shortest chassis that I have made that will hold up to 4 AAA cells so it could be radio controlled. I have another similar chassis to finish which I think I will rig for 4 cells and maybe fit radio when I can afford it.
Regards Tony.
Re: Electric Chassis
Been meaning to ask, is that chassis just one extrusion?
- Tony Bird
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Cardiff, South Wales, UK.
Re: Electric Chassis
Hi,
Been meaning to ask, is that chassis just one extrusion?
The chassis is made from 25 mm x 19 mm x 3 mm aluminium channel, 1"x 3/4"x 1/8" in old money. The other part that the battery holder is fitted to is 25 mm x 6 mm aluminium which is held by screws to the channel.
I have just finished a slightly larger version with a bigger can motor and AA rather than AAA cells. It is fitted with 29 mm Binnie wheels and the gear ratio is 30:1. The body is fitted with modified Binnie couplings and Mamod buffers. Without the R/C the cost of conversion is about Β£12. Video at:
https://youtu.be/RlazvI-jDrg
Regards Tony.
Been meaning to ask, is that chassis just one extrusion?
The chassis is made from 25 mm x 19 mm x 3 mm aluminium channel, 1"x 3/4"x 1/8" in old money. The other part that the battery holder is fitted to is 25 mm x 6 mm aluminium which is held by screws to the channel.
I have just finished a slightly larger version with a bigger can motor and AA rather than AAA cells. It is fitted with 29 mm Binnie wheels and the gear ratio is 30:1. The body is fitted with modified Binnie couplings and Mamod buffers. Without the R/C the cost of conversion is about Β£12. Video at:
https://youtu.be/RlazvI-jDrg
Regards Tony.
Re: Electric Chassis
I do admire your chassis (ie chassises - plural?), Tony. They look simple but are blooming effective. I might be tempted to have a go at making one myself. My success with my own chassis-making to date has been lamentable. I think I will have to invest in a pillar drill / drill press though to keep things square.
Rik
Rik
Re: Electric Chassis
Agree - your chassi (My 'own' Yorkshire plural) Tony are always really neatly produced, including the wiring on this one - soooooooo good!ge_rik wrote: βMon Apr 23, 2018 6:47 pm I do admire your chassis (ie chassises - plural?), Tony. They look simple but are blooming effective. I might be tempted to have a go at making one myself. My success with my own chassis-making to date has been lamentable. I think I will have to invest in a pillar drill / drill press though to keep things square.
Rik
Where did I put that uncoupler?
Re: Electric Chassis
That is so cheap and looks a easy build. Thanks Tony for posting
I need a pillar drill has well Rik. I have put my order in with Anne, might get one for my Birthday. heres hoping..
I need a pillar drill has well Rik. I have put my order in with Anne, might get one for my Birthday. heres hoping..
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Re: Electric Chassis
That's set me thinking about building my own battery powered loco. Lack of equipment and skill are my biggest obstacles. Would a pillar drill cost more than buying a kit?
Ian
Ian
Ian
Re: Electric Chassis
I got one in Lidl about 6 months ago for, I think, Β£60. They have them as their weekly special buys from time to time. I've been keeping half an eye out for some time since I saw good reviews of them. I have to say I haven't used it yet, so can't really comment on value for money.
Philip
Re: Electric Chassis
Saw one last week Phil at Lidl, let Anne know this would be great for my Birthdayβ¦. Β£56 it was.
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Re: Electric Chassis
Thanks for that Phil. Lidl isn't one of my regular shops. I'll have to start checking them out.philipy wrote: βFri Apr 27, 2018 1:06 pm I got one in Lidl about 6 months ago for, I think, Β£60. They have them as their weekly special buys from time to time. I've been keeping half an eye out for some time since I saw good reviews of them. I have to say I haven't used it yet, so can't really comment on value for money.
Ian
Ian
Re: Electric Chassis
At the risk of being accused of hijacking, we don't use Lidl regularly either, but I think they put them on their website a week or so ahead and if Rod has seen them recently, a quick trip might be worth it.
Philip
Re: Electric Chassis
Even a small chinese made bench drill can give you better results than trying to drill sideframes and coupling rods by hand.
When buying a bench drill do this quick check. Use the handle to extend the quill and see if you can rattle the chuck around using the other hand. A good one won't have any slop when you do this, avoid the ones that do...... I didn't know this when I bought mine years ago and there's no way to adjust it, so I only use it for drilling holes in wood.
Also get a suitable drill vice and clamp it to the drill table, as holding metal parts by hand when drilling is not a good idea. I've seen someone end up with six stitches in the palm of his hand when he tried drilling a 6mm hole in a strip of 1mm thick steel.
Regards,
Graeme
- Tony Bird
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Cardiff, South Wales, UK.
Re: Electric Chassis
Hi,
I am fortunate in having a fairly well equipped workshop. However it wasn't always so, so I thought I would have a go at making a chassis using just hand tools as I did in days gone bye. I did use a mains powered electric drill, but all the other tools used were hand tools. The bit you might be interested is the drilling of accurate holes and for this I bought a vertical drill holder with vice for Β£15.
My drill is old and has a speed controller on the trigger which is useful at is allows the speed to be set before the trigger is locked for drilling.
This is a jig I made for increasing the hole size of gears wheels. wheels and pulleys.
The finished chassis, all holes were drill with the drill which when held in a vice was used to dress the ends of the axles after they were cut to length, even the aluminium channel was folded by hand, well with the help of a hammer.
The finished chassis photographs were too large so I will resize them and post them later.
Regards Tony.
I am fortunate in having a fairly well equipped workshop. However it wasn't always so, so I thought I would have a go at making a chassis using just hand tools as I did in days gone bye. I did use a mains powered electric drill, but all the other tools used were hand tools. The bit you might be interested is the drilling of accurate holes and for this I bought a vertical drill holder with vice for Β£15.
My drill is old and has a speed controller on the trigger which is useful at is allows the speed to be set before the trigger is locked for drilling.
This is a jig I made for increasing the hole size of gears wheels. wheels and pulleys.
The finished chassis, all holes were drill with the drill which when held in a vice was used to dress the ends of the axles after they were cut to length, even the aluminium channel was folded by hand, well with the help of a hammer.
The finished chassis photographs were too large so I will resize them and post them later.
Regards Tony.
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Last edited by Tony Bird on Sat Apr 28, 2018 9:50 am, edited 2 times in total.
- Tony Bird
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Cardiff, South Wales, UK.
Re: Electric Chassis
Hi,
The three chassis made by hand?
The same folded channel was used for each.
L to R axle mounted motor, channel chassis and a motor unit that can be screwed to the underside of a model.
Other than the half hour or so it took to fold the channel it wasn't much slower than my usual way of making chassis. It did take a bit out of my hands and wrists, out of practice or just older, probably both?
Regards Tony.
The three chassis made by hand?
The same folded channel was used for each.
L to R axle mounted motor, channel chassis and a motor unit that can be screwed to the underside of a model.
Other than the half hour or so it took to fold the channel it wasn't much slower than my usual way of making chassis. It did take a bit out of my hands and wrists, out of practice or just older, probably both?
Regards Tony.
Re: Electric Chassis
Thats great Tony thank you. Thats a really cheaper way of having a bench drill, although like you say, it may take it out of our hands and fingers with the old arthritic jointsβ¦.
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
- tom_tom_go
- Driver
- Posts: 4824
- Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
- Location: Kent, UK
- Contact:
Re: Electric Chassis
I picked up an old bench drill for Β£20 at a market day.
You just need to check for play in the chuck so you know it will drill straight although I doubt it would be good enough for critical hole drilling for a live steamer.
You just need to check for play in the chuck so you know it will drill straight although I doubt it would be good enough for critical hole drilling for a live steamer.
Re: Electric Chassis
Flipping heck Tom, when did you get that and can you get me one please.tom_tom_go wrote: βSat Apr 28, 2018 11:22 am I picked up an old bench drill for Β£20 at a market day.
ROD
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
Life is so easy when I run my trains.
https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11364
https://www.youtube.com/@fairywoodlightrailway
- Tony Bird
- Trainee Driver
- Posts: 570
- Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 8:25 am
- Location: Cardiff, South Wales, UK.
Re: Electric Chassis
Hi,
You just need to check for play in the chuck so you know it will drill straight although I doubt it would be good enough for critical hole drilling for a live steamer.
If the drill bit runs reasonable concentric there is no reason it shouldn't be used for any job within its capacity.
Regards Tony.
You just need to check for play in the chuck so you know it will drill straight although I doubt it would be good enough for critical hole drilling for a live steamer.
If the drill bit runs reasonable concentric there is no reason it shouldn't be used for any job within its capacity.
Regards Tony.
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