More Power Conduits

Here are some pictures of how the power conduits might work.

This shows using the 4x4 round brick corner piece (48092) as a method for turning 90 degrees.

This is still a work in progress and thus ideas or comments are welcome.

Horizontal Generator

Started building the horizontal generator as a standalone model so that I can test the functionality and figure out how to light it.  Here are the two sides before assembly.  There are three brackets (P/N 44278) that will hold the two sides together.  Also the gear box (P/N 6585) is sandwich in between.

There needs to be reinforcement to ensure that gear box does not move under load and that the brackets stay in place.  The top of the gear box is captured by multiple pieces to keep it locked down.  The brackets are kept in place by 2x2 plates that themselves are captured.

It is important that all pieces be securely and completely pressed into place.  When the two sides come together the fit is exact.  If the pieces are not pressed into place, there will be undo stress on the 2x2 plates that connect the two assemblies together.

The two assemblies are held together by three 2x2 plates, which are then covered by six curved slopes.  Once this step is complete, changing out the axles is easy since the gears are captured.  Just make sure you only change out one axle at a time.

For the spinning portion,  I am using a tan 8x8 dish to hide most of the studs of the 10x10 octagon plate and to give the model some smooth lines.  Next are back to back 6x6 dishes.  These are temporary colors for now ( this is just what I had in the pile of parts).  The longest axle will not reach the end of the cone, but it should have sufficent support to still spin.

The base is secured using Techinic beams and pins as shown here.  Curved slopes and decorated tiles are used to finish out the detailing.  This may change in the final design, but for now it smooths out the blockiness.  Because this base is not longer an integral number of studs, the long pins (P/N 6558 or 32556) are used to be able to adjust the position of the drive axle that will be hidden underneath the generator.

Next step is to build a temporary platform to power the device.  That is where we will see if this actually works.

Power Conduits

I have been experimenting with a simple power conduit design.  Here are two views of the same thing. 

This uses the 1x8 bar that I have used in multiple places.  At the 1x2 connection, a technic part is placed on the connection as a power tap and a light.  At the 1x4 connection a control panel is placed. 

The idea is to have these power conduits running around the platforms.  Still have to work out how turns are made.

Platform Connectors

As I have said before, have decide that black is not good as a build color since it hides the shadows.  So the connectors need to change to be less black and more of the tan and sand green.  Here is what this might look like.

Dont have all of the sand green parts that I need to finish this right now.  The two long black slopes in the front will probably have to stay black, since they dont come in sand green and tan looks weird.

I am standardizing on this design as a power transformer.  Meets all of the requirements that I need for running hoses in and out of it.  So if you look at the the one above, it was done with black parts instead of sand blue.  Right now this just looks too dark, but as the base is transformed to sand green we will see how it goes.

Vertical Generator Platform Build (part 2)

Did some more work on the vertical generator.

The two windows into what is happening below have changed a little.  The left side is the more rectangular, low profile windscreen while the right side is the more rounded and taller.  Note sure which is better yet.

Still working on the detail of the power enhancer section where the small units are lowered into the containment area.  Might want to reverse the color scheme there.

Still needs more detail and what happens in the front half of the MOC.

Light Controller Firmware (part 8)

Well my day job keeps getting in the way.  Once I got deeper into programming the LP5569, it became apparent I needed something to show all the lights.  I built a crude proto that is shown here.

But something more was needed, so I did a quick design with SMT LEDs in an RGB pattern.  This is one capability of the LP5569, so I decided to implement it.  This board will give a user two things, 1) the ability to test there scripts/configurations and 2) a blank board can be used as a breakout board.  A 3D model of the board is shown here.

Due to cost considerations for this proto, the board is 1.25in wide.  (Minimum width for a "bare bones" PCB from PCBFAB Express.).  The final version will be 0.925 in wide or less.   The mounting holes are on Brick Stud centers.

The final issue yet to be resolved is the separate connector for the PIC LEDs.  They probably should be on the same connectors as the LP5569.

My intention is to offer this as development kit of sorts.  The kit will come with two boards, one populated with connectors shown and LEDs and the other board will be blank, plus 3 cables to connect to the Light Controller.

Vertical Geenrator Platform Build (Part 1)

Spent some time working on platforms.  I need to show mostly finished platforms at the next Baylug meeting.

 These two pictures show the below compartment taking shape.  It will have two Minifigs inside controlling the power feed into the containers (one of which can be seen later). I plan on using a blue LED backlight to light the compartment.. 

 

This shows the windscreen type cover for the compartment so that you can see down in.

 This was a fit check to see how everything was going to fit on it.

A first look at a mostly completed structure.  Probably going to change the slope color to sand green so that it stands out or at least surround the opening with sand green.  Still needs detailing and some structure in the front half still.