Lego Technics Remotes/IR's etc

pinno

Things are a bit serious around here and the clocks go back in a few weeks. Whilst the rollers will be my house maid during those dark nights, there are other things to do.

How many functions does a receiver do?
Can it activate pistons/hydraulics?
What sort of model of sender/receiver is the most versatile?

bob6397

There are up to 2 channels per receiver.. You can connect them to any device.. If you want to control a pneumatic system (Lego does not make a hydraulic system at far as I am aware..), then you can use the receiver to control a motor which can then turn the pump for the hydraulics. Then you will need another motor to control the valved which controls the amount of air flowing..

bob6397

pinno

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I am aware that Lego don't make hydraulic systems - it's 'fake' hydraulics isn't it using air pistons.

So for multiple functions, say a crawler/digger. You would require multiple receivers? I'e Extension arm pneumatic, bucket pneumatic, drive motor, actuators for steering etc etc?

bob6397

I have one model which uses pneumatics - the way that works (it's not remote controlled) is that there is one motor - which through a set of mechanical levers can control various functions.. One being the pump.

When the pump is running, it uses various physical valves to send the air where it is needed and to which pistons.. You could possibly use one of these (http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/Power-Functions-Servo-Motor-88004?fromListing=listing) to control each valve - I which you luck fitting enough motors into one model to control an entire pneumatic system though..

Answering one of your first questions - which system is most versatile - I would use a combination of the following..

1) Remote system. There is only one receiver (http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/LEGO-Power-Functions-IR-Receiver-8884?fromListing=listing) which can control 2 channels.
There are 2 remotes - a basic, on/off one and this one - which can control the amount of power given and therefore the speed of the motor at the other end... (http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/LEGO-Power-Functions-IR-Speed-Remote-Control-8879?fromListing=listing)

2) Motors. There are 3 types of motor available - the servo one I mentioned earlier, the normal one that you get with the vast majority of models and this one (http://shop.lego.com/en-GB/LEGO-Power-Functions-XL-Motor-8882?fromListing=listing) - which is much more powerful and the only one that I would use to motorize the movement of a lego model. That would burn out any other motor.. For steering/valves, use the servo motor. That's what it is for

bob6397

pinno

Sounds like fun. Will post my first technics incarnation on here when I have finished it

I have the larger 8881 9v battery pack and an 8883 motor.

To clarify:
A motor powers an air pump (which is reversible) to activate the pneumatics?
Do you use/have you used a control box?

Using a single output drive, the motor can work numerous functions (with a limit to the number of functions obviously). How do you couple all that up?!

Do the switches react quickly, such as an extending arm?



Do you use actuators like this?:



or this:



Cheers bob.