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[Bunkerbarge]

Here she is, the original, based in Florida, the model, based in Yorkshire and the insides, showing why I need to keep things as small as possible!

[OMK]

Malcolm: I opted for the 4066, as opposed to NORs, simply because a certain man of ACTion was kind enough to replenish my junquebox with them.

Wom: Thanks a bundle for the heads-up. With regards to PICC Lite, I'm just about to check it out. Tnx!

B'Barge: If you're still in the market for an electronic version, a dead simple non-PIC unit would do the job. It lacks the ability to lock the unused servos in their neutral positions, but in light of the previous comments it seems the flanking servos should pretty much remain in position anyway (remember to set them to neutral BEFORE switching over to the main rudders).
One advantage of doing it electronically (as opposed to the microservo and microswitch idea) is that the switching is clean and free of unwanted glitches. In other words, there is no unwanted servo jitter when you change from the main rudders to the flanking rudders. I think most every electronic nut is fully aware of what dirty (mechanical) switching can do to an R/C system. Mainly, it manifest itself in the shape of all sorts of nasties, and I think they are just trying to bring it to your attention if you should take the mechanical route.

A complete and working unit, weighing in @ roughly 2" x 1", is here and ready to go if you want it.

[DickyD]

You're right PMK I was earwigging and guess what, didn't understand a word of it Dude.  

[FullLeatherJacket]

Dicky
Try this, then:
PMK's gizmo uses a non-proportional channel, like those marked "Retract Gear", as a switch to change over the function of one of the proportional channels (i.e. a stick movement) from operating one servo to operating another one. So, for example, you wiggle the RH stick side-to-side and it operates the rudder then, when you flick the changeover switch, the same stick movement might now rotate a crane or gun turret.
In BB's case it will switch the steering control from the single rudder to the set of three.
OK?
FLJ

[OMK]

"You're right... I was earwigging..."

Ha!... I knew it, I knew it!

Although, don't worry about not understanding; that makes two of us.
Just consider the gizmo as an electronic 2-way switch... or maybe a crude channel extender for your receivers. The two outputs do not necessarily have to be used for rudders. You can use it, say, for two separate sound units, or two sets of light, or..... blah....... each selectable from just one channel on your Tx.

For the price of 1 x Strongbow, you too can be the proud owner of this Super-Deluxe Rinky-Dinky-Slinky CMOS-operated, glitch-free wonder-wizz.

And before you ask why there are no resistors between respective pins 12 and 13..... I'm not telling, so there!

[malcolmfrary]

The only thing now is.......what to do with the other two elements in the 4066.  Seems a shame to just leave them.   

[DickyD]

Thanks Dave that's a bit clearer.

PMK, resistor, whats a resistor ?

You know,I read all this techno stuff hoping that some of it will sink in, but no. It must be an age thing.

Mind you I have eleven boats that all do what I want them to, so I must be doing something right, probably reading the instructions.

[OMK]

Malcolm:
You're right, it is a shame to leave them... which kinda goes against the grain because I hate wasteage.
Maybe this one would be less waste ( http://www.analog.com/en/switchesmultiplexers/analog-switches/ADG752/products/product.html ).

You're a smart man. Any ideas what those two spares could be used for?

[OMK]

PMK, resistor, whats a resistor ?

Usually a lump of carbon, there to resist the flow of current. For instance, you might need to run a 2-volt LED from a 12-volt battery. Ordinarily the LED would pop under the full the 12v, so you bung a resistor in series to resist the amount of juice. Resistors come in all sort of sizes, but they all do the exact same job (photo attached ((the battery is only there to give some sort of scale)).

Mind you I have eleven boats that all do what I want them to, so I must be doing something right, probably reading the instructions.

I firmly believe in the KISS principle. If it works, why fix it?
11 out of 11 can't be bad, so yep - you're doing something right.

[John W E]

PMK me owld mate

what are the transistors Q1 & Q2 - i,.e. what's the value/numbers?

Also, I take it that it is a 4033 IC1?   gOT strip board at the ready mate    soldering iron at the ready..... 

Definitely going to have a go at this circuit.

why aye man

john

[flashtwo]

Hi PMK,

Nice to see a solution without the need of  bits, bytes and interrupts. I think its easy to get narrow sighted in some way (and lazy) in thinking that PICs are the only solution and we need to be reminded that pure electronics still has a lot to offer.

I take it that the IC1 is a dual D-type 4013, which leads to one little query about the two inputs - have the titles been swopped accidentally, i.e. the non-proportional goes to the 4013 and the proportional one to the 4066?

Ian

[Bunkerbarge]

PMK, e-mail sent. 

Very many thanks for all your help and input with this it really is very much appreciated and all a part of what makes this forum such an amazing place.  Where else could you have an individual electronic solution designed to your specific requirements?

Also thanks to everyone elses input, I hope other members can get something useful out of it as well.

[FullLeatherJacket]

I hope PMK is putting these little gizmos onto his website. He's also done one recently for Gingyer, which seems to do the job as specified.

Dude - where ARE   you going to store all those crushed apples?? 

FLJ (Another grateful customer)

[OMK]

Bloobs:
Any old NPN tranny will work. I used 2 x BC547 and designed the vero layout around them. A BC182 is a pin-for-pin compatible.
The chips I used are both preceded with 'CD'. The CD4013 is a dual flip-flop; the CD4066 is a quad switch (you can also use CD4016).
If you don't want the agro of doing your own layout, lemme know because I've already drawn one up (maybe not the most elegant layout on the planet, but does work.)

Ian:
You dabble with assembler language yourself, right? So don't underestimate yourself for having the skill required to able to talk with micro's. It's neither lazy or narrow-sighted to have the noodle to know what you're doing. Bluebird's version requires 2 x inputs and 2 separate lots of 3 x outputs. I wouldn't get any kicks trying to designing that with bog-standard chips, so that's where a PIC definitely comes in. As far as I'm concerned assembler language is bloody difficult, but, you boys who mess around with it as though it's no biggie, are gods.
IC1 is indeed the D-type. Regarding the reverse titles... Blimey, you've got an eagle eye! Yes, you're right, the titles at the two inputs should be reversed (take note, Bluebird). Thanks for pointing it out, dude.

<edit>

FLJ, the answer is easy....... In me belly.

[OMK]

(Cue attention-sounding newsflash jingle).
"Diddly-dah, diddly-dee, diddly-dah, diddly-dee........."

LATEST NEWS JUST IN!.....

Somerset man cream-crackered due to non-stop 72-hour work-in.
Inundated with hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of request for a possible Veroboard layout has resulted in a severe bout of cider-itus dehydration-us.

http://www.pm.keirle.com/2-way_swt/2-way_swt.htm

We have the technology, we have the $$$, only we don't have the required liquid in the fridgadairre hospital for the necessary transfusion... and at this juncture he is gagging for a gallon or six of soul-saving scrumpy.

END OF NEWS BULLETIN.


".....diddly-dah, diddly-dee, diddly-dah, diddly-dee........."

[flashtwo]

Hi PMK,

By the time-stamp on your reply, you must have been dead on your feet and using resistor legs to prop up your eyelids!

I'm very impressed with your layout and schematic designs, it makes my spreadsheet based layout look totally primitive by comparison.

Could you tell me which design package are you using and can it handle a piece of Veroboard 39 x 120 holes, which is the size of my current flash steam controller?

A very professional product!

Ian.

[OMK]

Design package?
Sure.. it's called MSPaint. Fine for simple 2-dimensional sketches, but if you wanna see how it's really done, check those on FLJ's site. Being that he's a CAD nut means that his have that... what's the word?.... Je ne sias quois?
My layouts are just drawn on a simple matrix template, 5" x 2.5" (50 holes by 25 tracks), but can be up to any size which your graphics card can handle. Since most circuits are smaller than 5 x 2.5 means I just copy/paste the size I need from the template. Anything bigger simply involves a bit more copy/pasting.
Like everything else, the simplicity comes at a price. Your 3.9" x 12" board is do'able, if a tad clumsy due to screen resolution. The screen res' layout is actually 46% larger than the real-world size of of the finished board, so your 12" board would be almost double in size on the screen. In order to get to the part of the the board that you're working on, would mean a lot of to'ing and fro'ing and scrolling. A bit fiddly, but no real biggie.
Each and every component is hand-drawn, all kept in a library. It's just a simple matter of copying the required component from the library, then pasting to the board. Can be a bit time consuming... especially when you're near the end of a particular layout just to discover the limitations of Veroboard for the umpteenth time, realising that the last component just won't go in, no way no how, forcing a re-shuffle and starting all over again.

Now do you feel a bit cheated for calling it a professional product?

[malcolmfrary]

when you're near the end of a particular layout just to discover the limitations of Veroboard for the umpteenth time, realising that the last component just won't go in, no way no how, forcing a re-shuffle and starting all over again.

Now do you feel a bit cheated for calling it a professional product?

Is this better or worse than finding out when it was done on 1/10" graph paper with the trusty pencil and even more essential rubber?

[flashtwo]

I'm even more impressed!

Ian.

[catengineman]

I'm drinking LOT'S of CRUSHED APPLES in the hope I may one day understand what these chaps are talking about

All I know is if you let the magic smelly smoke out of electricy things they no longer work  and it costs lots of wonga to replace them.

R,

[Bunkerbarge]

No amount of crushed apples would help me I'm afraid so I simply take thier word for it that it works and respect their far greater knowledge than mine!


Why do you think I play with steam, all the magic white smoke they produce is what they are supposed to do!

[OMK]

"...all the magic white smoke they produce is what they are supposed to do!"

Absolutely. Although, it's still fun when the smoke comes out of electricity. At the dabbling around stage of your gizmo I inadvertantly stuffed a tantulum capacitor in the breadboard with its positive leg where the negative one should have been. Not so much of a bang, more of a load FFZzzzzzzzzzt. Can't say that I've ever popped a tantulum before, but the smoke emitted was a ghastly purple-pink. And the stench... man, what a ponk... not to mention the grotty scorchmark left in its wake.

[OMK]

Is this better or worse than finding out when it was done on 1/10" graph paper with the trusty pencil and even more essential rubber?

Ha!... good question!
I think I would have to say better because if'n I make a mistake I only have to hit CTRL and Z. I still have my old 1/10" grid, but think I must have got through more rubbers than Errol Flynn.

[OMK]

Guilty of reviving an already done-and-dusted thread? Or simply singing my own praises?
Nah, neither. Am merely putting this here 'cos it saves writing thousands and thousands and thousands of separate replies to all those requesting how to make their own BB Special...

http://www.pm.keirle.com/2-way_swt/2-way_swt.htm

I didn't think to take any photos of Bunkerbarge's gizmo. He has the only working version on the planet, so perhaps if you ask him nicely?......

And here's one which suits the purpose for testing said gizmo...

http://www.pm.keirle.com/2-ch_ppm/2-ch_ppm.htm

[barryfoote]

PMK,

Not got a clue what all this is about, but having just discovered this thread, you have royally entertained me on a hot Sunday morning.....Cheers amigo..

Barry