I'm after some advice on how to design a motor setup for a smallish lego model (roughly 25cms long).
I want to get something with a bit of 'kick' because the car I eventually want to put it in is a drag car. I know that you can buy an actual motor from Lego for it, but they only go forwards. I eventually want to make it drive/steer via 2 motors (would it be possible with 1?)
Can anybody let me know what sort of parts list I should expect, and what the best type of motor would be for this. The model doesn't carry a lot of weight (about 500gms) but the stepper motor I used didn't work too well (or I think I damaged it).
MadE92:
an actual motor from Lego for it, but they only go forwards
Where did you get that idea?
Any Lego motors that my kids had could run in either direction. They were just simple DC motors in a plastic Lego housing.
If the standard Lego motor is suitable it will be very much easier to work with. I can't think of any reason why you can't control a Lego motor with a motor driver controlled by an Arduino for speed and direction.
If you do decide to buy a non-Lego motor I would be wary of buying a high-torque motor as there is a risk of overpowering and damaging the plastic Lego parts.
Any Lego motors that my kids had could run in either direction. They were just simple DC motors in a plastic Lego housing.
If the standard Lego motor is suitable it will be very much easier to work with. I can't think of any reason why you can't control a Lego motor with a motor driver controlled by an Arduino for speed and direction.
If you do decide to buy a non-Lego motor I would be wary of buying a high-torque motor as there is a risk of overpowering and damaging the plastic Lego parts.
...R
I've got one of the Lego motors, and it only goes forward? (It is a couple of years old?)
Possibly easier to work with yes, but not as much fun.
Yeah I'm not sure how it'd go with high torque. One of the models is the drag car, so high torque could be cool...
I'm also 3D printing an assembly setup to position the parts (basically a printed model that attaches to the drive shaft and then the axle.
I just bought a set of 5 micro 9g servo motors designed for RC projects off ebay. They're only low quality, but it should give me an idea on how to set it up?
I've got one of the Lego motors, and it only goes forward
Even if you switch + and -? How strange is that! It must have a rectifier to actually prevent it from running in the wrong direction. It must be a motor for some very special Lego design, which actually breaks apart, if run in the wrong direction. As a kid, I had a Lego cog wheel kit and there was one design that actually broke apart, if I ran the motor in the wrong direction.