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Post by kiwidave on Oct 9, 2018 19:32:43 GMT -7
Awesome job!
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Post by cozee on Oct 10, 2018 5:32:02 GMT -7
Looking good!!!
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Post by GTS on Oct 10, 2018 18:21:00 GMT -7
Thanks guys! Always appreciate the encouragement. Well it is fall and my to do list is a few pages, lol. But, I did manage to get the base drilled for voltage taps @ 1.5" holes and sensors @ 11/32" holes. Every little bit helps  .
Note: those 6 horizontal holes in the 2nd picture are leftover voltage taps from the Tomy road course track.
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Post by GTS on Oct 11, 2018 17:58:59 GMT -7
Running some sensor wire today. Re-using the ones I had already made up for the other track and cut some more wire to length for the others. Ran outta wire but more will be here Saturday. I have enough cut lengths for now to keep me busy soldering on the sensors tomorrow. I printed up some sticky back labels to help me keep things organized, I put a label on each end of the wire, with lane #, location and Arduino pin number. Should help a lot.
G
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Post by dave632 on Oct 12, 2018 12:21:11 GMT -7
Neat.
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Post by jbailey on Oct 12, 2018 16:50:59 GMT -7
Nice work! Thought I saw it in this thread but, went back and re-read it and couldn't find what timing system you're using? I saw mention of Arduino, did you make your own system?
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Post by GTS on Oct 13, 2018 7:30:52 GMT -7
Nice work! Thought I saw it in this thread but, went back and re-read it and couldn't find what timing system you're using? I saw mention of Arduino, did you make your own system? Thanks for the inquiry. - The software I am using is a free download here It can be ran in demo mode which allows one to determine if it might work for them. It does only time to the thousandth and not ten thousandths as the Track Mate software does. Also there is a forum where one can glean more info about the software and here's that link- The Arduino module I'm using is a Mega 2560. They are readily available, I acquired mine here With my system, I had to use a higher quality USB cable to maintain the connection. - I also am using this in tandem with the Mega and it makes hook up much easier. - The sensors I'm using are from Digikey and here's that link- I started off using a 100' roll of 20 ga wire for hookup but have switched to 24 gauge. Needed another roll and the 24 ga is plenty suitable, IMO.
Any more questions please ask. Always glad to share info.
G
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Post by AJR on Oct 13, 2018 14:44:30 GMT -7
Super Super impressive Gale!! I've known guys that talk about setting up a track for years and never get it done. You have scratch built two in less than a year. The craftsmanship is top shelf man. Thanks also for reposting the timing system links. I saved them before, but can't find them now. I will put these in a safe spot. Thanks for the stage by stage pics and sharing.
Question......Would an infra red sensor work with that system? Have you experienced any functional or timing issues with the use of the photo transistors?
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Post by GTS on Oct 13, 2018 16:41:40 GMT -7
Super Super impressive Gale!! I've known guys that talk about setting up a track for years and never get it done. You have scratch built two in less than a year. The craftsmanship is top shelf man. Thanks also for reposting the timing system links. I saved them before, but can't find them now. I will put these in a safe spot. Thanks for the stage by stage pics and sharing. Question......Would an infra red sensor work with that system? Have you experienced any functional or timing issues with the use of the photo transistors? Thanks Jeff! I don't know one way or the other if an infra red sensor would work. I would like to assume it would but don't know for sure. I used the photo transistors because they were recommended but no reason given as to why they are recommended. I will try to find out next time I visit the forum and ask about the infra red. If I find out something definitive, I will edit this post and also PM you. I haven't experienced any functional or timing issues that I've been aware of. Are there some things I should be more aware of that would be a sign of "issues"? The only problem I've had so far has been with the use of an inferior USB cable. The computer would lose communication with the Arduino after 3 or 4 runs. After I switched to a higher quality cable, I haven't had that issue. I do have a small concern with all the extra sensor cables that will now be installed, that that might cause a misfire somewhere. Time will tell on that.
G EDIT: Regarding the infra red sensors; the guy who developed the software answered my question. He said "Infrared sensors will work, however DRC only supports an arduino interface right now so the sensors have to be wired to the arduino. You'd wire them the same way as the photo sensors in the readme PDF". After you install the software, the read me PDF is in the directory: Drag RC/data/arduino/lap Counter/Arduino and Race Coordinator.
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Post by AJR on Oct 13, 2018 17:44:30 GMT -7
Well Im running a Trackmate DP3000HO system that I am very happy with. But the Arduino is very interesting and looks really good. I might want to play around with it. No issues with photo transistors that I'm aware of. My first timing system utilized photo transistors and I had a LOT of trouble with double counts or miscounts. The Trackmate uses infra red. I've always wondered if that was part of the problem or if it was the timing systems. That's the reason for my question. Looks like it was the timing system rather than the sensors. Thanks for the info.
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Post by dave632 on Oct 13, 2018 18:27:26 GMT -7
With the infra red sensors you are less susceptible to lighting problems but you have to have an IR lighting source or bright lights over the track. My trackmate had some problems using regular white light so I added some IR leds on gantry's. I believe slot dragon uses regular photo sensors and has no problems with them but you still need bright light over the track.
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Post by GTS on Oct 13, 2018 19:53:27 GMT -7
Well Im running a Trackmate DP3000HO system that I am very happy with. But the Arduino is very interesting and looks really good. I might want to play around with it. No issues with photo transistors that I'm aware of. My first timing system utilized photo transistors and I had a LOT of trouble with double counts or miscounts. The Trackmate uses infra red. I've always wondered if that was part of the problem or if it was the timing systems. That's the reason for my question. Looks like it was the timing system rather than the sensors. Thanks for the info. Jeff, I sent you a PM regarding the infra red. The software developer said they'd work. I might have to wind up going that route, time will tell.
Dave, I've acquired some 120 vac puck lights that I'm planning to install over the sensors. My hope is that they will be bright enough for the photo transistors.
Got all the sensors soldered and hooked up today. A little tedious but not bad  .
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2018 6:53:50 GMT -7
info from Dan at TrackMate indicates that incandescent bulbs of 40 watts generate enough IR waves to be effective.
most LEDs do NOT generate IR.
fluorescent lights flash on and off at a frequency the human eye can not detect but could cause problems for photo cells.
I may be wrong about the LEDs though.
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Post by AJR on Oct 14, 2018 8:36:57 GMT -7
info from Dan at TrackMate indicates that incandescent bulbs of 40 watts generate enough IR waves to be effective. most LEDs do NOT generate IR. fluorescent lights flash on and off at a frequency the human eye can not detect but could cause problems for photo cells. I may be wrong about the LEDs though. That is my understanding as well Al. Flourescent and led lighting do not have enough of the red spectrum to work well with the IR sensors. Incandescent does. I'm using puck lights along with my IR emitter gantry's. They have enough red spectrum to work also. I have not had any trouble. Sounds like both sensor types will work well if the right lighting is used. My initial question tells me that my problem with the first timing system and photo transistors was the timing system rather than the sensors. Gale thank you for your follow up and information. |
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Post by dave632 on Oct 14, 2018 8:50:36 GMT -7
I should have said IR emitters not leds. Flourescent lights do not work as stated.
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