[HELP] Skid Steer Controls

[lombardini003]

hello everyone. i am in need to build a skid steer with total power function controls. the controls have to be identical to the real skid steer controls. does anyone have any info or links to help me. thank you in advance.

[aminnich]

Couple of questions for you first, are you using tracks or wheels. If wheels, what size (this will give an idea of scale) also, do u want the LEGO skid steer to just have the same functions as the real machine (move, lift bucket, and dump bucket), or do you want it to act the same way as the real machine. Sorry if that sounds confusing

[Jurss]

[lombardini003]

Hi. Thanks for the replies. I will build a skid steer / cat 973D - both these machines use the exact same controls. I will use tracks. I would like to use the exact controls and also move the same as the real machine, I assume I will need two ir controllers and i need the Help to properly set up the ir controllers. Thank you.

[aminnich]

You will need at least 2 ir controllers, if u have a function like a spinning drill, you would need another one, but if u stick to movement, bucket up/down, and dumping you will only need two. Do u have your skid steer on Brickshlef or something that I can look at? This will give me an idea of what your thinking

[DrJB]

hello everyone. i am in need to build a skid steer with total power function controls. the controls have to be identical to the real skid steer controls. does anyone have any info or links to help me. thank you in advance.

There are two types of controls for SkidSteers, and these typically can be switched to either on the machines equipped with electro-hydraulics controls.

1. H style, where the left/right handles control the left/right tracks/wheels. You turn by pushing the left handle more/less than the right handle.

2. ISO style, where the right handle controls the forward/reverse motion, and the left handle controls the steering.

I prefer the H style as it's more 'natural'.

[aminnich]

but do you want the handles to control your LEGO model?

[lombardini003]

H style controls. 2 xl motors for the tracks, 2 m motors lifting and raising the bucket, 1 m motor tilting the bucket. And now need help to relay this to the ir controllers. Thank you.

[Captainowie]

The number of receivers you need depends on the number of functions you have. The number of controllers you need depends on how many functions you want to be able to activate at the same time. For instance, the 8275 Bulldozer has four distinct functions (left track, right track, blade, ripper) but uses one remote. This means that when you're playing with it, you have to choose between driving or doing other stuff by setting the remote to the appropriate channel. In your case, are you going to want to be lifting/tilting the bucket at the same time as you're driving? If so, then you'll need multiple controllers each set to their own channel.

It's not entirely clear how many distinct functions you have - when you say "2 m motors lifting and raising the bucket", are those motors running together (say, powering a linear actuator on each side of the machine)? Or are they independent of each other? If the former, then you need two receivers and up to two controllers, if the latter, you'll need three receivers and up to three controllers.

Does this help?

Owen.

[thomol]

For instance, the 8275 Bulldozer has four distinct functions (left track, right track, blade, ripper) but uses one remote. This means that when you're playing with it, you have to choose between driving or doing other stuff by setting the remote to the appropriate channel.

The 8275 came with two pairs of remote and reciever, set to different channels, each controlling one track and one function (ripper; blade), meaning you could control both drive and the other two functions at once.

Controlling two xl motors with one remote and one receiver like you propose was made possible first with the v2 reciever, if I'm not mistaken.

[Captainowie]

The 8275 came with two pairs of remote and reciever, set to different channels, each controlling one track and one function (ripper; blade), meaning you could control both drive and the other two functions at once.

No, it didn't - if you wanted to control everything at once you had to buy an extra controller.

[thomol]

No, it didn't - if you wanted to control everything at once you had to buy an extra controller.

Hmm, strange... I've checked and you're right. I have a clear picture of a twin controller, like the 8043, with both outer control sticks in a different color. Wonder where I got that from. This also means that I got the v1 vs. v2 issue mixed up as well. Guess I'm getting so old that I can't rely on my memory anymore. Well at least I learned something from this topic; check and double check before posting.

[aminnich]

1 XL to a channel, 1 XL to a channel, 2 M to a channel, 1 M to a channel. this will allow you to control the track separately and lift/lower and dump the bucket seperately

[DrJB]

As said above, the 8275 is your best example to replicate/copy. It has precisely 'H' controls, and you'd need two remotes as the switch to change channels was not meant to be changed frequently, in my opinion, naturally.

Edited March 15, 2015 by DrJB

[lombardini003]

and also, i need to incorporate all this to just 2 levers in some way.. even if i use 3 or 4 contollers, at the end point it must be controlled via 1 left, 1 right joystick and all work simultaneously, i have seen on this board many interesting controllers where they are using many controllers all hooked up to either one or two controllers.. check this site, http://www.technicbr...ts-of-your.html -this will be interesting. thank you very much for the replies.

The number of receivers you need depends on the number of functions you have. The number of controllers you need depends on how many functions you want to be able to activate at the same time. For instance, the 8275 Bulldozer has four distinct functions (left track, right track, blade, ripper) but uses one remote. This means that when you're playing with it, you have to choose between driving or doing other stuff by setting the remote to the appropriate channel. In your case, are you going to want to be lifting/tilting the bucket at the same time as you're driving? If so, then you'll need multiple controllers each set to their own channel.

It's not entirely clear how many distinct functions you have - when you say "2 m motors lifting and raising the bucket", are those motors running together (say, powering a linear actuator on each side of the machine)? Or are they independent of each other? If the former, then you need two receivers and up to two controllers, if the latter, you'll need three receivers and up to three controllers.

Does this help?

Owen.

i am actually building the liebherr that Milan has built and want to be able to operate the machine like a skidsteer and be able to drive, lift lower and tilt bucket all at the same time but regardless how many controllers i use - at the end it must be controlled via just 2 levers.. Milan liebherr has 2 xl motors running the tracks, 2 m motors lifting lowering the bucket running the same time controlling 2 LA, and one m motor for tilting bucket. hope this helps. thank you.

Edited March 15, 2015 by lombardini003

[Captainowie]

want to be able to operate the machine like a skidsteer and be able to drive, lift lower and tilt bucket all at the same time but regardless how many controllers i use - at the end it must be controlled via just 2 levers.

In that case you'll definitely need two controllers. In terms of multiplexing the four separate controls into two levers, the page you've linked to offers some excellent hints. I don't understand what more you want from us - we can't build it for you.