R5's dome rotation upgrade 1.1

So Saturday afternoon I spent working out how I was going to fit the new bearing. I had planned to router out the original lower ring, but the bearing was the same size as the outside edge of it. The skin makes up the rest of the diameter to the correct size.

So that put a stop to that idea lol.
Next was to simply buy a thinner piece of hardboard and it plus the 10mm thick bearing would equal the right height again.

Whilst I was doing all this thinking/planning, I started to remove the old lazy susan & electrics that wouldn't be needed.

This was a great idea for a cheap and easy way to control R5's dome rotation, and has served me well. But it's replacement will same on space and all this wiring!

I also uninstalled my old & original, RC transmitters receiver unit. I had kept in, just incase I needed to swap it back over, but it wasn't necessary. It was replaced by a screen used version from a fellow club member, much thanks go to Colin Barker for his generous gift.

Old Rc receiver unit

Sunday was when I was able to get on with some REAL work.....

R5's Slip Ring Upgrade 1.0

I wasn't happy with my original slip rings thin wires! For low level electrical signals they were fine for, but when my Bad Motivator door motor actuator operates.....it doesn't????

Bench testing connected directly to a 12V battery, it all works fine???

I thought it could possibly be the remote part of the circuit, but this is part of the same circuit that's connected to the 12V battery when bench testing, so I can assume this is not a problem.

These are the now 'old' wiring loom etc.

 View up through dome base.

Pin connection, wires to remote (upper right) & R5's eye sensors (left)

A fellow builder on the UK forum, was selling off unwanted parts, so I bagged me the slip ring he was selling. I then bought some XT60 connectors to connect up to the dome wiring.

Next, is out with the old connection and in with the new.

Dome electrics - power connection

As I'm still waiting for parts, I didnt want to be left waiting to be able to power the dome motor. So I rigged up a stand alone unit, with voltage step down power.

The two micro-swtiches mounted with the micro servo.

Digital Volt meter with Voltage Regulator below it.

The unit takes its power from a split connection plug straight off the 24 volt line. This feeds into the voltage step down unit and is monitored by a digital volt meter. This then feeds the dome motor.

There was an issue with the servo not working(?) The transmitter was working, but the servo only twitched when activated??

.......ordered another servo......fingers crossed!

R5-D4's Dome control syatem 1.3 - COMPLETED

Braved the cold of my garage Saturday afternoon, to install R5's dome switch unit. Basically a servo linked up to swith two micro switches to power dome motor left/off/right.
Fitted the board to the inside upright and all plugged in. Just need to sort the batteries plug so its charger can plug into it to be charged.

Have been happy since sorting the switches out and that it would actually work, but to finally install the switch panel in and test R5's dome properly, with the transmitter, felt like I had actually achieved the basic level of completing An Astromech. That being 'full motorisation, feet and dome' :)

R5-D4's Dome control system 1.2

Back in November @ Collectormania 22. I saw Owen's R2, a fellow UK R2 Club member, who has a similar control system to Victors, but his has a linkage system to his micro switches, this I like.

Soldered up the wires to the two micro switches, and heat shrunk the contacts. This includes wires to connect up with the 'test' power, which is a 6V battery.

I tested the motor on one of the 12V batteries and to me it seamed to fast for my liking, where as the 6V gave a more movie style movement. This is a personal choice, which kind of goes with the sad R5 feel from the film.

All wired up and tested and YES, the micro switch idea works (more excited my soldering works lol)

January 2015
What with Xmas and being ill, I've not had a chance to get on with any R5 work.....until one night last week. I wired up the servo and tested out the idea of it switching the micro switches, using the transmitter. In principle it worked lol.

Saturday 17th - Fitting of R5's dome motor!
The idea was to fit the motor with a pivot point and spring tension. But I found that the metal bracket has enough 'flex' in it not to need the spring. The rotating disc is not perfectly round lol, so I found the smallest part of its diameter and screwed the bracket into place. There was a bit of movement from the bracket when the motor moves, but the flex is okay.

This next pic you can see the screws in place.

This pic shows the limited space.

You can see the inside of the dome structure also.

R5-D4's Dome control system 1.1

Ordered my Dome motor the other week.

Along with a BaneBots wheel and the adaptors, required to combine forces.

The motor I ordered from Maplins, the wheel and adaptor I ordered from Technobot

(low stock levels)

Spent a few hours working on how best to fit it.

R5-D4's Dome control system 1.0

After following the R2D2 build made by Victor Franco,
I decided that I'd copy this simple straight forward option
of controlling R5's dome (29.09.14)
A fellow UK Builder also has a similar design to control his R2 unit.

Click this link to take you to Victor's dome controller Blog post

Already having some bits, this for me was a cheep alternative to buying the
SyRen 10 speed controller.

I liked the idea of the Perspex panel on the main control board,
so dug out a spare piece and got to work
on machining out a slot for the servo to fit into.

Next was to cut up some smaller 'pads' for the switches to sit on and be bolted too.

More to follow.....