Animating your diaramas and Layouts

[dougkast]

Boat & Fish Animation using a PICAXE Microprocessor chip and servo.

http://youtu.be/AmljWRP6Zew

[dougkast]

Model Train Electronics: Part (1/8) Gismos, Gadgets, Tip - Lean to Build with a PICAXE Controller. This is a complete seminar by David Bodnar.

http://youtu.be/elod-l4k2dQ

[dougkast]

Model Train Electronics: Part (2/8) Gismos, Gadgets, Tip - Lean to Build with a PICAXE Controller. This is a complete seminar by David Bodnar.

http://youtu.be/Ujl91a3ZZ4I

[dougkast]

Model Train Electronics: Part (3/8) Gismos, Gadgets, Tip - Lean to Build with a PICAXE Controller. This is a complete seminar by David Bodnar.

http://youtu.be/t505E_0gqBA

[dougkast]

Model Train Electronics: Part (4/8) Gismos, Gadgets, Tip - Lean to Build with a PICAXE Controller. This is a complete seminar by David Bodnar.

http://youtu.be/JQ0jc8oTyOg

[Slim Jerkins]

Dave lives about 15 minutes from me. That guy knows more about PIC  devices than anyone I know. Really smart guy.

-slim

[dougkast]

Dave lives about 15 minutes from me. That guy knows more about PIC  devices than anyone I know. Really smart guy.

-slim

This is cool stuff, I bought a kit, downloaded some code from his website for a lighthouse beacon, uploaded it to the chip assembly on a breadboard thru a USB cable and it worked. I also bought a couple of Adruino boards to play with.

I wasn't sure if I should start a new topic on this or put it in yours?

[jlgrove]

..this is really cool stuff....kinda puts a different take on having big layouts...you can really put some nice fun stuff into a diorama with this....

[ranny9]

These Adruino boards were discussed earlier, on another forum. When I was at Microcenter recently, I saw a huge display of them in the back room. Growing up as a kid I was always fascinated by little electronics. I built a HeathKit ham radio transmitter in high school. But THESE things open up a whole new world!! I have no idea how to use them, but perhaps this is my NEW hobby?

[Slim Jerkins]

Man I grew up on Heathkits! They were a lot of fun.

I have a bunch of little controllers: Basic Stamps, Arduinos, Pics...

The PIC controllers are probably the most bare bones. Regardless of the controller, a good project that you could build on is this:

1) turn an LED on and off
2) play around with different on and off times
3) use more of the device's outputs to turn on more LEDs
4) (and this the icing on the cake) learn how to boost the output of the controller so that you can drive more than one LED from an output.

Now you have a nifty lighting simulator that you could put in a diorama or layout that turns lights on and off at different times to give things a "lived in" look.

-slim

[ranny9]

Say you have a haunted house (duh). You load it with lights and a sound module, like Big Sounds from Innovative Train Technology. Can you run those on a circuit to have fun with?

[Slim Jerkins]

I misspoke when I said "boost" the output of the controller. The output of the controller can handle the current of a 20mA LED and that's about it. We use the output of the controller to turn other devices on and off that can handle much larger amounts of current - like transistors for example. So we're not really boosting the output - rather, we're using the output to control a "booster" so to speak.

-slim

[dougkast]

I misspoke when I said "boost" the output of the controller. The output of the controller can handle the current of a 20mA LED and that's about it. We use the output of the controller to turn other devices on and off that can handle much larger amounts of current - like transistors for example. So we're not really boosting the output - rather, we're using the output to control a "booster" so to speak.

-slim

I follow what your saying Slim...You could control a transistor or relay that can handle more power input/output. 

I also bought a "Tinker Kit" shield for the Arduino that came with several types of inputs...Hall monitor (magnet Switch), rotary and slide pots, touch sensitive pads, light sensitive resistor (photo Eye), push buttons, joy stick control. It included several devises for outputs to control... relays, LED's, RGB LED and a servo.

Here are some links for those following this topic to check out, links that I've been to that caught my interest on this subject. If your interested in tinkering in Electronics this stuff really can hook you.

Arduino: http://www.arduino.cc/
PICAXE: http://www.picaxe.com/
Tinker Kit: http://www.tinkerkit.com/ add on shield for Arduino
UDOO: http://www.udoo.org/
Raspberry Pie: http://www.raspberrypi.org/
Mouser: http://www.mouser.com/ Supplier of electronic components
Spark Fun: https://www.sparkfun.com/
Train Electronics: http://www.trainelectronics.com/ by David Bodnar (He might be a good choice for a future Clinic).
Aztec: http://www.aztecmcu.com/ MCU Prototyping, this is where I bought my PICAXE kit

[dougkast]

Now...once you've programmed your PICAXE chip and you want to power it using batteries I think you can use this product between the batteries and the chip/LED's to provide a constant 5VDC power to the chip for just 2.75 plus shipping. 7805 Step Down 7.5V-35V to 5V DIY Kit Power Supply.

EBay Link:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/130968593248?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648

[dougkast]

Say you have a haunted house (duh). You load it with lights and a sound module, like Big Sounds from Innovative Train Technology. Can you run those on a circuit to have fun with?

Here you go...a haunted house!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-TYSXVE_3I&list=PLsPrOtsqEChaR261p8w0CmNXu2xITY4Mt