Turntable

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This turntable controler is built using a old scanner stepper motor (I find they are usually good a they come with mounting brackets and belt reduction systems), IR sensors from a old mouse, A standard L293D stepper motor controler (from maplins) and a pic (16f627) to control things.

First i built a standard pic and stepper motor Circuit (I will write more detials on stepper motors latter)

Then mounted a PCB on the stepper motor bracket and soldered in place the salvaged IR sensor and LED from the mouse (I put the sensor on the inside of the wheel as it gave the best results). Then i driled to small holes at 180 degess in the main wheel (more could be added but our turntables only have one exit and are only for turning the loco's around).

Then after a lot of trail and error from the code and getting the alignment right on the sensor, I got it working

The code contains comments, and even a bit to make the direction random (I have set ours to turn right, operation is a simple question of pushing the button, and if you have many exits then simply holding down the button will make it skip a exit.

30 August 2007

Today i managed to get the circuit working on a stipboard layout (simular to below but with a few corrections). I will draw it up soon

Instalation next, so hopefully more pics