Here a fairly comprehensive list of the kind of things that could be made a part of the Meccano/MeccanIC system. Again keep in mind that this is the sum of all possibilities. Out of this we have to make selections that would be the most useful to the largest number of users to make the largest number of automatic/intelligent machines. Motors and related items DC motors. All on suitable plates and all with 5/32 inch shafts. Spare plates for alternate mountings on all except cheapest motors Mabuchi 600 motors Small Pittman motors Large Pittman motors Small Pittman motor with gearbox Large Pittman motor with gearbox Some Pittman motors can be special and have dual shafts. Pittman motors are rugged office equipment grade and are rated for 3000 hours of useful life. (That is very long.) Stepper motors Small stepper motors Large stepper motors Servo motors (these get expensive fast) Small servo motors Large servo motors Adapters to allow various motors shafts to convert to the Meccano size Power supplies 24 volt power supply small 1.5 Amps 24 volt power supply medium 3 Amps 24 volt power supply large 5 Amps All power supplies have to be totally enclosed (safe) type. Grounded. All transformers must be at the wall with only the 24 volts coming to our machines Motor controllers (see discussion elsewhere) DC Motor controller Motor speed controller for 2 motors Stepper Motor controller Servo Motor controller Switches and related devices Toggle switches Push button Momentary contact PB and toggle switchess Reversing switch On-Off switch on plate Two switch hole plate Three switch hole plate 6 switch hole plate. Microswitches Microswitch on plate Wheel type Leaf type Small one Left and right handed designs for all Magnetic Reed switches Magnet Proximity Too expensive Switch Plates Optical switches Small switch holder 1 hole Medium switch holder 3 holes Large switch holder 5 holes Cams for actuating switches. Cam for microswitch Optical switches. Optical flags. Special wheel and cams Cams for shafts. Relays DPDT Relays Connector system Connectors and bases Potentiometers Shafts must meet Meccano specs. Mounting plates Cards IBM-PC I/O card Controllers for motors, discussed in more detail elsewhere. Connector cards Input from computer cards Plain copper PC boards on carrier Pre drilled PC boards on carriers Cards and mounts for one and two line displays PC cards for microcomputers Batteries Charger Battery packs LEDs Need to incorporate LEDs into designs. Electronics Card carriers 1 line displays 2 line displays Led cards Connector cards Pneumatic cylinders etc Single acting Double acting Various lengths but all of one diameter of about 1/2; inch Control valves to suit cylinders. Two way, three way and four way. Vacuum cups Toggle switches for compressed air. Programmable Logic Controller (PLCs) are quite expensive. A minimal system would be in the neighborhood of $1000.00. (However I have discovered that often times you can buy a rather powerful older used controller for about $40.00 if you look carefully in the Ebay listings and are not in any immediate hurry. (Hint: Look for the smaller Omron S6 and 28 series controllers and the programmers for them). HOME MeccanIC INDEX |
List of devices that could be a part of Meccano/MeccanIC system. |
09 Apr 04 |