How to make remote-controlled miniaturize electronic crane?

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RC Crawler Crane Plans - John-Tom Engine Plans

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For ideas on this, you might go to some Websites that deal with RC airplanes, or with miniature robotics such as robot sumo. Your 6vdc motors will probably need to be geared down to drive a spool for the lifting wire. A search on the term "gearmotors" is likely to help. The calculations for your project are just as intricate as for an industrial-scale job; except the numbers are smaller!

Here's a kit 1/12 scale $95...

http://www.hobbytron.com/RCTractorCrawlerCraneConstructionVehicle112JHC0805.html

Very cool item, my kids built one of these a few years ago.......fun item to use. 8-)

For a crane, I guess you miss one movement. How do you position the magnet above the load? For your cables you need to wind these on drums, that are connected to the shaft of your motor(s). Check also the RPM, torque and the possibility to keep all positions steady. Gearboxes, and brakes or permanent magnet DC motors could be necessary. You will also need to provide power to your magnet. This is not done by the steel cable.

For the remote system, each 3 channel RC kit will do. Or a RC transmitter and receiver with relays, If you want it perfect, you'll also have to be able to control the speed(s).

Meccano (usual disclaimer)?

For the mechanical part there are tons of options. That's not too hard and totally up to you.

For the electronical part I would get a standard RC equipment used by RC cars or planes. Buy it second hand!

You can then use one servo to rotate the crane. You can get a 180 degree movement without difficulty.

For the lifting of the load you will need to modify a servo to continuous rotation. That's very easy to do. Check out this link: https://encrypted.google.com/search?q=convert+servo+to+continuous+rotation

By mounting a drum on the servo shaft you can then control the lifting cable, even with variable speed.

Not including the crane, this project should cost you not more than $50 USD.

If you get 4 channel RC equipment you will be able to control more functions and build more elaborate cranes.

We had the Erector Sets here in the States. I spent many hours building things with my sets. I was pleasantly surprised to see Meccano was still available. Though these days its got mostly plastic parts instead of the metal of yesteryear.

The best place to start is your local model shop. You have not told us what materials you are going to use, but it could be wood, metal, plastic extrusion or Lego Technic. They can also advise you that you could probably buy a 2-channel transmitter/receiver combination complete with small model aircraft for less than the price of a 4-channel transmitter/receiver in a box set. It is possible, though, that the aircraft motor and its speed controller may not be powerful enough for your application. In any case, what you need to ask for is a transmitter-receiver combination with at least 2 channels, plus 2 electronic speed controllers (ESCs) with the appropriate current capability for your motors. If you have already got the motors, I hope they are already geared for low revs, otherwise you will have to use either gearboxes or a set of pulleys and belts to reduce 1000s of revs to 10s. The speed controllers come with the connections marked, 2 for the battery, a plug for the receiver and 2 for the motor. Good luck.

This may be of help. http://www.lionel.com/media/servicedocuments/36977198992501.pdf

We use LEGO mind storm. With one of their robot kits you can build anything you desire and learn about mechanics and automation at the same time. I don't k now where you are located but these kits (or similar ones) are available worldwide.

I am also working on a similar project, but with some differences, overall, I think you would find my experience useful.

I am employing 3 nos of 12 v motors for all three axes. (a) forward / backward (b) left and right and (c) up / down.

I have used Linx Technologies model TXE - 433 - KH2 model of Transmitter and RXD - 433 - KH2 as the receiver. These are simple to use and can provide 8 DI and 8 DO at transmitter and receiver respectively. No programmming required. 10 DI's for Addressing enable pairing the transmitter and receiver as well. Excercise caution while desiging the RF board.

The 8 DO's at the receiver end provide only momentary contact closure . Hence a small circuit is required to amplify the outputs to drive relays. With momentary type of contacts, the relays stays ON as long as you hold the key down. If you want to have latched contacts, (push to ON and push to OFF) type, then additional circuitry is required for converting the momentary contacts into latched ones.

It would be inappropriate of me not to mention the help I received from Mr. Craig of Linx Technologies. In his honor, I have named my project as CRand Interface Gadget (CRAIG).

In case you want any further details, mail me

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Good luck with your project.