User Tools

Site Tools


public:warwick

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revisionPrevious revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revisionBoth sides next revision
public:warwick [2019/07/28 17:58] – [2019 Meetings] MikePpublic:warwick [2019/12/28 19:22] – [2020 Meetings] MikeP
Line 310: Line 310:
  
 The soldering advice and hands-on sessions delivered by**<color #ed1c24>John Gowers</color>** are always in demand. John always encourages members to "have a go" especially with SMD components. John also provides the Area Group Kit locker for the members during the lunch break. The soldering advice and hands-on sessions delivered by**<color #ed1c24>John Gowers</color>** are always in demand. John always encourages members to "have a go" especially with SMD components. John also provides the Area Group Kit locker for the members during the lunch break.
 +{{:public:wno_2019_july_3_simon.jpg?400|}}
 +{{ :public:wno_2019_july_4_simon.jpg?400|}}
  
 Small groups of members often form around new demonstrations.  Small groups of members often form around new demonstrations. 
 Here, **<color #00a2e8>Simon West</color>** is seen leading the discussion around technology which will be implemented shortly on the LWMRS Duxbury 00 gauge layout. Here, **<color #00a2e8>Simon West</color>** is seen leading the discussion around technology which will be implemented shortly on the LWMRS Duxbury 00 gauge layout.
  
-{{:public:wno_2019_july_3_simon.jpg?400|}} 
-{{ :public:wno_2019_july_4_simon.jpg?400|}} 
  
  
  
-<color #ed1c24>**Further 2019 meetings will be held on the following dates**</color>+<color #ed1c24>**SEPTEMBER 21st 2019**</color> 
 + 
 +Another strong attendance at this meeting, the fifth in the yearlong series, **“CBUS from Soup to Nuts”**, heard about **three different approaches to control panels**. 
 +  
 +**<color #00a2e8> Mike Plowman </color>** kicked off with a simple panel using Veroboard to eliminate individual wires to the LED’s and switches. Mike explained the use of Microsoft Word ® to create the track plan on a one tenth grid to match the hole pattern of the Veroboard. Although the example was a small panel, the same technique had been used on the large control panel of Kineton, the LWMRS N gauge exhibition layout. 
 + 
 +**<color #00a2e8> Simon West </color>** showed how the two control panels on the LWMRS 00-gauge layout, Duxbury, had been developed. The main panel, which is four feet across, allows two operators to simultaneously change points or set routes. This led Simon to explain the importance of diodes in the push button matrix circuit. He showed how matrices of the CANPAN, CANLED64 and CANACE3 are structured and how back of panel wiring is simplified. 
 + 
 +{{:public:1_group_view.jpg?400 |}} 
 +Finally, **<color #00a2e8> John Gowers </color>** showed how he developed panels for his garden railway from early plywood prototypes through to custom PCB designed using Eagle ®. John discussed the changes which have been implemented in the manner of control of the LWMRS 0-gauge exhibition layout Kimble. The six operators use MERG CABs to control the locos and with the need to drive to the signals, the operators need to have accurate indication of loco position when approaching a signal provided on a small indication panel next to the operator position. He also discussed plans for future developments. 
 + 
 +The main event in the afternoon workshops was the demonstration by Simon West and then a hands-on session for members of writing firmware using the PICKit 3. Simon recommended the use of the ZIF socket method to write the firmware and using this, Simon was able to show how easy and straight forward the process is using the correct tools. 
 + 
 +**<color #00a2e8> Mike Collins </color>**  brought part of his home layout for advice regarding the implementation of CANMIO Universal firmware to operate a mixture of servos and relays. An interesting discussion involving several members enabled Mike to make significant progress.  
 + 
 +{{:public:img_0343.jpg?400 |}} 
 +{{ :public:img_0345.jpg?400 |}} 
 +{{ :public:img_0347.jpg?400 |}} 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +<color #ed1c24>**November 30th **</color> 
 + 
 +The largest attendance of the year for the final meeting of our CBUS from Soup to Nuts Series - 41 members squeezed into the LWMRS clubroom’s library.  
 + 
 +Many members had recently attended the Gaydon show (where Duxbury had featured) or Warley (where Kimble had won two awards) and used the informal get together at the start of the meeting to gather more information about the CBUS implementations on these layouts. 
 + 
 +The theme of this meeting was “Making Detection Useful”. That is, how to use information collected from movements on the track to either control, display or identify the stock. Three different approaches were presented. 
 + 
 +Bob Mercer, was unable to attend the meeting but he had prepared a video to show how he had used MERG Hectors at strategic positions in a small inglenook layout to detect not only the end positions of sidings but also to ensure that locos cannot run into incorrectly set points. The layout uses a combination of MERG CBUS modules and MERG DCC with a CBUS connected Arduino to provide automation and sound effects. 
 +This layout had recently attracted much interest at the Gaydon and Warley shows and was available in the afternoon for members to try. 
 + 
 +David Thomas discussed his latest adventures with RFID. He showed how the RFID coils could be removed from low cost key fobs. These coils could be carefully reshaped to even fit inside an N Gauge vehicle. David has spent a significant amount of time researching RFID components to limit the cost of implementing the technology. He was able to demonstrate detection of individual locos which could then be linked to announcement systems both visual and sound. 
 + 
 +Finally, Tony Chamberlain expanded on his MERG Journal article (2019 – 2 – p13) – A Magnetic Identity. He showed how with a series of up to six “nano” magnets, 72 separate vehicles could be uniquely identified. Also, as the identity is unique, the direction of travel can be identified. Tony had used a Hall sensor attached to an Arduino to prove his concept using an N gauge locomotive. 
 + 
 +The presentations for this meeting and all previous meetings dating back to May 2017 can be found on the MERG Wiki. 
 +==== 2020 Meetings ==== 
 +Meetings are planned for the following dates: 
 + 
 +  * January 25th 
 +  * March 28th 
 +  * May 23rd 
 +  * July 25th 
 +  * September 26th 
 +  * November 21st
  
-  September 21st +All meetings are held at the club rooms of the <color #00a2e8>**Leamington and Warwick Model Railway Society**</color> (www.lwmrs.co.uk)
-  November 30th+
  
  
public/warwick.txt · Last modified: 2023/09/05 15:40 by simonwest

Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki