MAKO Instructions V1.3

Transcription

Battle Adapter for Heng Long Tanks
Installation & Product Notes
RC Tanks Australia
Henson Rd Salisbury Qld
AUSTRALIA 4107
Website: rctanksaustralia.com
Email: [email protected]
1.1 INTRODUCTION:
Thank you for choosing a MAKO. Please read the following guide to help you with your
unit.
The MAKO was originally designed as a simple plug and play adapter for Heng Long
tankers to allow them to battle with Tamiya equipped Tanks while RETAINING the ability to
still fight with other Heng Long tanks. As of late March 2012, the ability to battle with WSN
tanks was added to the MAKOs growing list of features.
It's design concept was to allow anyone with a Heng Long tank to show up at our club
days and within seconds allow them to take their tank out onto the battlefield and have a
FUN battle with anyone. Alone, the MAKO was never meant to strictly adhere to any
particular battle system. To do so would increase both cost and complexity of installation.
The MAKO can be installed in seconds and also removed in seconds meaning that our
club can have a supply of MAKOs on hand for any new recruits. Hence we don't have to
tell anyone that they can't put their tanks onto our battlefield because they don't have a
$1000 plus tank setup. After all at the end of the day it is all about having a bit of fun. If
your club or you personally have such an overwhelming desire to conform to a particular
brands standard then there is only ONE option available to you – Buy it instead.
So if you are not hung up on rules and want more enjoyment from your hobby then read
on...
The Panzer III chassis upon which so many variants were produced. A no go
zone for those that stick to a particular brand only.
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107
2.1 AT A GLANCE:
1. The input connector for the MAKO. Plug the extension cable into this connector
(orientation pins up) and the other end into the IR port of the RX-18. This connector may
be present on your board as either a JST or simple 5pin header.
2. The output connector for the Mako. The Heng Long 5 pin connector cable that attaches to
the RX-18 IR connector is now attached here.
3. µController in socket: Early MAKOs are shipping with their micro-controllers present in an
IC socket. The IC socket is there to speed up production of the MAKO and allows users to
easily change chips. In the future additional MAKO options may become available. Users
may simply purchase these newer chips from RCTA or can return the original chip to RCTA
for re-programming.
4. AUX1 Output: On early versions of the MAKO board (such as in the picture above) this
output was present as a 2-pin connector for a LED. This has now been upgraded to a 3-pin
connector for an Anti-Track Recoil Circuit (ATRC) (sold separately). The ATRC removes all
of the undesirable Heng Long track effects such as track recoil, hit shudders and the death
spasm. (see Connecting an ATRC 3.1.1)
5. AUX2 Output: This output is for connection to either an LED driver board for the visual
indication of IR hits and programming status or to an upcoming MAMBA board. The
MAMBA board will control motor speed in relation to acquired 'battle damage'.
6. Service interface: For boards supplied without an IC socket a connector will be present at
this point. This connector allows us at RCTA to interface with the MAKOs micro-controller.
If no connector is present here your board will more than likely have a IC socket.
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107
3.1 INSTALLING THE MAKO:
The MAKO was designed to install in seconds with no modification required of a factory
fitted Heng Long IR Battle System. It is strongly suggested that the board is insulated in
some way. Either by the addition of some foam tape on the underside of the board or by
enclosing the entire board with the supplied shrink tube. The photos below show how to
install the earliest version of the MAKO board. Installation of all MAKO boards is identical.
Step 1: Get to your RX18 board
Step 2: Unplug the 5 pin connector at the IR port
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107
Step 3: Place the MAKO and plug in the extension cable.
Step 4: Plug the Heng Long 5 pin cable into the MAKO
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107
3.1.1 Connecting an ATRC (sold separately):
The photo above shows the connection of an ATRC unit with the MAKO. The ATRC unit is
connected to the AUX1 output of the MAKO via a 3 wire cable. Please note that the
orange signal wire connects to the outermost of the three pins. The red wire to each motor
needs to be cut and the ends attached to the screw terminals of the ATRC as shown.
Once connected the ATRC board eliminates all of those undesirable track effects such as
track recoil, hit shudders and the death spasm.
For further information on the ATRC unit please refer to its associated user instructions,
the current version of which can be downloaded here:
http://rctanksaustralia.com/manuals/ATRC_Manual.pdf
4.1 WHAT DOES IT DO? HOW DOES IT WORK?
The rcTABU MAKO is best thought of as a form of infra-red translator that is proficient in
Heng Long, Tamiya and WSN IR protocols. This allows a Heng Long tank fitted with a
MAKO to battle it out with tanks possessing either of these three battle systems. It's
primary function is translation of the IR codes. Because the system is design to work with
the RX18 unit battle functions are ultimately handled and set by the RX18.
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107
However, it is possible to 'trick' the RX18 in order to open up a few more possibilities and
conform somewhat to existing battle standards.
Some of these functions can be
achieved with the MAKO alone and the remainder achieved with the new MAMBA add-on
board. The functions that are achieved by the MAKO alone include Weight Class and
associated Reload Time.
4.1.1 Weight Class:
MAKOs are available in either Medium Tank or Heavy Tank versions.
Medium MAKO - 5 lives
Heavy MAKO - 9 lives
This does not mean you are not able to change weight classes. A Medium Tank MAKO
can be changed to a Heavy Tank MAKO and vice versa during setup (see MAKO
Programming). The default setting is what your MAKO will operate as unless you tell it
otherwise during setup. So if you plan to put your MAKO into a King Tiger then you should
get a Heavy Tank MAKO. Then if the situation arises where you may wish to run your KT
as a medium tank you can simply change the setting via IR during the startup
programming period. Once your battle is over and you turn off your tank it will revert back
to it's true Heavy Tank class.
NOTE: The MAKO operates in conjunction with the RX18. As such the MAKO cannot magically give the
RX18 features that it does not possess. Thus to achieve 9 lives the RX18 has to be 'tricked' into thinking it
has only been hit five times when in fact it has been hit 9 times. As a consequence every second IR hit will
only produce flashing of the hit indicating LEDs, there will be no response from the RX18 itself.
4.1.2 Reload Period:
The MAKO provides a reload period dependent on weight class. A standard RX18 permits
almost continuous firing of the main gun. Not really fair against those units that have a
reload time. Hence, the MAKO features a 5 or 9 second reload period during which the
RX18 will still fire the cannon but no IR will be sent from the MAKO.
Medium MAKO – 5 seconds
Heavy MAKO – 9 seconds
NOTE: The MAKO operates in conjunction with the RX18. As such the MAKO cannot magically give the
RX18 features that it does not possess. Since the RX18 allows continuous firing of the main gun the reload
feature ONLY applies to firing of the IR signal. Hence, during the reload period the RX18 will still fire the
cannon but no IR will be sent from the MAKO until the reload period expires (you will be shooting blanks so
to speak).
4.1.3 Battle Damage/Motor Speed:
At present there is no support for this function. However, this will change with the release
of the MAMBA board due mid 2012. A connection for this new board exists on all MAKOs
sold after 17th March 2012. Like the ATRC the MAMBA board is an option (sold
separately) and only required for use in tank club situations. The MAMBA will reduce tank
speed in line with the popular battle rules.
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107
After 1 hit: 50% speed (Heavy and Medium)
After 3 hits 25% speed (Medium)
After 5 hits 25% speed (Heavy)
5.1 MAKO PROGRAMMING:
As of 17th March 2012 all MAKOs now feature a programming period during which flashing
the sensor with an IR signal will change the Weight Class of the unit. When the MAKO
system is properly connected and the Heng Long circuitry is turned on the hit indication
LEDs will flash rapidly for approximately 3 seconds indicating the MAKO is in
'programming mode'. If an IR signal is flashed at the sensor mushroom (practically any 38
kHz IR signal will do) the MAKO will change from its default weight class. For example if
you flash a Heavy MAKO with an IR signal during the programming period the LEDs will
cease flashing rapidly and proceed to five slow flashes indicating that you now have the 5
lives setting for the medium weight class. Flash a Medium MAKO during the programming
period and the LEDs will flash slowly for 9 times indicating the 9 lives for a Heavy Tank.
6.1 RoHS INFORMATION:
As of 17th March 2012 all MAKOs are assembled using lead-free solder and as of April
2012 all PCBs manufactured and sold by RCTA will be finished using lead-free techniques.
Wherever possible RoHS compliant components are used on all PCBs.
7.1 QUALITY ASSURANCE AND WARRANTY:
Wherever possible every MAKO is fully tested after final assembly. This includes
connecting to a working RX18 unit. Each unit is test fired and the results checked on an
oscilloscope. However, due to an actual human assembling the boards and doing these
tests mistakes will inevitably occur. As such all RCTA products are guaranteed for a period
of 6 months against manufacturing defects. In such cases these units can be returned in
an unmodified state to RCTA for refund or replacement.
8.1 SUPPORT:
For support related issues please visit the RC Tanks Australia Forum first:
http://rctanksaustralia.com/forum
Otherwise send an email to:
[email protected]
That's about all there is to the MAKO for now.....
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
RC Tanks Australia would like to thank a number of people that have helped with the
MAKO project. Firstly, to Dave, who when told his Heng Long tank cannot battle with the
clubs Tamiya Brigade asked the simple question why? To all the other members of the
Moreton Bay Remote Control Tank Club especially, Mark, Dave, Chris and Ken the original
MAKO test pilot. Finally, a very big thanks to Ger Hanssen whose input has been
invaluable and much appreciated.
DISCLAIMER:
This product is not a toy and is intended for use only by hobbyists over the age of 14 years
for the building of detailed and faithful scale models. Installation of this product is at your
own risk. No liability is accepted for any damage to existing circuitry during installation or
use of this product.
RC TANKS AUSTRALIA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE TO
ANY PRODUCTS HEREIN TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY, FUNCTION, OR DESIGN. RC TANKS AUSTRALIA
DOES NOT ASSUME ANY LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF THE APPLICATION OR USE OF ANY PRODUCT
OR CIRCUIT DESCRIBED HEREIN; NEITHER DOES IT CONVEY ANY LICENSE UNDER ITS PATENT
RIGHTS, NOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. THESE SPECIFICATIONS DO NOT EXPAND THE TERMS OF
RC TANKS AUSTRALIA’S WORLDWIDE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, SPECIFICALLY THE WARRANTY
THEREIN, WHICH COVERS THESE PRODUCTS.
RC Tanks Australia
AUSTRALIA 4107

MAKO Instructions V1.3

Transcription

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