Bruder Excavator RC conversion - 3D printed overview
Its been a while since I last published a video. I’ve been busy designing and refining new Bruder RC conversions. I am now going for full ‘earth rating’ on the big plant – so it has been a lot more challenging to achieve using budget components. The excavator make-over (using the scratch built one that I made before I got my Prusa I3s printer - as a basis) is now operating on 12v using much larger and or more powerful motors. To achieve 12v I recently discovered very high capacity (more than 8,000 mAh capacity) 8.4v low lost bicycle light batteries that come with a charger. To achieve 12v I used a step up board (with a digital display) – which also acts as a buffer to the batteries auto cut off kicking in when the ESCs arm. I was pleased to find very small low cost 2s/3s ESCs in order to take full advantage of the 12v which has enabled a better power speed compromise. In the video, the excavator is digging through very wet earth – which it still manages to do, if it had been drier this would have been much easier to dig.
All of the files can be found by following this link at Thingiverse: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:455...
UK links to some of the components used (some are affiliate which helps justify the channel in the RC Modders household!):
Track motors 25mm 60 RPM 12v x2 : https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53...
Boom ram motors 130 gearbox motors 100 RPM 12v x2: https://amzn.to/2CLRBOj
Dipper / bucket ram motors 130 gearbox motors 200 RPM 12v x2: https://amzn.to/3g6atpq
Rotation worm drive motor 6v 30 RPM x1:https://amzn.to/2EswH7f
Lead screw rods T8-2 thread: https://amzn.to/39yr82u
2s/3s speed controllers x7: https://uk.banggood.com/custlink/KD3Y...
Very small micro switches x 8: https://amzn.to/2BGlxL8
Slip ring (at least 4 wires) to allow continuous rotation of cab: https://amzn.to/3jGS9p4
8.4v Li Ion 8,000 mAh battery (and charger if poss): https://amzn.to/3117CIi
Step up voltage regulator: https://amzn.to/30OWY7e
External BEC (red wires on ESCs all cut as not powerful enough): https://uk.banggood.com/custlink/mGKy...
Sound unit with big speaker: https://uk.banggood.com/custlink/DmGd...
Light / sound control powered by receiver: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-53...
sound volume pot with long shaft: (need to find link)
22 AWG wire use throughout: https://amzn.to/2EsG2vP
10 ch transmitter / receiver: https://amzn.to/334mV5E
6 m2.5 countersunk bolts for the ram motors : https://amzn.to/39znsgZ
Selection of M3 metric hex bolts of various lengths and heads (pan, countersunk, dome) plus a few normal and nyloc nuts - I usually by multipacks from amazon - here are some I bought recently:
https://amzn.to/304Bmog
https://amzn.to/2P2CjXR
https://amzn.to/33frZnR
https://amzn.to/3f7YPJl
That's most of the stuff that a person might need to order. I'll add anything I think of during the build.
US links (again some are affiliate):
(to follow)
A decent soldering iron (station) is a good idea (https://amzn.to/2P0Vzor). Plently of small (2 and 2.5mm heatshrink). I used my Prusa I3s printer with Prusa PETG filament. I'm not going to be printing sets of parts or custom builds for this one - it would be economic as the prints take a long time. Compared to a well known brand of Bruder conversions, this model is very good value for money - maybe its time to take the plunge and buy a printer? I cannot recommend the Prusa I3s highly enough!
I will at some point get around to making a detailed build series. Before I do this I want to finalise designs for the A60H, big track loader revamp and the D11 bulldozer.
As ever please feel free to comment & ask questions etc.
Hope you enjoy this first instalment!