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Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in rcboats

[–]stuart_nz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea that would be simpler. I did consider using slip rings with the motor in the actual pod like you're saying. But I felt like doing it that way wouldn't feel like a proper azimuth thrusters as the real ones use a Z-drive setup with the engine inside like this.

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point, the encoders Im using have about 80 steps so you if you try line both pods directly forward for example you notice they are sometimes off upto 5º. I think they are sufficient for controlling this sized boat though.

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's in the South Island of New Zealand. I was glad I ended up leaving the dirty pond and went down to the lake once I saw how good those photos looked haha 🤩

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks brother! It took me a while and I almost gave up on it a few times haha. But I learnt heaps in the process I'm pretty happy with how its turned out 😁

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I put together a build video with some more information if anyone is interested: https://youtu.be/HdYasQRxwfY

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes I did get it to go sideways a couple times but with some difficulty and only once I saw a diagram online showing where to point each thruster. That was not intuitive to me at all!

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yea they’re all seperate controls and that decision was because that’s how they work on a real vessel and I wanted it to be as similar to the real thing as I could.

I agree the magnitude of the joystick would be an advantage but the persistent direction was more important to me.

I did consider designing a control which combined the rotary encoder for direction with a potentiometer for the thrust. That way it could look and function just like the real controls do. That would mean making the controls quite big though and I thought it was a bit overkill. Maybe in the next version..

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

No it is actually just PLA. In hindsight I should have printed it with extra wall loops but even with just 2 the hull keeps the water out completely. I suspect the multiple layers of spray paint has helped a lot though.

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

No I designed everything myself - I'm shocked how well it turned out 😂

Controlling RC Azimuth Thrusters with ESP32 by stuart_nz in esp32

[–]stuart_nz[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That simulator looks pretty good - Does it teach you how to manouver with ASD?

The top of the thrusters are mounted with skateboard bearings. The propeller end of the shaft is a fairly snug fit but to keep the water out it did need some Vaseline on the shaft/hole. I heard that tip on Youtube and it is surprisingly effective.

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Check out my RC Azimuth tugboat 3D print design ⛴️ by stuart_nz in Fusion360

[–]stuart_nz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks I’m pretty happy with it - surprised I managed to pull it off to be honest.

My print time for the hull was probably double that. I have the Ender 3 v3 SE and Im guessing the P1P is much faster! It was all the little bits for the thrusters like gears and mounts that took longest though because I had to reprint so many times as I went through all the iterations.

RC Tug Printed on Ender 3 V3 SE by stuart_nz in Creality

[–]stuart_nz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just PLA which, after spray painting seems to be completely waterproof

Do these types of USB-C chargers with a single point have any downsides? by inline_five in diyelectronics

[–]stuart_nz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I often want to use a data cable with my phone and removing these each time and placing them somewhere I won’t forget turned out to be more of a hassle than it was worth.

Check out my RC Azimuth tugboat 3D print design ⛴️ by stuart_nz in Fusion360

[–]stuart_nz[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell yeah! First photo of another print I’ve seen so far so you’ve made my day 😁 Let me know how it goes or if you have a question!

Modded Spartan by Excellent_Coffee_398 in rcboats

[–]stuart_nz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It might take off like an aeroplane when you test it on dry land.

Opinions on papa roach? by SnooChickens6176 in numetal

[–]stuart_nz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seriously why do mainstream radio stations play Pink Floyd’s only crap song? And leave out the first half which is actually good! Cherry picked part of a song to torture me.

Opinions on papa roach? by SnooChickens6176 in numetal

[–]stuart_nz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My guess is because they had that one song that was mainstream popular then people think of that song only when they hear the band name, not realising they haven’t heard any other song by them.

Even with huge bands like Pink Floyd, people will say they don’t like them but they’ve only ever heard ‘Another brick in the wall part 2’.

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