Search found 494 matches

by quadad
Sun Feb 21, 2016 6:56 pm
Forum: Solenoid Start Gates
Topic: Solenoid Start Gate Circuit
Replies: 81
Views: 131421

Re: Solenoid Start Gate Circuit

Either you will need to control the timer on one COM port and the solenoid on the other or build a port splitter (1 DB9F and 2 DB9M) and wire it up accordingly. Personally, I favor not activating the solenoid with the computer. I have a remote switch that I plug into my solenoid unit and I call up ...
by quadad
Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:58 pm
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: Approx. how much time do you spend on the build of a car?
Replies: 38
Views: 48536

Re: Approx. how much time do you spend on the build of a car

Very nice Stan. Congrats to your grandson !
by quadad
Sat Sep 27, 2014 8:59 am
Forum: Do-It-Yourself
Topic: A Different Approach to Multi-Point Lane Timings
Replies: 5
Views: 12144

Re: A Different Approach to Multi-Point Lane Timings

Hi Stan, I could look this up, but I am pretty confident that the gate switching delays would be on the order of nanoseconds (10-9 power), and WAY, WAY out of the picture here. I haven't read all the background, but what is the intent/expected benefit of the daisy chain sensor arrangement ? I haven'...
by quadad
Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:04 pm
Forum: GrandPrix Software Central
Topic: Performance Tracking Software
Replies: 35
Views: 53582

Re: Performance Tracking Software

I think it's clear what you meant now. Maybe "segment" time is a good term ?
by quadad
Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:22 am
Forum: GrandPrix Software Central
Topic: Performance Tracking Software
Replies: 35
Views: 53582

Re: Performance Tracking Software

Bracketracer, are you set up for six sensors, or expect to be ? I could see someone using up to that many, especially with the newer, lower cost, non-display oriented timing systems. But it would seem to me to be pretty much the upper limit of practicality. I suspect that if someone started with 6-8...
by quadad
Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:29 pm
Forum: GrandPrix Software Central
Topic: Performance Tracking Software
Replies: 35
Views: 53582

Re: Performance Tracking Software

I think that if the software included columns of data for: Car, Date, Run Number (starts at 1 each day); and then 2-4 'user defined' columns (e.g. car setup), ALONG WITH up to four timing sensor inputs (relative to the start sensor, that would be SWEET ! The output needs to be easily imported into M...
by quadad
Mon May 19, 2014 1:08 pm
Forum: CO2 Powered
Topic: Blast Car Ideas
Replies: 8
Views: 23260

Re: Blast Car Ideas

Well it was a one-day (hour or two) build and I guess it was worth it since it was fun seeing it run and I had some success. I had to keep it simple with the time crunch, but here are some design/build aspects (not sure any is the best advice, just documenting what I did): - Wheelbase was 7 5/8"...
by quadad
Sun May 11, 2014 11:31 am
Forum: CO2 Powered
Topic: Blast Car Ideas
Replies: 8
Views: 23260

Re: Blast Car Ideas

Very cool ! :bigups: Thanks Whoda !

That's not a world from what I am thinking (and has given me a thought or two).

Where are your eyelets at and how far off the ground do you have the holes ?
by quadad
Fri May 09, 2014 6:15 am
Forum: CO2 Powered
Topic: Blast Car Ideas
Replies: 8
Views: 23260

Re: Blast Car Ideas

The Blast Car program was ended by BSA at the end of 2013. :shake: I had heard something about that. It's a good reason to not 'invest' in stuff for continued racing, but it has absolutely no bearing on my plans or the upcoming race. We're still building and racing. There is a good chance that we w...
by quadad
Wed May 07, 2014 11:28 am
Forum: General Car/Truck Racer Topics
Topic: opinions on fenders good or bad
Replies: 13
Views: 20447

Re: opinions on fenders good or bad

I helped a young Scout speed up his car before his District race recently. We made very small fenders out of balsa, glued the back of aluminum weight pocket tape to them (so they could be easily removed) and tested a graphite car with them first only on the rears and then on all four wheels. It was ...
by quadad
Wed May 07, 2014 6:58 am
Forum: CO2 Powered
Topic: Blast Car Ideas
Replies: 8
Views: 23260

Re: Blast Car Ideas

I had another thought on the wheels/cant. Since there are no restrictions on what you can do to the wheels, I am wondering if using an old fashioned "H" pattern cut into the tread wouldn't be the sweet way to go along with flat "axles" (screws). This is almost always outlawed wit...
by quadad
Tue May 06, 2014 8:14 am
Forum: CO2 Powered
Topic: Blast Car Ideas
Replies: 8
Views: 23260

Blast Car Ideas

I decided to take the plunge and build one of these for an upcoming Scouting event. I haven't learned much about what people are doing to make these fast yet though. So far I am planning on the following: - 4 wheels all touching - Canted rear axles - Pointed nose - Wide Profile - Rear wing above the...
by quadad
Mon Nov 11, 2013 8:58 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Thin car blues
Replies: 15
Views: 19145

Re: Thin car blues

birddog - most any hobby store should have 1/32" and 1/64" plywood (not balsa) in the same area as the balsa. Don't expect a lot of strength obviously from the 1/64" but it can do a few good things as can the 1/32".
by quadad
Fri Nov 08, 2013 8:11 pm
Forum: Car & Semi-Truck Construction
Topic: Thin car blues
Replies: 15
Views: 19145

Re: Thin car blues

If I start with BSA type pine, my traditional process is something like this: - Check plumb of my table saw blade with machinist square, cut a test board and verify with cheap digital caliper; - Trim the large blocks down to (3) 5/16" planks using my table saw with a very good blade and fence; ...
by quadad
Mon May 07, 2012 10:15 am
Forum: New Directions
Topic: Multi-Timer setup to capture performance data
Replies: 3
Views: 10538

Re: Multi-Timer setup to capture performance data

Fantastic idea John !!! Need a place to store some samples ?!?!