MattzoBricks Integration

[Max]

I would like to see the latest community integrations of the MattzoController Family. Of course I’ll start 🙂

A casing for a controller and 4 AAA batteries.

Maybe a final version. First tests are in progress!

A integration of two MC4PF are also planned. More electronic components are on the way..

Greetings Max

• This topic was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Max.
• This topic was modified 4 years, 3 months ago by Max.

[Max]

Based on the latest build I soldered a MTC4PF. Its my firt conroller and it does work. Nevertheless I am not completely satisfied due to the fact that is does not fit in the front of my Emerald Night 😉

But here are some shots I’ve taken:

The wireing diagram.

As everything, at the end you improve and next time you can do it a bit better 🙂

Cheers!

[Douwe Pen]

I used a esp12 mini. It’s same size as the motor shield. I hot glue those 2 together and it’s only a little unit which fits in small spaces

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Douwe Pen.

[Max]

Hey Douwepen, what a good tip, thank you!
Over night I had a idea how to get rid of the cableing to the motor shild.

Can’t wait to start the next soldering session 🙂

[Zoltan]

Sorry double but I cannot delete it!

[Zoltan]

As for the D1 mini also has 9 usable pins D0- to D8, I shall also try to do it with D1 instead of NodeMCU, in the next project. The current test one ist big enough vor a NodeMCU:

I

[Max]

Good morning Lego Automation Enthusiasts!

I’ve managed to solder a much improved version of a MTC4PF. It features a on/of button, battery and LED connector and is due to less wireing less vulnerable to pysical movement.

It is 55mm in lengh, 25mm in width and 20mm in height.

Altough very compact the height can be improved if a L9110 motor controller without pre soldered pins is used.

But enough sad, have a look 🙂

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Max. Reason: 3677 preview added

[Nikos Lygizos]

The test truck with the following MattzoControllers and components is fully operational and can run 2 PU locomotives in fully automatic/random Rocrail mode!

1. 4 TrixBrix switches
2. 4 TrixBrix servos
3. 2 TrixBrix Signals
4. 1 MattzoTrainController for Powered Up (MTC4PU)
5. 1 MattzoSwitchController
6. 1 MattzoSensorController
7. 1 MattzoSignalController
8. 8 Reed Switch GPS-14A 14mm
9. 1 Crocodile Locomotive
10. 1 Cargo Locomotive

Enjoy!
Nikos

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Nikos Lygizos. Reason: added images

[Zoltan]

I did not find a topic in the Forum for showing “own project efforts”, so I made up one, for I did not know, where to put my “project report”. Users can show here their own projects for other users.

[Zoltan]

Wie schon erwähnt, MattzoBricks Lego Automation hat mich fasziniert!
Aber ich habe keine Lego Züge. Ich wollte es aber trotzdem ausprobieren. So habe ich das Projekt etwas geändert (in den Äusserlichkeiten), und auf Spur G als Test umgesetzt. Hier ist ein Bericht über mein “Testprojekt”.

[Max]

Dear all,
I’m really proud to reveal the latest and finished MTC4PF build of a 3677 loco.
Due to the required space for the electronic components I’ve redesigned the front from scratch.
Powered from two motors and with an over all weight of around 460g, she has enough torque to pull at least some wagons 🙂
Enough sad, please find the pictures below.

Greetings Max

rebrickable.com – MOC-68258

Studio Prebuild.

Two batteries are narrow but possible.

The loco with its friend the MattzoSwitchController.

More to come.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Max.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Max.

[Max]

Nice project Zoltan!!

The topic you’re looking for could be the mattzobricks-integration topic.

[Zoltan]

You are right, it could be, but I was not sure, for this is something overall-global.

Mattze can perhaps shift my post to there, if he wants to.

The single controller films I put into the corresponding threads.

[Leo]

Small protoshield for the D1 mini, it’s compatible with the sensor and switch controller:

2 servos attached

with reed contact

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Leo.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Leo.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Leo.
• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Leo.

[Max]

Although I do like the flexibility of your protoshield integration, it’s very unusual to need so much port isn’t it 🙂

[Max]

Hey Community!
I’ve managed to finish the third and yet the best variant of a MTC4PF based on a D1 mini.
It is 60mm in lengh, 25mm in width and 15mm in height.

Yet the best combination and I would recommend the solution for locos like Lego 3677 or any other model with similar mount of space.

Here some pictures.

Greetings Max

[Leo]

Nice work! How did you get 5 volt for the D1 mini?

[Max]

Hi Leo!
To be honest, I did not. 😉
I’ve read Source and decided to give it a try on the breedboard first.
With the 8.4V Lipo it does work well.

[Leo]

I have tested a powerbank with USB C power delivery as an alternative powersource for the trains.

The small decoy/trigger board between powerbank and nodemcu/L9110 tells the powerbank to deliver 9V.

Unfortunately the 50cm USB C to USB C cable takes alot of space.

It works quite well, the powerbank has 5000mAh/18,5Wh and its power switch can be toggle through the roof of the BR 146 loco.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Leo.

[Max]

For the moment, the last and most challenging loco I’ve built so far.
There is so less space that I was forced to omit the PCB Board end even rewire the motor.
Fragile but it fits and does work!!

By the way, it was the very first Lego loco I’ve got more than 25 years ago.
The original motor still works fine and holds the personal record in pulling the most waggons.
But with the new Mattzo features it reaches a complete whole new level 🙂

[Matthias Ender]

Your “casing for a controller and 4 AAA batteries” is realy nice work. could you give more informations to this? could you give us the link to your buildplan of the casing?

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Matthias Ender.

[Max]

Hi Matthias,

I’ve created a new MOC on rebrickable.com. But the admins need to approve the MOC first.
In the mean time, please find some details here:

– wanted list: Switch_case_v3_list
– batterie case: 4 AA Case

And some pictures of the case:

[Matthias Ender]

Nice work. How did you connect the 4xAA to the board? Is there anything between, or did you connect it direct?

[Max]

You can connect it directly.
But as you probably want to connect several switch motors too, place a small PCB board between it to share VIN and GND.

You can use a PCA9685 to extend the ESP ports and VIN and GND too.
But the v3 case isn’t designed for the use of the PCA9685 extender.

[Max]

There it is: Switch_case Instruction.

[Zoltan]

Unfortunately I cannot use it – I cannot run Studio on Linux.

[Matthias Ender]

My plan for a sensorunit:

The idea with the battery box was great!!! Works better then with usb cable.

• This reply was modified 4 years, 6 months ago by Matthias Ender.

[Meinhard]

Hi,
although we haven’t finished the automation yet, we wanted to motorize our steam train.
Inspired by this side and all this helpful information I built a controller for this train based on an Wemos D1 mini (ESP8266) and added a web page based remote control.
Whenever we completed the automation setup, I will be able to flash the MTC4PF firmware and control the train with it.
As most of the time with projects like this, it’s not complete but usable.
The complete description can be seen over at GitLab:
project BiM4PF @ GitLab

The whole thing is powered by two 18650 LiPo batteries and I was surprised myself that those provide enough power to drive the train at a considerable speed.

I tried to add an extensive
hardware documentation including a complete list of electronics and bricks (sets) used.

I hope it will be useful for someone.

The project page has some more pictures too.

[Max]

A short integration of a switch servo case:

Instruction: rebrickable – MOC-74140

Servo: SG90

How to cut switches: LEGO Train Junction “Outward” Hack, Simple LEGO Train Hack : Shorter Junctions and Crossover

If they are available, you can buy relatively good and cheap switches here: steingemachtes.de

• This reply was modified 4 years, 5 months ago by Max.

[Max]

I am very proud to introduce my latest project:

The dual motorized 10194 Emerald Night loco!

I ever wanted to optimize it’s motorization with one goal in mind. Keep the drivers cabin somehow in place. The solution was, to place two PF L motors in the front. And here it is!

Some summarized facts:
– Electronic components can be stored in the tender
– Two PF L motors in the front to power the loco
– Traditional motorization with IR receiver is not tested

The instruction can be found here: rebrickable.com – MOC-77974

And of cause a bit of a preview:

• This reply was modified 4 years, 4 months ago by Max.

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