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Slot Car Computerized Lap Timing and Counting
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This is a How-to done by
Brad Gnyp
on connecting Carrera track to wood (MDF). This process can be
done with any plastic track and would really cut down the cost
involved in creating a large 4 lane layout. The article is
exactly as seen on the online forums and I may get some updated
pictures to better describe the process.
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A few weeks back I said I would try to find my pictures of
the MDF-plastic track sections I had built. My track gets set up
and taken down with some regularity due to renovations, guests
etc. so I decided to modularize some sections to speed up the
process and lessen the chances of bad contacts or breakage. One
of the things I did was create some routed straights to save
money, free up plastic straights and save the time needed to put
four lanes, clips and such together. They are relatively robust,
stack against the wall when not in use and give me much longer
straights when the room is available. At six feet in length,
they each provide the equivalent of twelve plastic sections,
which is about $100 CDN to buy. Two sections replaces $200 of
plastic track.
I used for each section:
2 sections of Carrera track per straight $18.00 CDN
3 feet of 1/8 inch brass rod $ 3.00 CDN
50 feet of copper tape $2.00 CDN
half a sheet of 3/8 MDF cut to fit Carrera track $9.00 CDN
Tube of steel filled epoxy $ 4.00 CDN
2 feet of 16 gauge wire $0.50 CDN
4" X 4" sheet of .030 brass sheet cut to strips $0.50 CDN
2 feet of solder
Total cost is $ 37.00 CDN
I removed the Carrera rails from the track sections, using a
square and a razor saw, cut the plastic sections in half. A
Dremel cut off wheel helped to cut the steel rails in half and
smooth and polish the cut ends.
The MDF was cut to the same width as the Carrera track and the
slots routed 1/8 wide, with the same spacing as the Carrera
slots. Make sure your depth is the same or greater than the
plastic track you are mating to. Router out 1/4 in wide slots
about 2 inches from the end of each track slot, perpendicular to
the track slot. Each of these "T's" will be used to solder
connector wires from the copper tape to the plastic track steel
sections.
Calculate the EXACT length of the track sections you are trying
to replace and ensure the final length of your plastic - MDF
track section is the same. A mistake here will give you grief if
you are using a track planner to design layouts! Slots to fit
the connecting wiring were routed underneath the track surface,
at the ends. This is to give a "flush fit" when the track
section is laid on the floor or table.
2 inch pieces of brass rod were cut to tie the plastic and MDF
sections together; epoxy is just not strong enough for a
portable piece of track. Drill 1/8 inch holes in the MDF track
end and epoxy the brass rod sections 1" deep in the holes. |
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Use a large, flat file to smooth the ends of the cut plastic
track. A little care here will ensure a flush fit when the wood
and plastic are butted together.
Copper tape the slots on the MDF sections and ensure you wrap
enough tape over the end to prevent peeling. Place plastic and
MDF sections on a flat, clean surface, with the driving surface
down. Wax paper under the wood- plastic joint prevents any
sticking. Make sure the driving surface of both sections are
even and smooth. Sloppy work here gives you a bump on both ends.
Clamp all the sections down and lightly sand plastic track near
the brass rod ends (helps to give epoxy something to grab). |
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Apply steel filled epoxy around and over the brass rods
until a strong, even surface is created. Let set for 24 hours.
Cut wire pieces long enough to reach from the "T" slots to the
plastic track. Cut brass strips 3/16" wide by 2" long to solder
to wire pieces. Bend brass strips over to form friction fit
pieces to slide in steel rails. |
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Fit the cut steel rails back into plastic track and ensure
metal tabs are spread to keep the rails in place in the plastic
track.
Drill holes through track on either end of the routed "T's".
This is where the wire will go through to solder on to the
copper tape. Bend and flatten the wire end so that it sits flat
on the recessed copper tape. Solder the wire to the tape. A
piece of plastic in the car slot will ensure you do not spill
the solder in the car slot and create an obstruction for the
guide to catch on.
Slide the bent brass strip end into the steel rails and push the
wire into the routed area to make a flush bottom surface.
[edit] The Steel epoxy is conductive so be careful not to let it
touch the copper strips. |
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Good luck,
Brad Gnyp
aka GenXRacer |
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