Time flies when there is a virus around. Because of input from other web sites, I have added four motors to the overall study. These include:
- An Athearn Genesis motor
- A Cannon C-22 motor (in hand, requires hex drive shaft. Ordered from A-line)
- A Kato coreless motor ( in hand, really small. No fly wheels. Only one shaft with short length. Likely would need 2 with a creative mount. For now, this is not going to be part of the DOE)
- have found a Namiki coreless motor that is more compatibile with the conventional drive architecture. Will use this for now.
- A Chinese motor that was advertised as hi Torque.
To better evaluate the series. I have defined a series of DOE’s. Using a Taguchi orthogonal L design, four factors, 9 runs in each series. The data from these can be swapped when the “best” are identified.
The four factors are engine, motor, wheel material & size and engine weight increments. In each DOE there will be three of each variable. A series is required because currently there are six engines & nine motors. For now, the different axle number engines are in unique series for each.
Things like initial weight, wheel frame type & drive shaft configuration will be hidden in the engine variable. All in all it should be fun.
Obviously lots of tests & lots of data. Responses that I am tracking are maximum train length, performance characteristics, starting voltage, velocity and various power (current draw levels). These can be expanded depending on what is most enlightening.
the testing continues. Because of the addition of the wheel configuration as a factor, each engine-motor combination test is being performed with two wheel sets. This allows the potential to expand to other combinations.
additional responses have been added for overall understanding. Specifically, the speed & current draw (power) for the engine pulling 2X the number drive axles at both 0% & 2.5% grades.
more later.
