Mini-Dump Jr Gets a ** NEW MOTOR **

This original dump truck may be overlooked by the larger Mini Dump, but with a new “engine” this is a great model for younger makers as it uses fewer parts and can be printed quicker with less filament and has a long run time. With an N30 motor, the Jr Dump has all the power I need to haul small objects loaded into it by my mini skid steers. Free PCB design for 2S (8v) battery for more power and longer run time: The Mini-Skiddi and Dump models designed by Professor Boots have been extremely popular with builders. The original Mini-Dump (Jr) used a 1S 16430 battery that could be recharged via USB-C. This model worked well, but was a bit prone to having the regulator shut down if a servo stalled, or ran into a physical end-point. This remix uses a new custom PCB that allows a 2S Lipo battery to more easily power the electronics and offers longer run time without the tendency to shut down. Because it offers more current capacity, I successfully run this model with an N30 drive motor. You may find an N20 is fine; I just opted for a bit more torque. The chassis here supports both options. Since this is a modified version of the Professor Boots first mini-dump, you can find more information about the overall design in his original Printables link at the bottom. Be warned that I'm using a 450mAH Tattu 2S LiPo battery and the fit is tight. My dumpbed almost goes all the way down, but not quite. I expect a 300mAH Tattu 2S might be a bit better fit. However, the 450 Tattu works fine with the dumpbed lower limit adjusted slightly. Do not exceed 1A when charging a 300 or 450mAH LiPo battery! I've been running my current model for over an hour with the 450mAH battery without any unwanted shut downs. Magnetic Hood Closure This model features the magnetic hood enclosure also used on my previous remix of this model A new POWER SWITCH module The new PCB can be populated with a new “power switch” module from Pololu.com (2808). This module allows the user to shut down all power using a button on the PS3 remote, or a small remote physical button on the outside of the chassis. It also allows the model to be shut down after a certain period of inactivity (ie: 7 minutes). However, you can also install the original physically switch instead of the Pololu module. (use one OR the other). Front Wheel Bearing Mod Update: Bearing mod: Aug ‘24. Adding bearings to the front axles makes a huge difference in performance. The design is from Philipe Costa in the MiniDump remix area. I didn’t have his bearing so used what I had. You can use his parts, or my remixed STLs below. The bearing I used was the MR128. (8x12x3.5). When the back wheels push the front wheels with any weight, there is increased rolling resistance from the front wheel assembly. (You'll notice going backwards is much smoother than forwards) This bearing upgrade greatly reduces that resistance. Highly recommended. I used PETG for 3 of the 4 parts as PETG flexes and glides easier than PLA, but PLA may work fine. I included a picture of the assembly. The 2 bearings and the M3x12 screw are not in the current BOM. I recommend a 12v 200RPM motor for general use. If you wish it to be on a table top, you might want slower. A faster motor will yield less power. I didn't discover the bearing mod when I shot the video below, but after that addition, I highly recommend its smoother performance. I use VMQ Silicon O-Rings on the TPU 95A tires to give traction. Without these, the wheels will slip on a smooth surface. (VMQ 42mmOD, width 4mm) Custom Software Available In the files section below you will find a PS3 version of software that features: a battery monitor (flashes the headlights to indicate battery “fullness” ability to turn off Dump from remote or after a period of inactivity (7 minutes but customizable. (requires Pololu 2808 module) proportional throttle (you can go slow or fast) The PCB used in this remix is available at: https://github.com/crabbedh/RC_ControllerJr In the files section below you will also find: A materials list and assembly pictures An Arduino IDE PS3 Controller version of the software. This software requires that you use the Windows (only) app called SixAxisPairTool to either find the MAC address stored inside your PS3 controller, or to set the MAC address inside your PS3 controller to some value, such as: 1a:2b:3c:02:02:02 The software has copious notes in it to help you understand and modify it if you wish. The code uses the MAC address in the line above, so if you change your PS3 controller address, you will not need to modify the code. The software included in the files below uses specific board and libraries and might not compile if yours are newer. You can install older versions in the Arduino IDE. Select the ESP32 Devkit V1 board and I use the following board manager: ESP32 by Espressif System V2.0.17. Then ESP32Servo: version 1.2.1 and PS3 Controller Host (Pernis) V1.1.0.