How to build a remote controlled vehicle from scratch
Build the frame
Remote control cars provide entertainment for people of all ages. Making your own remote control car from scratch is challenging and rewarding and allows you to customize it, which is important if you intend to compete in races or tournaments. Remote control cars are controlled by radio signals and are powered by small electric motors.
The first step in building a remote control car is to create the structure. Attaches a one foot (30 cm) long by 6 inch (15 cm) wide rectangular steel plate with two small shafts. The front axle must have pivoting tips, which will allow the front tires of the car to turn left or right. In addition, the front axle will have the traction apparatus that will be connected to the electric motor and will propel the car.
It uses four steel clamps and four Phillips head screws to fix the axes of the plate. Cover the ends of the axles with graphite powder, and then attach the tires to the axles. Screw washers onto the ends of the axles to hold the tires in place. You can order the tires, axles and other parts for your remote control car from a parts supplier such as RC Hobbies.
Connect motor
The next step is to connect the remote control car engine. The motor is a two-way radio frequency electric motor that can be purchased from a hardware store or an industrial supplier. Screw the electric motor to the right front corner of the car’s steel plate, and then connect the motor wire to the copper ring around the right side of the front axle. The copper ring will transmit the electric current from the engine to the front axle and propel the car forward.
Next, connect the engine’s steering cable to the knob at the bottom right of the front axle. Twist the ends of the steering cable around the knob and wrap it tightly with your hands. This will tell the axle where to steer the front wheels of the car. Lastly, screw the antenna to the top of the electric motor. The antenna must be 6 inches (15 cm) high.
Build the remote control
The final part of building a remote control car from scratch is building the portable remote control device. You can buy the remote control box with a trigger from a parts supplier such as RC Hobbies. Mount two pairs of resistors to the inside wall of the box with rubber cement, leaving a gap of approximately one inch (2.5 cm) between the two pairs. Drill a small hole through the wall of the box in the center of the one-inch space, and insert a 4-inch (10.1 cm) steel bar through the hole.
Attach a rotating steel head with an electrode to the end of the bar inside the remote control box. The steel head should be one inch (2.5 cm) in diameter. The head will rotate through the pairs of resistors, and the interaction between the electrode and the resistors will create an electrometric pulse. This pulse is transmitted to the antenna on the car’s engine and tells the front wheels of the car which way to go. Fit a plastic knob to the end of the steel bar outside the box.
Next, connect the trigger to a pair of resistors by wrapping the edges of the trigger wire around the resistor and pressing it firmly into place. The trigger will control the speed at which the front axle of the vehicle will move, which controls the speed of the car. Close the remote control box by snapping the two halves together. Finally, screw the antenna on top of the remote control device. Your homemade remote control car is now ready for use.