Here it is, my return to center steering tutorial. First off, return to center is really simple, so to make this tutorial longer, I've decided to add all the steering alignment terms, and what they mean. They are:
1. Camber
2. Caster
3. Toe
1. CAMBER
to have camber, look at your vehicle from the front, now imagine a line drawn through the center of your tire. This is the camber line.
As shown by the picture above, you can have positive camber,(+) negative camber,(-) or no camber (0). Camber can affect your tire wear, and the friction of the tires to the road. If you have too much camber, the tires only grip with the edges, reducing traction.
2. CASTER
Look at your vehicle from the side, and imagine a line drawn through the center of the tire. Caster is the angle at which the tie rods are mounted realitive to the axle.
Caster, as with camber can have positive and negative angles. On real vehicles, caster is one way to get the wheels to return to center. A positive caster angle is put on the tie rods, and the weight of the vehicle forces the wheels back to center.
3. Toe
I have already covered this one, but I'll briefly go over it again. The toe is viewed from the top or bottom of the vehicle. Toe in, refers to the tires angling toward the front center of the vehicle. Toe out, the tires are angled away from the front center of the vehicle.
Now for the return to center steering. For our purposes, the easiest thing to do is put rubber bands on your steering arms. Make sure they are mounted at an angle tho, or else your steering will not return to center. This is only one way to have the steering return to center, but there are many other ways.
You maybe wondering why should I add this to my vehicle? It makes your vehicle easier to control, and more stable.
Quoting Alex B
Hello,
I have a couple of questions I have used your system (which is Fabulous!) But I changed it a little bit. But any ways It does not go back to the center right away after you stop turning the motor like it should. Could it be that I had to triple rap my rubber band? Thanks~Alex
Thanks for your comment. It really depends on the weight of your vehicle. The heavier it is, the more rubberband power you need to return it to center. With the triple wrapped rubberbands, does it return faster?
Hello,
I have a couple of questions I have used your system (which is Fabulous!) But I changed it a little bit. But any ways It does not go back to the center right away after you stop turning the motor like it should. Could it be that I had to triple rap my rubber band? Thanks~Alex
Quoting Marcus Paul
From the photo I also would have guessed that the rubber bands are to weak, the video shows it works fine. But if you have a heavy vehicle will the wheels move that easily? - Anyway many thanks for the tutorial, there should be more stuff like this on the 'pages ...
For a heavier vehicle, you might want to put another set of rubber bands on it. Thanks, I think my next tutorial will be a gear box one. Also I invited you to a technic building tips group. So you can see more of these tutorials.
From the photo I also would have guessed that the rubber bands are to weak, the video shows it works fine. But if you have a heavy vehicle will the wheels move that easily? - Anyway many thanks for the tutorial, there should be more stuff like this on the 'pages ...
Quoting Henrik Hoexbroe
Thanks for the post, but I still dont get it; After the motor has turned the wheels, is it the force of the rubber-bands alone that return the wheels AND THE MOTOR(!) to the center? -Isn´t the geared down motor too hard to turn for the rubber-bands¿? (Or the force of the rubber-bands is very high¿?) I would think that the motor had to be uncoupled from the linkage first...
The force of the rubberbands do turn the wheels, and the motor to center. I did not gear the motor down too much. I thought that the motor had to be uncoupled too, but I tested it out, and as you can see from the video, it works very nicely.
Thanks for the post, but I still dont get it; After the motor has turned the wheels, is it the force of the rubber-bands alone that return the wheels AND THE MOTOR(!) to the center? -Isn´t the geared down motor too hard to turn for the rubber-bands¿? (Or the force of the rubber-bands is very high¿?) I would think that the motor had to be uncoupled from the linkage first...
Looks great, I am trying to get something Technic on the board to add to your new group, be patient with me, I haven't forgot about the new group! Chris
Quoting Ryan Chevalier
Very helpful tutorial. Currently planing a RC Class 1 buggy that could use some of these techniques. Also where can I get some of those tires? Those would be perfect.
They are just standard technic tires, size: 62.4 X 20s I'm sure you can get them from brick link, or off the lego website.
Very helpful tutorial. Currently planing a RC Class 1 buggy that could use some of these techniques. Also where can I get some of those tires? Those would be perfect.
Quoting Chris Melby
Looks great, I am trying to get something Technic on the board to add to your new group, be patient with me, I haven't forgot about the new group! Chris
Thanks, Haha no worries, don't feel pressured, building under pressure, can cause mild headaches, blisters, and stress. ;)
