Arc Welding Effect for Model Railway Layouts Schematic Circuit Diagram
Occasionally, architects seeking to incorporate a unique touch to their designs may desire a miniature arc welding simulator. This project proves that all you really need is a microcontroller and the appropriate software.
Creating a Welding Effect with PIC10F200 Microcontroller
The circuit illustrated in this diagram utilizes a PIC10F200 microcontroller to illuminate LEDs D1 and D2 with varying frequencies and time lags. For the characteristic flashes of arc welding, it’s crucial to position the two LEDs as close as possible. Short breaks in the flickering represent the insertion and removal of the welding electrode. To extinguish the welding light, the circuit needs to either remove the supply voltage or ground pin 8 (GP3). J1 offers an elegant solution for the latter. The welding effect activates when the jumper is removed.
Microcontroller Software and Configuration
The software for the microcontroller is available for free download on the web [1]. The PIC’s configuration is included in the ASM file but can also be manually configured by setting all bits to zero.
Overview of PIC10F200 Microcontroller
The PIC10F200 is an economical, high-performance, 8-bit, fully-static, Flash-based CMOS microcontroller. It utilizes a RISC architecture, comprising only 33 single-word/single-cycle instructions. All instructions, except program branches, execute in a single cycle (1 µs), while branches take two cycles. Its performance exceeds competitors in the same price range significantly. The user-friendly instruction set not only simplifies usage but also drastically reduces development time.
High-Performance RISC CPU:
Special Microcontroller Features:
- 4 MHz Precision Internal Oscillator:
- in-Circuit Serial Programming™ (ICSP™)
- In-Circuit Debugging (ICD) Support
- Power-on Reset (POR)
- Device Reset Timer (DRT)
- Watchdog Timer (WDT) with Dedicated On-Chip RC Oscillator for Reliable Operation
- Programmable Code Protection
- Multiplexed MCLR Input Pin
- Internal Weak Pull-ups on I/O Pins
- Power-Saving Sleep mode
- Wake-up from Sleep on Pin Change
