 | | Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | What with all the recent discussion on the various designs of motorized points, I started thinking of ways to further reduce the footprint. After many deadends & iterations, I finally came up with this (click thumbnails to enlarge): (URL) Here's a (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —David Koudys
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| | | | | In lugnet.trains, Mark Riley wrote: snip (...) Well, there it is :) Nicely done, Mark! Going to build a few of these things myself Dave K (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | | | (...) Would you believe: (URL) I thought I had tried this. However, I guess I didn't try exactly this. Those tiles on top and using panels with closed studs (not open studs) gives just enough extra grip for the 2x3 panels to work. Picking and (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Ross Crawford
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| | | | | (...) Does the motor stall at each limit? You could probably reduce the "problem cars" issue with an axle connector and extension (move the motor further away from the switch lever) and reduce the size of the housing a bit. ROSCO (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | | | (...) Yes, it does. I've been using it with this (URL) battery box> and all I need to do is tap on one of the buttons to get it to switch. I've also been running it with LACC with the throw time set to 0.1 second and this works great. Haven't tried (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | | | (...) Ok, Dave is right, this is fun! So, I added the axle joiner and this is what it looks like now: (URL) Moving the housing back allowed the signal arm to be simplified. Since the housing was moved back, there's now more clearance (about 1/2 stud (...) (20 years ago, 16-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Ross Crawford
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| | | | | | (...) No problem! I might even build some of these myself... ROSCO (20 years ago, 16-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | New version! Now, the main body is only 4x6 studs: (URL) Another view of the internal mechanism: (URL) When building this, try to use 2x3 panels which have closed studs. Also, the two tiles on top are important for preventing the 4x6 roof plate from (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Chris Phillips
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| | | | (...) This redesign is absolutely brilliant! Time to make a couple dozen automated switch points... - Chris. (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | (...) Thanks Chris, but apparently this design as it stands is too sensitive to the clutch strength of the components being used. Yesterday, I ran it over 100 times without the hint of a problem, but today after partially disassembling and (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —David Koudys
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| | | | | (...) I built one of Marks last night, and yes, even with the 'closed studs' and other avenues of 'keepin' it together', the plates adn motor do eventually come loose. Sometimes it's 20 times, sometimes it's 60-80 times, but the unit does work (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | | | (...) Dave, which version did you build (the 4x8 version or the 4x6 version)? My 4x8 seems to be holding together at the moment... knock on wood. I did notice that the transparent panels (vs. the opaque ones) are made of a stiffer material and seem (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —David Koudys
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| | | | | | (...) Yeah, I used the 4x6 version (2 wide panels), and eventually one of the panels would go flying, or the motor would pop up. But it does last a bit, and it's like 'Russian Roulette'--when is the switcher going to self destruct and will that (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | | | (...) Well, all is not lost... I think I have a workable solution, though it isn't as elegant looking as before and adds 1 brick to the height: (URL) And: (URL) It uses Plate 2 x 2 with Hole (#2444) to secure the bottom of the motor: (URL) This part (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —David Koudys
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| | | | | | In lugnet.trains, Mark Riley wrote: snip (...) It's like the first scratch on a new vehicle--after that you really don't care anymore. Baah--just another scuff :) My switches are pretty much on the inside of my layout so even if a train does derail (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Christopher Masi
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| | | | | (...) Mark, Do you have an extra speed regulator lying around? If the answer is yes, then you could run all of your powered points off a speed regulator that isn't set to full power. Two problems solved! Nice small design by the way. Oh yeah, (...) (20 years ago, 15-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains)
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| | | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | | | (...) Great idea! I just tried this with the speed regulator set to level 4 (6 being max) and it reduces the impact considerably, but there's still enough power for a reliable throw. I've been using the motorized switches with my RCX (running LACC) (...) (20 years ago, 17-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains)
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| | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Philippe Label
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| | | | (...) Hi Mark, Along with Chris, I totally agree that your design is brilliant. I tested both versions (long and short) and both prooved to be very stable with my switch points. At least after 200 tests. To be honest, I oil my switch points with (...) (20 years ago, 16-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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| | | | | | Re: Another Motorized Switch Design :-) —Mark Riley
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| | | | (...) Thanks, Philippe. I must say that it was your article at the FreeLUG site that got me thinking along these lines. I remember having to search all over the place when I was working on my first motorized switch! Here's the latest version of the (...) (20 years ago, 17-Dec-03, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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