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In lugnet.trains, Rick Clark wrote:
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There are a number of electrically operated switch designs, but I think mine
is the smallest, since it uses a micro-motor. It has pros and cons which are
detailed here:
http://news.lugnet.com/trains/?n=16648
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I love Rick’s awesome spear switch idea. I kept running it through my head to
see if I could make it any smaller. I came up with something this morning:
Full Gallery
of my prototype
I only have technic motors, so I wanted a solution that I could swap out if I
get something smaller. The belt/pulley system also allows the motor to keep
running past the point needed to move the switch, which keeps it from either
stalling the motor or tearing the switch apart.
The spear is held in place by a headlight brick, which is pushed along a tile by
two 1/2 1x2 liftarms on an axle. The yellow liftarm indicates which direction
the track is switched, and also allows for manual switching if necessary.
The housing is 3 x 4 x 2 1/3. The bushings and switch indicator each add a stud
on either side. This could be made smaller by leaving off the indicator and
only using a single bushing. It could probably be made even smaller by using a
single 1/2 liftarm inside, with the bushing next to it, and the belt running out
the back, but I haven’t tried that. Other sizing depends on what type of motor
you use. With a little work, and some cleverly drilled holes, the motor could
even be hidden beneath the table.
See Rick’s post above for cautions, and a description of how the switches work.
-Elroy
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Message has 1 Reply:
Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Scale Modelers Aren't the Only Ones . . .
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| The layout looks great (you will be so much happier with it when it's up on a table)! It's really hard to resist the temptation to make a loop, but point-to-point layouts have many more interesting possibilities. I think you'll be having fun with (...) (17 years ago, 28-Jan-08, to lugnet.trains, FTX)
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