My New Layout, any comments?

Svein-Martin Holt Dec 11, 2009

  1. rray

    rray Staff Member

    8,277
    9,277
    133
    Looks fantastic! [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  2. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

    3,191
    1,211
    64
    Indeed it looks fantastic! You do such a great job of creating the industrial sidings in conjunction with the main line. Well done!
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  3. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

    2,093
    6,282
    65
    Yep. Well executed!
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  4. Svein-Martin Holt

    Svein-Martin Holt TrainBoard Member

    345
    375
    26
    Kez likes this.
  5. Svein-Martin Holt

    Svein-Martin Holt TrainBoard Member

    345
    375
    26
    Testing of my new Z-scale 3D-printed railroad crossing. LEDs driven by an Arduino. Gate should be moved with a servo. Paint missing. Need some more development.
     
  6. LWR21

    LWR21 TrainBoard Member

    54
    42
    20
    That looks incredible! Fantastic!
     
    bostonjim and Svein-Martin Holt like this.
  7. rray

    rray Staff Member

    8,277
    9,277
    133
    That's a real nice crossing Svein-Martin, is the servo working or is the linkage binding for the crossing gate? I hope you share your sketch when you get everything ironed out.
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  8. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

    9,814
    14,202
    147
    That's awesome!!(y)

    If the servo doesn't work out, I remember something about wire that expanded and contracted and people were using that for movement, like a semaphore. Can't remember the name of the wire though.
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  9. Svein-Martin Holt

    Svein-Martin Holt TrainBoard Member

    345
    375
    26
    Thank you all. Its under construction, so some adjustment is in progress. I have not installed the servo yet, but that's on the list.
    The first test now is to see if I can have all the LED's working, including 3 LED's on the gate itself. Current there are 9 LED's installed.
    I will report the progress, with images, schematics and sketches.
     
  10. JoeS

    JoeS TrainBoard Member

    3,191
    1,211
    64
    Fantastic! I’ve been making static ones for years. But this is just fantastic!
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  11. SJ Z-man

    SJ Z-man TrainBoard Member

    3,007
    1,020
    62
  12. Svein-Martin Holt

    Svein-Martin Holt TrainBoard Member

    345
    375
    26
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2022
    CNE1899 likes this.
  13. mdvholland

    mdvholland TrainBoard Member

    521
    860
    30
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  14. rray

    rray Staff Member

    8,277
    9,277
    133
    Memory wire gets hot, and can melt plastic, so special care in the mechanism is required. Most RC servo's can glitch and over-travel, then bend or break a crossing gate arm mechanism. But a Micro Linear Servo can only travel in one axis, and the travel is limited in case of the inevitable glitch.

    These babies, travel 7mm, and might be perfect:
    https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Ultra-Linear-Aircraft-Tester/dp/B07KKCPC26
     
    Svein-Martin Holt and Kurt Moose like this.
  15. Svein-Martin Holt

    Svein-Martin Holt TrainBoard Member

    345
    375
    26
    I have this cheap standard servo that I plan to use, but have also ordered the same type you show in this post.
    5/10/20PCS 100% NEW SG90 9G Mini Micro Servo Motor for Robot 6CH RC Helicopter Airplane Controls Arduino FPV RC Car|Parts & Accessories| - AliExpress
    The linear servo:
    1.5g Digital Ultra Micro Plastic Gear Coreless Linear Servo for RC Airplane Toy|Parts & Accessories| - AliExpress
    So I will test both and see which I prefer to use.

    Here is an image of the complete model, still under construction. The modell is created using Fusion 360.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2022
    sidney and CNE1899 like this.
  16. husafreak

    husafreak TrainBoard Member

    577
    397
    15
    I think Roberts suggestion is the best so far. The linear servos he linked too are really small and easily mounted, plus the linear drive is nice. They do not have a lot of torque but surely enough for this job. They are very reliable and in widespread use for small RC models. Of course you need a way to drive them only as far as needed, you can't just find a hole in the servo arm that gives the desired travel. In RC model applications the travel is easily adjusted and speed can be as well but I am unfamiliar with servo driver units for model trains. Lastly if you have any issues with these in operation Dioxit F5 Fader Lube is usually the cure, the pots are sliders.
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  17. MegaBlackJoe

    MegaBlackJoe TrainBoard Member

    43
    58
    10
    The linear micro servo can only be used with a rod lever. It's not accurate enough for a direct drive due to backlash and you have to have a Z bend on the rod so that it could push the points into correct position. But if you plan to use a rod lever, most likely, it's going to be challenging to hide the turnout drive.
     
  18. husafreak

    husafreak TrainBoard Member

    577
    397
    15
    Not accurate? Backlash? Hmmm. They work fine for controlling flight surfaces in model airplanes and helicopters. Anyway they are cheap for a trial.
     
    Svein-Martin Holt likes this.
  19. rray

    rray Staff Member

    8,277
    9,277
    133
    I just got a 2 pack with servo tester delivered last night to experiment with. What I want to do is see if they can be adapted to make a semaphore signal operate, and rather than build up an arduino to operate it, I just want to plug and play test the capability, and once satisfied I can do the arduino control.

    My thinking on this project is a 3 position train order semaphore, with light, built into a magnetic base mounted train depot that also had dfplayer mini depot sounds, and random turning on and off lights in different rooms:
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BXN32WX
    1.jpg
     
  20. husafreak

    husafreak TrainBoard Member

    577
    397
    15
    It is too bad the little servo tester they provide doesn’t give you a visual readout of the actual pulse width (which determines the position and could be put into your arduino). Here is the cheapest one I have bought to date that does:
    https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0...o-tester-28196765204557_850x.jpg?v=1632759934
    Anyway, be careful (obviously) not to stall or overload the servos, the motors get really hot really quick if binding so as long as they are running cool to the touch you’re good.
     

Share This Page