o.k. a bit of a problem here... well, at least i think it may be a problem soon...as i haven't started any track yet (STILL haven't received my order!) one part of my layout is gonna require a 3 way stub TO... how to wire it? as the stock rails will have to go right...left...and dead center...i don't think a tortoise or any of the other switch machines will work...since they can either go right or left only and stall once a certain resistence occurs...at least i think this is how they operate... the only thing i can think of is a servo...one that has a right/left/center...but i've never read anything about using servos as switch machines... well, this brings up another question... all of the switches in this layout will be hand laid stub switches (as it'll reflect the early, early steam era that i'm doing)... so how to do this? since there are no point rails to move AGAINST the stock rails...and therefore stop their movement... well, i think i've got a solution...but i'm not sure how feasible it is on c40 rail...being how thin they already are... as a small side question...i know servos are rather loud...kind of a grindy noise...quite irritating...are tortoises and other slow action switch machines like this? are there any quiet ones?
sam: I don't know of any quiet electrical switch machines. The tortise grinds some as do others, but it is not objectionable to me. Some capacitive types have such a violent throw that they may break the points if not properly adjusted. I would recommend any of the slow motion switch motors. The three way wiring is far beyong me. I would get a book and get help.
Stub switches are beyond me. I envision something kind of like a fiddle yard only the three tracks coming out are fixed and the stock rails move to line up with each. Maybe like a turn table with only one side moving? Anyway, some sort of detent needs to be provided to properly align the throw bar for the stock rails with each of the three tracks. It could be done using two switch motors and a "T" linkage where one motor is attached to each arm of the T. With both motors thrown in the same direction the stock rail is all the way to one side, with both retracted it is to the other. With one extended and one retracted it would line up in the middle. The auxiliary electrical contacts for each motor could then be used to power different tracks coming out of the switch.
Russ, you are correct, int he most sense. The iron actually bends to line up to the other rails. They are neat in their operation, but (in 1:1 scale) require a superman arm to operate, I'll bet!
hmm, flash, oh, well, i guess its o.k. if the tortoise grinds a little...probably get used to it... in fact, at least it'll let me know that it is working o.k. just wish i could figure out how to install one in my layout... i posted the Q in another thread...about the WS scenic ridge kit and tortoises... Russ, excellent idea! only possible snag i can see is that both the tortoises must exert equal force...and even then i think it may be difficult to get an exact alignment of the rails time and time again.... hmmm...maybe there is a way around it... let me see if i can make a simple diagram on how i plan on doing the regular stubs... i think it'll work...just be a bit of a pain
Sam: what you need is a stepper motor and a way to control it. the first is easy: every old CDROM drive has a stepper motor to move the heads. the second is doable: there are articles around on how to control the motor with a computer. although there are many cheap computers on a board, it is probably easier to use an old full size machine or laptop. just a quick Google produced: http://neil.fraser.name/hardware/stepper/ sounds like an interesting project. Michael
