Deadparrot Posted September 27, 2011 Posted September 27, 2011 Hi, all I'm new to lego trains and was looking for a way to motorize switch points, signals and crossings with power functions and mindstorm. I've looked around and haven't found anything. Oh, and I'm norwegian and can help with any questions on the norwegian railway. For inspiration, this site has pictures of every norwegian railway station: www.jernbaneverket.no Quote
TaltosVT Posted September 27, 2011 Posted September 27, 2011 One of my favorite switch designs was by Rick Clark. It used a minifig spear to move the switch. His original design is still on Brickshelf: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=18637 A few years ago, I built a version for my own use with a 9v motor: http://news.lugnet.com/trains/?n=29992 The 9v motor could easily be replaced with a PF motor. My favorite design with a signal installed is also on Brickshelf: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=11064 -Elroy Quote
Snapshot Posted September 28, 2011 Posted September 28, 2011 Hi, all I'm new to lego trains and was looking for a way to motorize switch points, signals and crossings with power functions and mindstorm. I've looked around and haven't found anything. Oh, and I'm norwegian and can help with any questions on the norwegian railway. For inspiration, this site has pictures of every norwegian railway station: www.jernbaneverket.no I use this design for points: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whoward69/sets/72157621512518259/. The PF motor just needs a converter cable to work with NXT and that's how I use it. Quote
deejay Posted October 7, 2011 Posted October 7, 2011 I do it with my own Switches. Look here: http://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=52106&st=30 It function pretty good. Quote
skaako Posted October 8, 2011 Posted October 8, 2011 There a many really good designs out there, just be patient searching and you'll find something suitable Quote
roamingstop Posted October 8, 2011 Posted October 8, 2011 (edited) An interesting; if different side note. I recently had to repair a 12V remote switch; successfully took out the base and saw that inside, it is a really simple mechanism - a magnetic rotary solenoid (not even a DC servo). Probably 200-300 transformer wire wound in a single coil, and a feromagnetic piece which flips between polarities. InsideRemoteSwitch2 by roamingstudio Which got me thinking - is there a way to do something similar with transformer coils; PF current and a magnet mounted onto an axle. Rather than gearing down motors etc; this might make a 99% lego solution which is acceptable also to the non-diehards. Or just buy some really cheap DC servo bits and wire them in.. And yes I know the whole point is to use a 100% Lego solution - but I interpret that as also being allowed to copy a Lego solution, in Lego... Edited October 8, 2011 by roamingstudio Quote
Laura Beinbrech Posted October 8, 2011 Posted October 8, 2011 If I were to make an electronically controlled switch, I'd probably go with the solenoid, since that's what most Model RR switches use, and such should be fairly easy and inexpensive (well, as inexpensive as any kind of Model RR stuff gets)... I even had such a switch for the HO scale layout I once had... Quote
mostlytechnic Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I'm playing with some arduino-based automation for my layout, and tried one of these tiny servos: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9065 Worked fine, actually. Switched the track (normal, unmodified switch) without too much trouble. It was putting quite a bit of strain on the housing I built around it, so I ended up modifying the track to make it switch easier. Simple mod - pull the bottom plate off the switch. then file down the bumps on the sliding part. You can adjust how much "click" you want the track to have by how much you file down. Now it really switches nicely. Quote
roamingstop Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Argh yes; good old Spark Fun... just is pity it is not directly PF compatible. But with the right NXT adapter it would make a nice system and be nearly pure (for the Purists). Quote
skaako Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 I'm playing with some arduino-based automation for my layout, and tried one of these tiny servos: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9065 Worked fine, actually. Switched the track (normal, unmodified switch) without too much trouble. It was putting quite a bit of strain on the housing I built around it, so I ended up modifying the track to make it switch easier. Simple mod - pull the bottom plate off the switch. then file down the bumps on the sliding part. You can adjust how much "click" you want the track to have by how much you file down. Now it really switches nicely. Hi, yea i've tried using these servo's too with some success. I got them from a model airplane seller here for under $10NZ ea. They worked well with my old unmodified 9V switches quite well.. but when it came to brand new RC switches it would only switch to the straight track, to the curve it couldn't do it without a bit of help. Also i noticed how much strain is put on the housing. I managed to fit it inside 3 hollowed out 2 x 4 bricks by removing the small screw tabs on the servo, however the base didn't have enough grip to hold it in place, i had to increase the size of the housing but then defied the goal of keeping it small. I'll put some pics on brickshelf when i can. Also when modifying the switch for less friction you dont need to file anything, just use a pair of long nose pliers and squeeze the friction part together, this way the switch remains technically unmodified.. still kinda pure Quote
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