'Vertical Switcher' -- Vertical Mount for Servo Control....

Sumner Nov 30, 2022

  1. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I have a number of ways to throw a turnout or something else with a servo – 'Hidden Switcher', 'Gravity Switcher', 'Spring Switcher', 'Horizontal Switcher' and 'various brackets to mount a servo under the turnout'.

    A number of those require one to go under the layout to install. The 'Hidden Switcher' is kind of an exception to that but it is all mechanical and I wanted an option that used a servo where the throw can be easily set and a complete 'turnout package' with a servo, switch box, servo mount and servo controller can be bought for $10-$12.

    What follows allows one to adjust the throw and control a servo without using an Arduino or something else that requires programming the servo's throw. The servo controller shown below costs less than $3.00 and you adjust the throw by turning two pots that control the extent of the throw in both directions. Very simple and inexpensive to build and use and will work with other servo applications.

    The vertical mounted servo could be used in different ways. I plan on using it in some situations where it will be mounted on the edge of the layout close to what is shown below. The tube and control rod going to the turnout will be just below the surface in a channel in the foam and then hidden. I realize that a number of you won't want something like this on the edge of the layout where someone could come into contact with it. I'm a single operator that is almost 79 and I'm looking at the present and into the future where trips under the layout need to be kept to a bare minimum. The installation and later servicing of this, if required, will all be above and at the front of the layout where the servo, control switch box, servo controller and wiring are all easy to access. I'm now in the function over beauty mode rules.

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    Click ( HERE ) or on the image above ('Watch on YouTube' box) to see the vertically mounted servo in action.

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    The link ( HERE ) shows how the switch box and servo controller work together to control a servo's throw and direction. Also you can have all of this for a round $10-$12 a turnout as described ( HERE ).

    You can find the files to print this on my thingiverse.com account ( HERE when I get them up ).

    You can find all the files to 3D print this object and others on my thingiverse.com account ( HERE ).

    Sumner
     
    Last edited: Nov 30, 2022
    ppuinn and gmorider like this.
  2. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    I posted the print files on thingiverse.com ( HERE ) and you can also find them on my site with other info about the vertical bracket ( HERE ).

    Sumner
     
    Burlington Bob, ppuinn and BNSF FAN like this.

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