Worklist:
Continue wiring the uncoupling magnets.
Laurence still on family event/holiday.
Stephen had purchased some miniature SPDT toggle switches for the uncouplers and other 'accessories'. These needed to be sited and fitted onto the control panel. We were going to cut strips of coloured self-adhesive plastic to define the trackwork, but we didn't have any to hand. Some will be sourced. In the meantime, the track centres were lightly drawn in pencil, the switch locations agreed and marked, and fixing holes drilled. An old section of aluminium angle was adapted to take another switch, which was fitted inside the control panel. This will allow the switch directions to be reversed depending on whether the layout was in workshop or exhibition format. The only planned accessory so far is a set of operating doors which will be visible and not so dependant on switch direction.
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| The 4 uncoupling magnet toggle switches |
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| The overall direction switch (reverses up/down) |
The servos direction is determined by whether the signal wires are connected to ground. The doors can be added to this arrangement or labelled appropriately.
Then, testing of the magnet servos took place, but problems occurred. There was a lot of 'judder' in all of the servo's movements. Closer inspection showed that one of the known faulty servos had been installed by mistake and needed to be replaced. We then realised that the servos had been 'hard wired' together with crimped terminals. These had to be removed and new plugs with short wires soldered on the servo tails, to allow the servos to be swapped-out if required. It was also decided to add a socket for the doors servo. Geoff then connected the master 'trimming' unit and adjusted the end travel points.
This completed, testing progressed with a replacement servo, but things still weren't running smoothly. Geoff decided to fit a physical damper, to reduce the juddering. An ancient coil of phosphor bronze draught excluder provided short strips that were screwed near the moving end of the magnet holder and everything became much more stable.
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| Magnet up (against baseboard) |
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| Magnet down (away from the baseboard) |
A strange day of obstacles and solutions, but progress was made. Now where can we get some sticky-back-plastic?
The servo controller board is becoming quite busy. It can handle 12 servos, but wiring them into the system requires more wires/connections and is generally more complicated than simple motor or solenoid actuators. The master 'trimming' unit connects to the orange RJ45 socket just off the left hand side of the photo. It needs practice and the instructions to carry out any modifications.
