FinnerZ Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I am currently in the process of making my own operating level crossing based on the Hornby double crossing with old fashioned gates. My query is how to make the gates move through the 90 degrees needed, using the hornby points and accessories decoder. I currently am planning on using relays and a mechanical solution (used on an old layout at my model railway club) for turning all four gates; however, I was wondering if there was any way a servo motor (something I still don't understand much) on each gate could be used, controlled by the pulses from the decoder (these can be set to power for any length from 0.1 s to 25.5 s). If anyone has any idea if this is possible, I would be delighted to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 You might like to look at tortoise point motors. as you can guess they are ... "slow and steady". They drive a sprung wire which you might be bale to adapt to a cam on the bottom of the gates.I had been thinking about the possibility of using one for a crossing boom gate. My latest thinking is that if I do this it will be with servo motors and a custom microcontroller.for some ideas have a look at- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuAdPgKGdE8- http://www.modelrailforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=7689Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Something like this perhaps? http://pmrr.org/Articles/Animation/ExperimentDoor.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 Thank you both. I like the idea of teh tortoise motors, but having only seen and not used one in the past, does it automatically cut out once it has moved across or does the motor keep straining until you turn it off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 They are 'stall motors'. The power is always on. See Stall Motors on Brian Lamberts website. http://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical.htm#Stall%20Motors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted June 20, 2011 Author Share Posted June 20, 2011 I think I understand - so I could just set my accessories decoder to provide continuous current if I were to use these motors - perhaps one for each pair of gates. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashbang Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 HiTo operate level crossing gates both barrier or gated types seriously consider using servo motors and a servo controller. These give the very best operation of any moving device.See the demo videos on the Heathcote Electronics web site. Unfortunately no LC operating but the signal and crane give the ideas of how controllable these simple stepper motors are when they are used as servos. http://www.heathcote-electronics.co.uk/ServCont.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted June 22, 2011 Author Share Posted June 22, 2011 Thank you so much Flashbang - I understood the basic idea behind a servo motor and the basic way in which it worked, but I now think I understand the wiring. I take it I would connect a power suply up to the + and 0 temrinals, and then put a wire between the 0 and S termninal with a relay in between, powered switched on by the decoder. Is this about right? I suppose for my four gate crossing I would need four motors, four brackets and two dual controllers? Also, would you recomend Heathcote Electronics as the best place to purchase such items.P.S. I love your signature. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tradman Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 look at the MERG website for quad servo driver which has been used for operating level crossing gates, signals and points.Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregd99 Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 What are you thinking of using the relay for?Fig 3 shows a way of sequencing two motors with a single control line. I think that the output of the accessory decoder could probably be connected directly to the input of the servo controller. in the end the output on the accessory decoder needs to look like a switch to operate the point motors.if you need two controllers then probably they can be daisy chained (ie 4 motors, one afetr the other) like 2 x Fig 3.If you want to do two in parallel then you can probably connect the two inputs together via a pair of diodes and then to the accessory decoder.There are a few "probably"s above that you would need to think through.Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 it says you need a switch between the 0 and S terminals, and the relay would be the switch, turned on by the decoder. however, i suppose i could link up the common to the + terminal (this always provides the + current from the decoder) and then the - decoder terminal to the 0, and the + to the 0 and the S terminal. would it be most realistic to have the opening one after another? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnerZ Posted July 16, 2011 Author Share Posted July 16, 2011 Mike recomended the MERG website for a quad controller, but I can't work out how to buy from their site (if you can). Does anyone else know anywhere else I shoudl get them or should I just buy two double controllers from the Heathcote Electrical site (again if they have a shop - I haven't looked yet). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VirginPendolino. Posted September 6, 2011 Share Posted September 6, 2011 I'm also making my own level crossing like FinnerZ but Im not using gates im using barriers but im not sure how to make the barriers move 90 degrees. I've tried the tortoise point motor but it only moved up by 30 degrees. What should I do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poliss Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 You mean something like this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDDSB8r-Y7Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VirginPendolino. Posted September 7, 2011 Share Posted September 7, 2011 Yeah something like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDDSB8r-Y7Q Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.