RMweb Premium melmerby Posted September 30, 2014 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hi all A question for TrainController users I am pondering the task of whether one could operate a multitrack traverser with Freiwald's TrainController program. By multitrack I mean more than one traversing track not number of positions. In this case it is three tracks but only two possible positions. e.g Birmingham Moor St Station: http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrms1223.htm There is an option for a traverser in the program but only one track moves, in this case all three tracks move! A similar arangement but using a sector table is this at Snow Hill station: http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrbsh1679.htm Again TC can emulate a sector plate but only one track moves, here again all three move! Any suggestions? I have posted this also in the Freiwald forum but with little success. Cheers Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 Hi Keith, What interface are you considering to connect the motor driving the traverser to the DCC system. In short I think it is possible using an adaption of what I am doing to control a turntable for my 7mm layout. Its considered an analogue turntable as far as TC is concerned but it has a very high quality stepper motor and indexing system to start with and by using a series of push button on the switch panel in TC coupled with macro and some simple logic including timers and time delays in the macros its possible to get the turntable to react to commands issued by TC. The interface will be an ESU SwitchPilot that has the capability to have switchable permanent power outputs. Problem, I am at the development stage, playing really and have not been able to test it for real as I am waiting for my turntable and drive mechanism to arrive. The control side of it is an updated version of the GF Controls system that is currency being upgraded to make it even better than it was. I should, fingers crossed and the Chinese finishing the new circuit boards have it in my hands in about a months time. Then I can play for real once its mounted and tested on the layout using the GF Control system that comes with it. Once the indexing is set up etc I can then deal with the interface. Then I may be in a better position to offer advice but I think it can be done. There are many many ways to get things to happen in TC which in some ways are not connected with true model railway control and I think this is one of them. The number of tracks on the traverser is not quite irrelevant but its a distraction. Its how you get the traverser to move when a command issued that is the true issue and of course the other side of the coin is stopping where you want it to. By using 'elements' in TC that can be invisible outside of edit mode on the switch panel or even on another out of view switch panel then it is doable. As for running schedules, well that is another issue but lets get the physical aspect out of the way first and get things moving. I notice you have some replies on the TC forum you may want to read as well. Regards TTG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted October 4, 2014 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 4, 2014 Hi Keith, What interface are you considering to connect the motor driving the traverser to the DCC system. In short I think it is possible using an adaption of what I am doing to control a turntable for my 7mm layout. Its considered an analogue turntable as far as TC is concerned but it has a very high quality stepper motor and indexing system to start with and by using a series of push button on the switch panel in TC coupled with macro and some simple logic including timers and time delays in the macros its possible to get the turntable to react to commands issued by TC. The interface will be an ESU SwitchPilot that has the capability to have switchable permanent power outputs. Problem, I am at the development stage, playing really and have not been able to test it for real as I am waiting for my turntable and drive mechanism to arrive. The control side of it is an updated version of the GF Controls system that is currency being upgraded to make it even better than it was. I should, fingers crossed and the Chinese finishing the new circuit boards have it in my hands in about a months time. Then I can play for real once its mounted and tested on the layout using the GF Control system that comes with it. Once the indexing is set up etc I can then deal with the interface. Then I may be in a better position to offer advice but I think it can be done. There are many many ways to get things to happen in TC which in some ways are not connected with true model railway control and I think this is one of them. The number of tracks on the traverser is not quite irrelevant but its a distraction. Its how you get the traverser to move when a command issued that is the true issue and of course the other side of the coin is stopping where you want it to. By using 'elements' in TC that can be invisible outside of edit mode on the switch panel or even on another out of view switch panel then it is doable. As for running schedules, well that is another issue but lets get the physical aspect out of the way first and get things moving. I notice you have some replies on the TC forum you may want to read as well. Regards TTG Hi TTG, nice to have your input. This is something I have been pondering for some time and will only go further if it is likely to work in TC I intend using the innards of a TT300 point motor, which has built in DCC and a pair of limit switches. (The point motor doesn't work properly at it's intended purpose as the drive slips and doesn't operate the switches at the end!) i would probably use a screw mechanism to move the deck, driven by the TT300 motor and gears and re-mount the limit switches from the TT300 so they were operated as it reaches the limit at each end. It would appear as a normal DCC accessory from the outset and it should be able to drive it from one end to the other and stop it using a simple thrown/not thrown command in TC That IMHO is the easy bit! Integrating more than one moving track into TC doesn't look easy! I have thought of 3 x 2 position traversers in TC using a common address - messy but it might work! Cheers Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil S Posted October 4, 2014 Share Posted October 4, 2014 It may be worth trying the following first: - in case this is a simple solution!: With points, it is possible to have the same number operate more than 1 point .... in RR+Co bysimply giving them the same number - I do this for crossovers.... Simply have 3 'traversers' in the diagram ... repeating the pattern of tracks for each - I assume this would be correct as you say they move mechanically together ..and give them the same control number, if the full version allows digital control (unlike my Rocomotion edition). OR if that is not permitted, then 'link' them in operation - perhaps via a 'Route' if necessary - so that a suitable (set of) route select buttons each call the the required sequence of (Matching) traverser moves, and access points as required ... except that the #'extra 2' traversers need not physically exist... and therefore will never get out of sync. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
two tone green Posted October 5, 2014 Share Posted October 5, 2014 Hi Keith, Sorry for the slow response, been down in the south of France suffering good food and fine wine for the past few days. Some one has got to do it. I am going to pass on this for a while as I want to play a little before committing myself to recommending anything but will say it can be done. I don't like jumping in with suggestions until I know it works in the real world rather than just on a laptop screen. I need to get hold of some hardware which will confirm my ideas or not. The hardware unfortunately is a few weeks away. At lease you have an interface that could work. At what state is the traverser, built, not built, in work etc. Keep in touch with any progress. Regards TTG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted October 5, 2014 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 5, 2014 Hi Keith, Sorry for the slow response, been down in the south of France suffering good food and fine wine for the past few days. Some one has got to do it. Such deprivation! At what state is the traverser, built, not built, in work etc. Keep in touch with any progress. Regards TTG The traverser is not built, I have plenty of ideas about what it will consist of but if it there is no chance of operating with TC in schedules I might abandon the idea. I have a terminus which will be loosely based on Birmingham Moor Street's passenger station, with 2 double sided terminal platforms with a track on each face. At the moment there are just the tracks but I would ideally like a traverser in the middle for loco release as at Moor Street. There is not enough room for crossovers, without loosing usable platform length, hence a traverser. Same reason as in Moor St. Cheers Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil S Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 As you havn't yet started constructing your traverser; you might find it worth following up this video posted on MREMAG on Friday showing a fully Automated Dual Level Traverser: From RMweb.com FridayOct1st: Videos > link to club website... and asking them about their control software.. (Video 4 was the traverser demo, Video 3 the 3D CAD drawings ....) http://www.siebers.org/Siebwalde%202014/index.htmlOn this site can be found the complete series of videos of this club's rebuilding:The main item of interest, of course. being the fully automated double-level traverser!A nice piece of engineering! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted October 6, 2014 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 6, 2014 As you havn't yet started constructing your traverser; you might find it worth following up this video posted on MREMAG on Friday showing a fully Automated Dual Level Traverser: From RMweb.com FridayOct1st: Videos > link to club website... and asking them about their control software.. (Video 4 was the traverser demo, Video 3 the 3D CAD drawings ....) http://www.siebers.org/Siebwalde%202014/index.htmlOn this site can be found the complete series of videos of this club's rebuilding:The main item of interest, of course. being the fully automated double-level traverser!A nice piece of engineering! That is impressive. Don't think it's TrainController driven though! Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil S Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 The layout might well have an overall automation or signalling controller on completion, - and the traverser is likely to be linked in to it ... it might be TC ... or it might not ... you could ask them and get ideas anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted October 10, 2014 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 10, 2014 Hi Keith, Keep in touch with any progress. Regards TTG I have decided to build the traverser anyway and see if it will interface with TC properly afterwards. I decided it would consist of two parallel rods with brass tube sliding on them to make the traverse and a screw to get the slow, accurate movement. I started with foam sandwich plastic (like in uPvc window cills) 300 x 210 x 8mm And fitted some aluminium angle to it, suitably drilled: Made up a frame for the deck to fit onto: Underside of frame with threaded block for screw: All construction so far, assembled to try out workability: Looks good so far and the "deck" traverses very smoothly. The brass is soldered together but as my 50W iron packed up half way through assembly some of the joints are (at the moment) a bit dodgy, to say the least! I'll post more as it progresses Cheers Keith Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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