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Reply to "Taxi Scene"

stan2004 posted:

Just 2 taxis, right?  I'd think trying to do 3 or more can get tricky.

I'm not familiar with the super street "Y".  Does it have anti-derailing or must you pre-set (pulse a solenoid?) the branch direction when entering or leaving each loop?

What exactly are these optical sensors?  Can you mount them to detect direction of travel?  For example, if you are shooting a beam upward to reflect off the bottom of a taxi let's say you put a reflective bottom on just the right side of the taxi.  Then by placing the optics on the right side of the roadbed (relative to direction of travel) you can detect which direction the taxi is traveling on the straight.  This might simplify the relay logic.

Is soldering and/or working with small electronic components (resistors, capacitors, etc.) "allowed" or to be avoided at all cost?!

In any case, I'd think you can cobble together a handful of low-cost eBay relay modules (about $1 per relay) and get something running for, say, $10-20.

Sounds like a fun project! 

 

Hi Stan,

I just want to say, you have ALWAYS been VERY helpful in the past.  Thanks again.  You are definitely an idea man.  To answer your questions:

I'm planning just 2 taxi's.  I'd like to have more, but given my constrains I don't see how I could accommodate more.

The super street "Y' is sort of like a manual switch.  There is no switch machine.  It works like this, given the top parts of the "Y" form the reversing loop.  The taxi enters the "Y" and travels in the direction depending on the "Y" position  (let's call it position A) and travels around the reversing loop.    As the taxi exits the "Y", the wheels of the taxi move the "Y" rails to position B.  When the taxi returns to the "Y", the taxi enters position B and exits position A.  Thus the "Y" not only returns the taxi in reverse direction but also reverses the taxi direction in the reversing loop.  The movable 'Y" rails are attached to a sliding bar which can be attached to an actuator type mechanism.  Since, in the subject taxi scene, the taxi's needs to move only in one direction in the reversing loop, the movable rails need to be reset after a taxi exits the loop, hence the idea of using a solenoid.

Think Azatrak detectors in the reflective mode.  I've mounted these in my complex trolley scene and they work very well.

Yes, I know how to solder but prefer to stay way from using discrete components and bed boards.  However, I am asking for new ideas.

My approach to the world sometimes is a little different than others.  I first consider functionality and cost second.  From my point of view, it makes no sense to spend money on something that doesn't do the job.  Of course, compromise is always part of the design process.

Here's is some more perspective.  My city scene is elevated and divided into two parts.  One part is done and installed on the layout. This installed part includes the trolley scene we chatted about a while back and more than half of the subject  taxi scene is located on this installed part.  I want to finish and install the top side of the second part.  In order to accomplish this  I must configure the blocks, install sensors and provide roadbed power to the blocks.   All wiring gets routed under the table where the control electronics will be located.  This allows me lots of flexibility to configure/modify control logic after the fact.  So my interests now are more like "preliminary design" options.  I can do the "detail design" later if my "preliminary design" is well thought out.

Thanks again

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

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