3D Semaphore Signals

I'm currently working on a decoder to animate signals - with acceleration in / out plus some bounce. I wont take over this thread but I'll be sure to post something soon. I think it would be spot on for these signals :)
 
BakerJohn said:
AlanL AlanL This project is of great interest to me. I'm currently designing modern signals, but I'd love to be able to print semaphores as well. Yours look great! I shall endeavor to make mine looks half as good in the future.
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Thanks, I could send you the files to get you started.

I am also working on motorised signal heads, as apposed to mechanical linkages to a signal box.

AL
 
Cobalt6700 said:
I'm currently working on a decoder to animate signals - with acceleration in / out plus some bounce. I wont take over this thread but I'll be sure to post something soon. I think it would be spot on for these signals :)
Click to expand...
Sounds great, my signals are either on or off, I was just glad that they moved at all :D
 
The next stage of semaphore signals is to have outdoor working versions.

As my railway is US based I have looked at semaphores with 'motorised heads'.

I built and installed the first prototype back in December, pictured here with the posed second prototype in January.
The difference between them is mainly the post diameter, 8mm for the first and 6mm for the second. Using a smaller diameter post allowed more space at the head and I was able to add a drainage/ventilation hole underneath the head.
IMG_20250118_130124825_MF_PORTRAIT.jpg
I tested the first prototype periodically but it had stopped working by the middle of March. There was moisture within the servo.
Version 2 is still working having survived the heavy rains earlier in the year.
IMG_20250124_152515781.jpg IMG_20250124_152551048.jpg
The servo and linkages are fitted inside the top of the base. Then the bottom cover is inserted inside the top and sealed with silicone adhesive. including the cable entry.

IMG_20250123_122216405.jpgIMG_20250114_112241687.jpgIMG_20250112_110926192.jpgIMG_20250123_122050060.jpgIMG_20250123_115535082.jpg
The resistors in the second photo are for the LED light.
The white base was an after thought to help keep it anchored in the ballast. The messy silicone can also be seen.
I intend to make a v3 with some refinements over v2 and see how or if, it survives the next 12 months :coldsweat:

Alan
 
Cobalt6700 said:
I'm currently working on a decoder to animate signals - with acceleration in / out plus some bounce. I wont take over this thread but I'll be sure to post something soon. I think it would be spot on for these signals :)
Click to expand...
This may be of interest re the bounce for the signals

Peckforton Light Railway

Narrow gauge large scale model garden railway. Battery powered, radio controlled locomotives, some Bluetooth. Set in Cheshire UK in 1930s
riksrailway.blogspot.com riksrailway.blogspot.com

Picaxe is a very versatile microcontroller; I find I am using them a lot lately ever since I found that ChatGPT can write the program in the blink of an eye just as long as you detail what you want it to do.

What Is PICAXE? - What is PICAXE - PICAXE

picaxe.com picaxe.com
It is really good for controlling servos to precise positions for use with points and signals.
 
Forgive me if I've put 'two and two together to make four' but I visited the National Garden Railway Show at Stoneleigh last Saturday and came across a lovely little layout tucked away towards the back of the hall - Johnson Harbour. What attracted me were the perfectly proportioned and beautifully made semaphore signals.

AlanL AlanL having read your thread, were these yours? The operator explained they'd been specially made by a member of his club (Northampton?) and kindly removed one to show me the elegantly designed servo mount below. I realise that there may be others who have used the Garden Rail Mag files but these appeared to have been refined exactly as you describe.

If they weren't yours then it looks like you have some competition!
 
You can get waterproof servos, but they will cost a lot more than SG90 clones..

If using outside, I would use a 'cabinet' next to the signal, with the servo in it.. Arm and linkage downwards, so the body of the servo is well above any weather.

I started developing this (with an idea to bring something to market, but there are too many variations to make it viable, really.

PhilP.
 
Cobalt6700 said:
I'm currently working on a decoder to animate signals - with acceleration in / out plus some bounce. I wont take over this thread but I'll be sure to post something soon. I think it would be spot on for these signals :)
Click to expand...
I use the excellent Megapoints System 2 to servo control all my points. Next stage is to add semaphore signals (hence my interest in this thread) - bounce is already programmed in to System 2 as a selectable option on each servo channel. Mine is a loft layout so can't comment on best way to weather-proof them.
 
rgsmg53 said:
I use the excellent Megapoints System 2 to servo control all my points. Next stage is to add semaphore signals (hence my interest in this thread) - bounce is already programmed in to System 2 as a selectable option on each servo channel. Mine is a loft layout so can't comment on best way to weather-proof them.
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I also have used the Megapoints controllers to do semaphores. They have a really nice semaphore control function in them - I pretty much consider the Megapoints controllers the 'gold standard' for semaphore animation out of all of the semaphore controllers I have tested (which is a fair few now!).

However, the issue with the Megapoints controllers is that, like most other controllers on the market, is that they are 'huge'. Not a problems if you are working inside, however siting these outside either requires waterproof enclosure's local to the points / signals (did that on a temporary basis - boxes not easy to hide!) OR remote to the points / signals (also done that - lots of long distance shielded cabling!).

This is why I have gone down the route of a small decoder (24mm x 40mm), that needs 2 cores to power and send control signals to it, can drive 6 servos or 6 two aspect light signals.

As for servos outside, the SG90 copies I have, haven't lasted that well. The MG90 copies I have (20+) seemed to have lasted well so far - have been outside a year and only 1 has given me issues.
 
AlanL said:
Guilty as charged and well spotted at the show.

Alan
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Then I add my congratulations to other's. My wife and I did a number of circuits of the traders at the show and, out of the four we found selling signal kits, they were ALL far too big in our opinion - even for 16mm scale.

If you ever decide to sell kits then please do let us all know.

In the meantime, would it be possible to purchase copies of the 3D files from you? I'd be more than happy to pay you (via PayPal perhaps?).

Again, congratulations on producing models that integrated so well with Johnson Harbour - it was a delight.
 
Cobalt6700 said:
However, the issue with the Megapoints controllers is that, like most other controllers on the market, is that they are 'huge'. Not a problems if you are working inside, however siting these outside either requires waterproof enclosure's local to the points / signals (did that on a temporary basis - boxes not easy to hide!) OR remote to the points / signals (also done that - lots of long distance shielded cabling!).
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Yes indeed! I've ended up mounting 8-channel Megapoints boards at all four corners of my layout in 'electrical cabinets' under the baseboards. However, I've just disconnected the CAN-bus cabling in favour of the WiFi networking capability which works a treat.

I know I'm only an indoor modeller but I've often wondered whether the Megapoints boards could be mounted in a weather-proof signal box for outdoor use. After all the prototypes would all have had signal boxes within reasonable proximity of the points and signals they controlled. This then keeps Servo cable runs manageable and, if one boosts home WiFi outdoors, then there's no need for long runs of shielded Can-bus (which incidentally Dave Fenton of Megapoints has tested very successfully). Just a thought.
 
rgsmg53 said:
In the meantime, would it be possible to purchase copies of the 3D files from you?
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Thanks for your complements. The lack of choice and the expense encouraged me to design my own semaphores. Helped by the purchase of a 3D printer.

I'm quite happy to send the STL files to you, Send me your email via a PM

Alan
 
Cobalt6700 said:
As for servos outside, the SG90 copies I have, haven't lasted that well. The MG90 copies I have (20+) seemed to have lasted well so far - have been outside a year and only 1 has given me issues.
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Interesting, I thought that the difference was metal gears vs plastic gears. There must be more to the mg90 servos than the gears. Better overall quality perhaps?
The servos that I am using are as cheap as you can find.

Alan
 
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