T Gauge Model Road Layout - Part 2

A still unnamed T Gauge model road layout using a linear motor drive system. Starting to take shape - baseboard complete, the full set of vehicles converted and running (but not painted) , scenic experiments and mockups under way. It is turning into a major town planning exercise.

[@THEFORBIDDENMAN-lk7of]

WHAT A GREAT IDEA JUST AS FUN AS RUNNING THE TRAINS 🚑🚒🚓🚛👍👍👍

[@dlamet]

Incredible. Would love to see more of this!

[@AlwaysCensored-xp1be]

Looks like one of those Sim city games.

[@Roy-gi5ul]

Realistic diesel sounds!

[@hubertmantz1516]

Amazing!

[@toonman361]

Pardon me if I am wrong but I thought the magnetic system is 1/1000. T gauge is 1/450.

[@modelrailmusings5981]

The track is not tied to any particular scale, as it gets hidden beneath a paper running surface. I have used it from trains in 1:720 up to cars in 1:160. That 1:1000 figure is arbitrary anyway, since their models are not of any actual prototype.

[@plixplop]

Wow!!! And... how???

[@serendipity8883]

Did you prototype the tracks and controllers yourself? are the plans in your website?

[@modelrailmusings5981]

Yes, for both the tracks and controller. But no, the plans aren't published due to IDL having the patent rights for the basic track concept. However, the controller circuit is simple enough - a standard motor controller design modified to pulse 6 outputs instead of the usual 4.

[@serendipity8883]

Do you mean bipolar stepper motor controller wired as 6 outputs? Sorry, don't know which type of motor controller you are referring to. Is there a motor controller sold online or on eBay that might work? Thank you in advance Sir.

[@modelrailmusings5981]

Yes, that is basically correct, it is really just a custom stepper motor controller driving 3 poles instead of 2. I know someone who has successfully used two standard Arduino motor controller shields, with three of the four outputs driven in a typical half-step pattern. Note that dual-stepper shields generally can't do the job, since they take shortcuts to reduce the pin count that won't allow the necessary low level of control. If you are interested, drop a message onto the contact page on my website and I'll send you extracts of the relevant email chain.

[@davidecook2002]

Where do you get the cars as I'm wanting to do a layout similar?

[@modelrailmusings5981]

The car bodies are Eishindo T gauge models from tgauge.com

[@KJAJOBRIEN]

any more updates on production of the track ?

[@modelrailmusings5981]

I have looked at doing a commercial version, but while straightforward technically, there are just too many regulatory and other hurdles for it to be worth my while. Alas.

[@KJAJOBRIEN]

Please don't give up. You are on to something big. @@modelrailmusings5981

[@modelrailmusings5981]

​@@KJAJOBRIEN KZbin isn't really the place for an in-depth discussion. If you are sufficiently curious, you can contact me through my website and I can go into more detail there. modelrailmusings.weebly.com

[@livelandings747]

Hi, how on earth does this work?

[@modelrailmusings5981]

The track is just a printed circuit board with embedded coils (electromagnets). These are powered in a repeating sequence so that it acts like a magnetic conveyor belt. Anything with a magnet just gets dragged along.

[@livelandings747]

@@modelrailmusings5981 thanks