Assembling 3d printed turnouts

[Vistisen]

I have now got as far as printing the timbers and chairs for my first plug turnout. I built four or five turnaouts about 5 years ago, But I have forgotten everything about how to actually go about it. So, I looked at a few YouTube videos. But that got me wondering about what differences they should be with building plug track turnouts. For example, James has an excellent guide to how to push chairs on the rails around the check rails on Bexhill West. But this is not really relevant with loose outer jaw chairs. I can also see that the vee I had already soldered which would have worked fine if I was going to solder it onto pcb timbers, will not work with the plug chairs as the solder fills too much between the rails to fit into the chairs closest to where the rails join. Should I fit the two halves of the vee into the chairs first and they try to solder then together (without melting the chairs) Though if I was going to do that, I would probably print these chairs without the loose out jaw option. In fact, I might do that with the check rails chairs as well, then I could slide them on the rails first and then press them into the track base. I hope that by starting this thread we can gather tips, tricks, ideas and experience of construction techniques in one place. Then the accumulated wisdom (?) that comes in the thread could be converted to pages on the new Wiki.

 

[Martin Wynne]

I have now got as far as printing the timbers and chairs for my first plug turnout. I built four or five turnaouts about 5 years ago, But I have forgotten everything about how to actually go about it. So, I looked at a few YouTube videos. But that got me wondering about what differences they should be with building plug track turnouts. For example, James has an excellent guide to how to push chairs on the rails around the check rails on Bexhill West. But this is not really relevant with loose outer jaw chairs. I can also see that the vee I had already soldered which would have worked fine if I was going to solder it onto pcb timbers, will not work with the plug chairs as the solder fills too much between the rails to fit into the chairs closest to where the rails join. Should I fit the two halves of the vee into the chairs first and they try to solder then together (without melting the chairs) Though if I was going to do that, I would probably print these chairs without the loose out jaw option. In fact, I might do that with the check rails chairs as well, then I could slide them on the rails first and then press them into the track base. I hope that by starting this thread we can gather tips, tricks, ideas and experience of construction techniques in one place. Then the accumulated wisdom (?) that comes in the thread could be converted to pages on the new Wiki.

@Vistisen @Hayfield @James Walters @Steve_Cornford

Hi Tim,

You don't make a pre-assembled vee for plug track or COT track. The 2 vee rails are inserted separately. They can be retained by soldering in situ but it's not essential. I recommend using a smear of low-temperature SMT paste. I have posted a supplies link a couple of times.

There is more explanation in the filing jigs topic, link below.

I started a topic here about all this, but I haven't had a chance to take it any further:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/plug-shift.988/

Sorry about that.

I have mentioned in several other topics about not making a pre-assembled vee, using SMT paste, etc., but I can't remember which ones, sorry. John will know.

This is where it is all getting too much for me. In truth, no-one should be building plug track or COT track for real until I have had a chance to get the coding finished and then write a proper user guide, make tutorials, videos, demos, take photographs, etc. I just can't get round to doing any of that properly because I am forever making quick stop-gap explanations as above, and trying to make some progress with the chair coding at the same time -- which many are waiting for. Today I have been doing coding all day, for example, but I need to stop now.

Reading your post my inclination was simply to switch the whole of Templot off until I have had a chance to get it properly ready. I can't keep briefly explaining bits of it over and over again. Some photos of a vee being filed and assembled would say far more than I can write here. Maybe I will try to do that tomorrow, but the weather forecast is not good for photography.

Have you made any filing jigs? There is a page about using them at:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/how-to-using-the-templot-rail-filing-jigs.1049/

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Vistisen]

Thanks for the link. I have printed the filing jigs, and will have a go. Pleasy don't turn it all off! I understand that it is not a finished prouct I am using.

 

[Hayfield]

Tim

Firstly forget about traditional track building methods and James's first non-plug track video.

Watch all 3 or is it 4 of James's plug track videos. Plug track has its own build characteristics, also look through Wicky as it has links various posts, skim through the plug track treads from the start

I made the same error as old habits are difficult to drop,

Plug and COT track break new grounds in simplifying track building,

File the first vee rail on one side only, the rail will now slide through the chairs into the stop. A spot of superglue will hold all in place
Next file the second rail, slide it through the chairs until it fits smoothly in line with the first rail, again a spot of superglue will hold the rail in place.

I would not advise soldering the joint, as it will cover up the join
Once the wing rails are in place solder a bonding wire across the bottom of the 4 rails which make up the common crossing, leave the wire a bit longer it then becomes a dropper wire.John

 

[Martin Wynne]

I understand that it is not a finished product

@Vistisen

Hi Tim,

It is not a product at all, finished or otherwise. It is simply my hobby.

cheers,

Martin.