Rumors of Protomate’s demise are greatly exaggerated!

[ednadolski]

Bump.... anyone heard anything further on this....?

[Lemosteam]

Still undergoing testing.

[learmoia]

Still undergoing testing.

[signalmaintainer]

These couplers look very promising, and if (when!) you get to the beta-testing phase, I would be interested in helping put them through their paces. Will they be compatible with Bluford's 70-ton hopper coupler mounting design?

[VonRyan]

When they finally hit store shelves, I’m going to convert every piece of North American rolling stock that I own.

[J_Von_Random]

Mark me down as another person who want to do a total conversion once these are available and working.

I'd even do a conversion to N, and down the road another conversion to Z.

[learmoia]

Same here.. I'm interested in a total conversion solution as well...  Any progress updates?

[ednadolski]

^ This.   Still very interested to see how this is going.

Ed

[Lemosteam]

Been a while. Not enough dedicated time to make progress.

One thing, some early testing reveals the spring is much too stiff.

I will need to get prototype springs made and this will take some time further delaying testing and expenditure.

This is actually good news, as development will progress faster when they arrive.

Still much to do as well.

[Jbub]

Been a while. Not enough dedicated time to make progress.

One thing, some early testing reveals the spring is much too stiff.

I will need to get prototype springs made and this will take some time further delaying testing and expenditure.

This is actually good news, as development will progress faster when they arrive.

Still much to do as well.

I was just looking at this thread today wondering where in the journey you were. Thanks John and David for the time you've put into this, I hope it pays off for you. I think for me, the combination of these couplers and custom pockets like Gary does will be the winning combo.

[ednadolski]

.... early testing reveals the spring is much too stiff.

Springs seem to be the bane of all (model) couplers..... 

Ed

[peteski]

One thing, some early testing reveals the spring is much too stiff.
I will need to get prototype springs made and this will take some time further delaying testing and expenditure.

Micro-Trains N scale couplers have probably the softest and finest springs I have ever seen.  If MTL can get those made, there is hope for Protomate springs getting softer (sounds funny in a "get it larger and harder" world).   

[Spades]

Micro-Trains N scale couplers have probably the softest and finest springs I have ever seen.  If MTL can get those made, there is hope for Protomate springs getting softer (sounds funny in a "get it larger and harder" world).   

The MT coil spring wouldn't that lead to the slinky effect? I really like the accumates and their elliptical shaped spring. I wish accumates were available in bulk. If they came with a scale size goemon style knuckle, I would switch over everything bearing a coupler in a heartbeat 

Edit. Just learning how to read.  Peteski, you are just implying that they Protomate should use the same material as Micro-Trains does for it's spring.

[peteski]

Edit. Just learning how to read.  Peteski, you are just implying that they Protomate should use the same material as Micro-Trains does for it's spring.

That's what I meant exactly. If MTL can manufacture those very delicate springs, it should be possible to manufacture soft enough pigtail-type spring needed for Protomates

[ednadolski]

If MTL can manufacture those very delicate springs, it should be possible to manufacture soft enough pigtail-type spring needed for Protomates

Possible, tho not necessarily simple....

https://www.acxesspring.com/torsion-spring-design.html

Ed