Weekend Update 6/11/17

[VonRyan]

Over 52 hours now and running good.  This bodes well for the concept and I will definitely continue testing and tweeking in this direction.  Mechanical devices tend to be that way.  Something truly faulty will show evidence of that very early in testing.  If it makes the first twenty-four hours with little to no evidence of difficulty it's probably good for the long haul or at least headed in the right direction.  This shows no difficulty in performance or wear so far.  Very thrilled.

Will you be at the convention in Pittsburgh? I'm dying to see all these little chassis that you've been working on.

[narrowminded]

Will you be at the convention in Pittsburgh? I'm dying to see all these little chassis that you've been working on.

I'd love to but IF I do it will only be Friday as I have a long planned annual family get together to attend in upstate New York. 

[narrowminded]

Over 52 hours now and running good.... Very thrilled.

Over 100 hours now and still running good.   I can't express enough, after all of the time and effort invested, how downright thrilling this is.

This has two additional major details in addition to the new primary drive reduction concept that are in test, as well as one more minor one.  Tallies four new individual tests running simultaneously.  The minor one is simply some of the specific components that are planned to be used, anticipated to be fine, but this is the first test in actual service.  The components are fine. 

The two major ones (in addition to the primary drive) were wished for features that are performance related but especially afford more configuration options.  They are configurations that I originally wanted but did not think would be attainable.  The extensive testing over the last couple of years with the refinements accomplished and knowledge acquired suddenly made them seem at least possible.  The current test run has proven them to be viable, too!   I am quite happy!  Four out of four! 

[160pennsy]

Over 100 hours now and still running good.   I can't express enough, after all of the time and effort invested, how downright thrilling this is.

This has two additional major details in addition to the new primary drive reduction concept that are in test, as well as one more minor one.  Tallies four new individual tests running simultaneously.  The minor one is simply some of the specific components that are planned to be used, anticipated to be fine, but this is the first test in actual service.  The components are fine. 

The two major ones (in addition to the primary drive) were wished for features that are performance related but especially afford more configuration options.  They are configurations that I originally wanted but did not think would be attainable.  The extensive testing over the last couple of years with the refinements accomplished and knowledge acquired suddenly made them seem at least possible.  The current test run has proven them to be viable, too!   I am quite happy!  Four out of four!

As others have mentioned before when will the Nn3 (6.5mm) versions be available for purchase? Are you working with any vendors of cast metal Nn3 locomotive kits like Republic Locomotive Works, Showcase Miniatures, Aspenmodel or Shapeways to have them utilize your power chassis in their products?

[narrowminded]

As others have mentioned before when will the Nn3 (6.5mm) versions be available for purchase? Are you working with any vendors of cast metal Nn3 locomotive kits like Republic Locomotive Works, Showcase Miniatures, Aspenmodel or Shapeways to have them utilize your power chassis in their products?

Time flies when you're having fun!  

I haven't made any delivery schedules yet as I'm still final testing and when I make changes it can take a while until they're designed, prototyped, and then adequately tested.  For example, this current round took about three weeks to this point.  A couple of days ago, because testing's going good enough, I started the final configuration design that prompted this most recent change.  I'm also working alone.  Fixturing will still need to be made for some of the production parts as they will be produced in production machines, not my home prototyping machines.

So, all of that to say this.    I'm months away at this point BUT should have one of the first prototypes running in a loco within a few weeks.  It will be an eight wheel Nn3 loco with four driven wheels, at least for now.  I'll be continuing to work on a few other configurations including the four wheel mine loco truck and through to a finished mine loco.  That one will still be months away as I'm going back at the design for the compensated drive (that can be used in any most four wheelers) that's still miniature but doesn't cost two fortunes to produce (I've got ideas to get it down to one).   Another one is the N scale PCC chassis.  Following those will be a chassis for a Z scale Rebel switcher and an N scale GE-25 tonner, both existing Shapeways bodies.  As far as working with existing manufacturers, yes a few but I don't want to say at this point as there's nothing committed to or from any.  That first unit that should be running soon is one of them.  It's a cast white metal loco sample that was sent to me to see what I could do, if anything.  It should be running soon although there will be reviews with the manufacturer before it's considered ready for prime time.  Expect months before anything's ready for sale but maybe less for some first prototypes in some hands for testing and feedback.

And let me just stress that this venture was to make a TINY power chassis that has some heft (size relative), excellent slow speed performance from creep to full throttle, stone quiet precision mechanism, runs on 12 volts, gearings for scale speeds below 20 N scale MPH or faster gearings as applications dictate, accurate NMRA RP-25 profile nickel silver wheels in assorted sizes starting as small as 24" N or Nn3 (not all sizes will fit all configurations) and in correct NMRA gauge for the specific scale on assembly with no muss, no fuss.  When broken down to individual features nearly every one can be considered a first.  All in one package certainly will be a first anywhere as far as I have seen.  And there's a reason.  And the answers represent a LOT of work, yet to be finalized.

And for some appreciation of how small we're talking, in this thread https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=42126.msg529342#msg529342 there is talk of fitting a motor to a single existing truck and conversations around the whole endeavor.  Note the talk and accompanying pictures of the dimensions of just the motor.  10mm x 12mm x 20mm and elsewhere in the thread there's mention of  adding a planetary gear reducer to accomplish the necessary reduction.  Well, this smallest truck (for now) that I've been testing, setting on the rails as a complete running assembly, is measurably smaller than just that motor, much less the whole truck.  It's at 8.5mm x 11.3mm x 15.8mm.  And that is with gearing for sub 20 MPH top speed, smooth control from creep to max speed, and stone quiet running.  The really small one is yet to be prototyped but with what I've learned so far, it will be done someday.  This was small enough for my current needs and at some point you just have to complete something, huh.  

I really appreciate the interest I've received on this and hope that someday soon it will be something we can all enjoy.   I've been having fun with it.