Keystone Details now offers a magnetic turnout throw for Atlas Custom line

[mmagliaro]

John, this is really such a good piece of work on so many levels.  The design is simple and adaptable to many turnout types,
and this is something that the model train world really needs.   Big klunky ground throws are awful looking, slide switches, no matter how tiny, look like slide switches and have to be disguised.  Dependence on steel spring wires requires the user to fine-tune them so there is correct pressure in both directions.

This gets rid of ALL that.  Compact, simple, and cosmetically good looking.    In good engineering, there is always a strong element of "inventor", I believe.  You have really hit the nail on the head here.

[Lemosteam]

I am really looking forward to these.

I just received test prints today, and the results are excellent. I must make some very minor design tweaks and may incorporate an assembly aid for the magnets into the holders, and to install the pieces onto the throwbar and guide blocks.

I have tested the electrical continuity of this iteration and that works great. 

Here are some pics:

Continuity check on the throwbar slide. All of the magnets snap into their respective holders.



This is the fixed magnet holder as I thread the PB wire through the wormholes in the print.



This is the wire that the magnets trap.



These are the continuity checks, last one I must have slipped.

[Lemosteam]

Thanks Max!

[peteski]

What is "1216"? 
Would be helpful to see what range the multimeter was set to.

[Lemosteam]

It’s just a value that deviates from 1 when I check continuity, it jumps all over as I am trying to hold the camera and the probe at the same time. Any value other than 1 means continuity right?

I will further test it after I have added the frog, + and - wires.

[Lemosteam]

I am really looking forward to these.

@jargonlet , which ones are you waiting for? The custom line version;or the code 55 version? The images below are the C55 version.

[jargonlet]

@jargonlet , which ones are you waiting for? The custom line version;or the code 55 version? The images below are the C55 version.

The code 55 version.

[peteski]

It’s just a value that deviates from 1 when I check continuity, it jumps all over as I am trying to hold the camera and the probe at the same time. Any value other than 1 means continuity right?

I will further test it after I have added the frog, + and - wires.

Ah, ok.  "1" on multimeteter resistance or continuity range meand "higher than maximum reading on the selected range". Yes, on continuity range it shows open circuit.  But on my multimeter I would look for zero reading in the continuity range, as when there is a valid  non-1 reading, it is in ohms.  Zero (ohms) would be continuity.  But in this case you jiggling the leads likely cause bogus resistance readings.

[Lemosteam]

Ah, ok.  "1" on multimeteter resistance or continuity range meand "higher than maximum reading on the selected range". Yes, on continuity range it shows open circuit.  But on my multimeter I would look for zero reading in the continuity range, as when there is a valid  non-1 reading, it is in ohms.  Zero (ohms) would be continuity.  But in this case you jiggling the leads likely cause bogus resistance readings.

Yes, it is difficult with these tiny parts to hold the leads steady enough to reach "0".  I am not looking for a value per se, I am just watching for a value other than 1.

[Lemosteam]

The code 55 version.

That is what I thought, these will be available very soon, and I will make a similar video and announcement for the C55 version here in the Product discussion page.  I am working through the assembly process currently.  I want to try to be able to assemble this without any special tools or fixtures.

Stay tuned.

[basementcalling]

Will these be thin enough that simply removing the cork roadbed under the point area will allow your mechanism enough room to rest without vertically pushing the track up?

Love the idea. I hate nothing more in our hobby than turnout mechanisms. Never found one I was any good at installing, especially not our under the table Tortoise style machines, even the Blue Point or Bull Frog manual ones.

Keeping everything above the benchwork would be a godsend.

[Lemosteam]

Will these be thin enough that simply removing the cork roadbed under the point area will allow your mechanism enough room to rest without vertically pushing the track up?

Love the idea. I hate nothing more in our hobby than turnout mechanisms. Never found one I was any good at installing, especially not our under the table Tortoise style machines, even the Blue Point or Bull Frog manual ones.

Keeping everything above the benchwork would be a godsend.

@basementcalling See this thread for the Code 55 version.  a relatively small cavity is needed under the ties for this.  It is as small as i can package it for the most part.

[Maletrain]

The other thread says it requires a 10mm deep cutout under the ties.  That is 5'-3" pit in N scale, so not something that would be created just by removing the ballast in a scale roadbed cork ballast.  N scale roadbed is usually ~ 1/8" thick, and 10 mm is about 3 times that.

[Lemosteam]

@Maletrain , The term roadbed cab be used to describe any material; Track on wood, track on tape, track on foam, track on cork, track on cork on foam, track on cork on wood, you name it. 

Any version of roadbed will need some form of pocket under the throwbar area which may or may not be all the way through your roadbed of choice.

I will add pocket dimensions for this version above like I did for the Atlas C55 version.

[Maletrain]

@Maletrain , The term roadbed cab be used to describe any material; Track on wood, track on tape, track on foam, track on cork, track on cork on foam, track on cork on wood, you name it. 

Any version of roadbed will need some form of pocket under the throwbar area which may or may not be all the way through your roadbed of choice.

I will add pocket dimensions for this version above like I did for the Atlas C55 version.

You're right, I said "roadbed" where I meant to say "cork ballast".  I picked up the term while checking MBK's site to see thickness dimensions to make the post.  Fixed it with a cross-out in the post above.