Switch Blade Chairs, Tie Bar & Assembly Jig

[Wayne Kinney]

Hi Guys,

Been spending all of today trying to figure out the best design and manufacturing method for the tie bar and how to attached the switch blades to the tie bar.

I was thinking about getting brass or nickel silver chairs with a pin underneath, 3D printed and then cast, but I now think that is over kill and using up print time on my machine.

Instead I am thinking of using 0.2mm thick PCB board to mill out 2mm wide chair plates, with a 0.3mm hole drilled into it. A piece of 11 thou spring steel wire is inserted into the hole, creating a pin on the underside.

This, along with the already filed switch blade, is inserted into the assembly jig and soldered together. This gives you a switch blade, with a soldered chair plate with locating pin on the underside. Repeat for the other switch blade.

Then, a 0.5mm thick tie bar is provided with 0.3mm holes pre drilled in the correct location. Each switch blade can be installed separately onto the turnout base, making things easier. The pin locates into the tie bar.

This will result in a strong, and hinged/pivoting tie bar assembly.

What do you guys think?

Thanks,
Wayne.

[Wayne Kinney]

Actually, thinking further, I could get the chairs etched from 15 thou nickel silver, with a little recess etched for the rail to sit up against. Oooowww

[millerca]

:Pkeep on thinking!

cheers, mike

[josephp]

Tiebars was always the problem that defeated me in 4mm. So I am very concerned about how best to do this in N.