BobRunty, samusi01 and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
The "scalebox" parts don't use the brass splitter; The splitter is formed in the box bottom part. The little "jog" out is where it lives. Its very challenging to form using injection molding however being both very thin and very tall. That was part of the journey of using 3D printing for the whole thing.When this mechanism makes it to mass produced models, one can use a pin instead of the splitter shim or forming the splitter in the box. Its how the original prototypes worked, and is super simple for mass production and assembly using injection molded box parts. However its rather difficult to retrofit, requiring some precise drilling placement, hence the brass shim part for box retrofits.
WOW, this is a very clever design!!Now stop teasing us and let us know when and how we can purchase!!!Jim
Thanks for the explanation, but more I think about how this works, the more questions come to mind.One more:MTL couplers are designed in a way that then they swing to the left (looking at the end of the car), the coupler's "thumb" (not sure of the official name - the part on the other side of the knuckle) stays closed. While this is part of MTL's magnetic uncoupling design, it also assures that the couplers stay coupler while traveling through s-curves or other trackage which results in couplers shifting laterally.From what I see so far, when the N-Possible coupler swings to the left, that will open the "thumb". That can cause uncoupling when the couplers are shifted laterally like that while they are under slack. Kato knuckle couplers, for example are notorious for doing that.
I think what you're talking about here is shank interconnection; MTL couplers "thumb" is interconnected to the knuckle by means of the trip pin and that loop shape. It doesn't technically stay completely closed, it opens to the limit allowed by the trip in interconnect. They're also fairly unreliable under buff (slack as you're referring) in corners.
Again, thanks for the clarification. But in defense of the MTL couplers, in my decades if using them they have never uncoupled under buff condition through curves or s-curves.
... But the real issue with MT buff performance isn't uncouplings it's the derailments from not keeping alignment under buff. Cars pushed to the side love to pick frogs on turnouts, especially.
...Cars pushed to the side love to pick frogs on turnouts, especially.
I'd say this isn't a coupler problem, but a turnout problem. With the proper length and placement of a turnout's guardrails and a precise check-gauge (and with properly gauged wheelsets), picking points shouldn't happen with "...Cars pushed to the side..."Just sayin'Cheerio!Bob Gilmore
What I'm talking about is couplers under buff (or slack) shifting laterally, mainly when going through S-curves. Kato couplers handle that really poorly and often uncouple, while MTL couplers have no problem.
@turbowhiz Maybe I missed it being discussed before, but are you gone through the patent process to protect your product/idea?~Ian