Atlas 6999 Turntable - a couple of questions

The atlas turntable does have indexing and does rotate in both directions with the included switch.

Thank you UP guy, I appreciate your help.

Paul

Atlas uses a DC can motor and a Geneva wheel indexing. This is what gives you that locked in aligned each position track alignment, but also, that "wiggle room" where you turning on and off a DC can motor there is a range of motion where the table is still indexed in the position.  Again, the small can motor can go in either direction. The Geneva wheel method of indexing is what gives the movement where there is lost motion, then controlled motion of the bridge, then lost motion. It's in that lost motion portion of the system that allows you the wiggle room to stop the motor before the next index.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHNbud6oZuM

The bad- a Geneva mechanism can be quite jerky. This is again due to the lost motion aspect, then sudden engagement of movement, then slam to the stop at the end. This is one reason to run the turntable motor with a variable voltage so you can slow the motor down, find a reasonable compromise of motion speed without jerking the bridge movement so fast you roll a big heavy diecast engine right off the track into the pit.

Video of one in testing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJhO0Ip570Q

This was moved to the Atlas category.  A note to all forum members to please make sure to be familiar with the categories and place your topic to the best of your determination in the proper one since it makes it much easier for future searches.  Thanks!

@Railrunnin posted:

Greetings, does the Atlas turntable has an indexing feature or is it "eyeball and trial / error" to line up to the whisker tracks? Does anyone have a video of their Atlas turntable in action that you can share?

Last, does this turntable rotate in both directions or only one?

Mine has worked quite well, but I have the earlier version.  I control it with the Lionel SC2 and feed it with a variable DC supply.  I run it slower than the previous video test demo.

My error on the wrong forum.

Thank you Vernon for the input and videos.

John, I plan on using my Lionel Remote to use the turntable. The variable power supply as you and Vernon stated will also be used.

Paul

@Vernon Barry posted:

Video of one in testing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJhO0Ip570Q

Are they always that loud?  Sounds like a vibromotor!

@jhz563 posted:

Are they always that loud?  Sounds like a vibromotor!

They're not quiet, it's the tiny DC motor spinning away at a rapid clip.  However, mine isn't that loud as I don't run it that fast.