HOW T0 THREAD ON MILL HOUSE RIVER STUDIO'S INDEXING CONTROL SYSTEM //VIDEO ADDED 9/27/13

Alex MOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hello everyone,

While I was installing the indexing control system, I figured I would post some detailed photo's and a video of this awesome system in operation. If you don't have this system, I would suggest purchasing one for your turntable. There's so much that can be done with it, what I'm showing in my video is just scratching the surface. I will explain as much as I can and what I learned, I will need Al to step in and explain the many other features the system has.

Thanks for looking,

Alex

HERE'S WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE INDEXING CONTROL SYSTEM

( HOME ) SWITCH BRACKET & SWITCH

MOTOR PULLEY. INDEXER GEAR

KEYPAD CIRCUIT BOARD

KEYPAD

HOME GEAR TAB

TELECOM CABLE

MOTOR / ENCODER CIRCUIT BOARD AND MOUNTING BRACKET

OPPOSITE SIDE OF MOTOR ENCODER BOARD

HERE'S PHOTO'S OF THE INSTALLATION

HERE'S HOW IT LOOKS BEFORE THE INSTALLATION. FIRST UNBOLT THE MOTOR

BRACKET. FOUR BOLTS AND IT COMES RIGHT OFF

OLD PULLEY REMOVE SET SCREW

NEW PULLEY WITH GEAR INSTALLED

THESE BOLTS WILL BE SECURED TO THE MOTOR BRACKET

DRILL OUT BOTH HOLES

SECOND HOLE

MAKE SURE GEAR TEETH AREN'T TO FAR APART OR TO CLOSE TOGETHER JUST SIGHT

PLAY.

CENTER PUNCH ANY HOLES BEFORE YOU DRILL

DRILLED OUT

NOW SECURE IT AND TIGHTEN THE TWO BOLTS. YOU CAN ADJUST THE GEAR PLAY

WITH THE TWO GOLD COLOR BOLTS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PHOTO

NOW IT'S TIME TO INSTALL THE HOME SWITCH AND BRACKET

CENTER PUNCH AND DRILL OUT YOUR HOLES

DRILLED OUT

SWITCH AND BRACKET INSTALLED THIS WILL HAVE TO BE ADJUSTED TO HIT THE HOME

GEAR TAB.

HOME GEAR TAB INSTALLED NOW YOU CAN MAKE YOUR ADJUSTMENT

I MADE MY OWN SUPPORT FOR THE KEYPAD

ALSO BEFORE TAKING ANYTHING APART YOU SHOULD TAPE YOUR DRIVE BELT INTO THE

GROVES SO IT DOESN'T COME OUT. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. ONCE YOU INSTALLATION

IS COMPLETE YOU CAN REMOVE THE DUCT TAPE

NOW THE INSTALLATION IS COMPLETE,THIS INSTALL SHOULD TAKE ABOUT AN HOUR

Here's a video of it in operation

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9/26/134:36 PM

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CSX AlOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Alex, great job on the install. Great photos and video of your installation of the kit.

See you at York.

9/26/138:00 PM

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bluelinec4OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

Is that a Millhouse Turntable? Can the kit be used on other brands?

9/26/1311:57 PM

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Dave HikelOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERFORUM SPONSOR

Thanks for posting this Alex! I will certainly be taking a look at this system at York.

A couple questions about the operation and video. I noticed that all but once the video cut between the movement of the TT bridge and the movement of the engines. In a couple of spots it looked like the bridge over shot the whisker track. Did you have to adjust the alignment the alignment before making engine movements? If so, what is the method for making subtle adjustments? If the bridge overshoots, does the motor control automatically reverse and realign or is this handled manually? I'm very interested in integrating turntable operations with layout automation, so I'm curious about the details of this system.

Al, does the system interface with TMCC for direct command control operation? If not, are there other options (i.e. contact closure inputs) for integrating your indexer with command control?

9/27/135:00 AM

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CSX AlOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Originally Posted by Dave Hikel:

In a couple of spots it looked like the bridge over shot the whisker track. Did you have to adjust the alignment the alignment before making engine movements?

Dave, I am sure it is an optical illusion. The quadrature encoder is accurate to a 64th of an inch on our 34" tables and even greater on our smaller tables like Alex's.

If so, what is the method for making subtle adjustments? If the bridge overshoots, does the motor control automatically reverse and realign or is this handled manually?

All adjusting of bridge alignments to whisker tracks is done in setup and you can address bridge movements down to single encoder positions to achieve perfect alignment. Once the tracks are programmed the bridge automatically stops at that exact point every time. Also the bridge will rotate to selected track by the shortest route, plus you can select which end of the bridge you want to go to your destination whisker track.

I'm very interested in integrating turntable operations with layout automation, so I'm curious about the details of this system.

Al, does the system interface with TMCC for direct command control operation? If not, are there other options (i.e. contact closure inputs) for integrating your indexer with command control?

Yes the indexer will interface with TMCC for direct command control. We have a board that piggybacks on our keypad board that does this. We are planning on having that at York to demo hopefully if all goes as planned

9/27/136:58 AM

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Alex MOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Good morning Al, Ben, and Dave

Just to keep us all on the same page, the bridge lines up perfectly every time with each whisker track. It's the video quality that's making it look like that. We shot this video with an I phone holding it in our hands. I will shoot a close up video today of the bridge and the whisker tracks lining up. I can assure you they line up perfect. What screws up the video is editing it and putting it together, when I take video's today I will shoot separate video's each time with no cuts in it, of the bridge starting from the home track going to each whisker track.

Al, Ben want's to know if the system will work with other turntables?

Thanks,

Alex

9/27/138:20 AM

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cbojanowerOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER

Thanks Alex for the pics. And Al it looks like you have another great product

9/27/139:05 AM

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CSX AlOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hi Ben, Sorry the indexer only works with our turntable. Thanks Alex & Chris.

9/27/139:28 AM

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DMASSOOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

Sweet!

9/27/139:51 AM

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Former Member

Very descriptive Alex. Anyone who has Al's product would be wise to install this kit. Makes track selection so much easier.

Thank you for sharing this with us.

9/27/1312:01 PM

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Alex MOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Hello everyone,

I thank you all, here's a close up video of the bridge and whisker tracks lining up

Thanks,

Alex

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9/27/132:03 PM

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PopsrrOGR Forum Member

Alex, Great job on the pictures and video. That system of CSX Al's looks very cool in action.

9/27/133:43 PM

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Former Member

I'll definitely be checking out the system with the TMCC piggyback set up at York. We currently control the TT with a DC Commander board, and it runs great with the Cab 1/2, but because it is not on the edge of the layout, it can be a bit difficult to eyeball the line up at each track.

9/27/135:49 PM

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Dave HikelOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERFORUM SPONSOR

Thanks for the reply guys. The alignment in that second video looks pretty sweet! I'll look forward to seeing it in operation at York.

9/28/1312:23 AM

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KevinBOGR Forum Member

That's an awesome looking Turntable,and a sweet Indexing system.

Thanks for sharing the video Alex!

9/28/1312:31 AM

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