Model Railroading > RailCrew Uncoupler and Switch Machine

Hi guys,

We've posted more information about our upcoming RailCrew Uncoupler and Switch Machine, including an introductory video.

You can read it here: http://www.rapidotrains.com/railcrew.html

The uncouplers are in production now and the switch machines will enter production in a few days once we solve a QC failure on the internal micro-switches.

I am attaching a video of the "Rube Goldberg" test machine that Randy built to check the longevity of the model components.  Most components lasted to 40,000 cycles.  I can't see anyone uncoupling their cars 40,000 times in one spot...

Please feel free to ask any questions about these new inventions and I will do my best to answer them or get Randy, the inventor, to sign up to TO so he can answer directly.

These are pretty amazing inventions.  We plan to always have them in stock.

-Jason

 

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One thing I will say is you're certainly unique in the marketing and introduction of your products.  Most of the big guys merely send a sample to some guy in Indiana and let him do a review to his many on-line followers.

This looks like a great product but while watching your video it oocurred to me to ask about whatever happened to your "bendy track" product?  I do not recall hearing of any release.

Rick

We did indeed ship out Bendy Track, but the project was too complex for our liking. We jointly owned the tooling with one of our vendors in China, and the project wasn't fully under our control. Hence the continued delays before it came out. We may bring it out again in the future, but if we do, we will retool it ourselves.

The RailCrew products are from a different factory and we (RailCrew and Rapido) have developed it ourselves.  We don't anticipate any delivery issues.  We've been testing it for several months already.

-Jason


rschonfelder Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> One thing I will say is you're certainly unique in
> the marketing and introduction of your products. 
> Most of the big guys merely send a sample to some
> guy in Indiana and let him do a review to his many
> on-line followers.
>
> This looks like a great product but while watching
> your video it oocurred to me to ask about whatever
> happened to your "bendy track" product?  I do not
> recall hearing of any release.
>
> Rick

Just for clarity, does the The RailCrew ON-OFF Remote Uncoupler work for Sargent couplers and Kadee couplers?

The ad uses the phrase 'all major brands'. I'm guessing no for Sargent, they seem to need a vertical orientation:
http://www.sergentengineering.com/

Looks like some good ideas, like the switch stand on the switch motor.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/15 17:22 by TCnR.

Looks a like a good product. I was wondering if the cam was friction fit, keyed, or otherwise secured to the motor shaft. Also is the switch machine a type of stall motor, or a two position solenoid or servo?

Ted Curphey
Ontario, OR

It doesn't work for Sargents.  You wouldn't want to remotely uncouple Sargents anyway - it takes away the fun!

These are mainly for Kadees.

-Jason


TCnR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Just for clarity, does the The RailCrew ON-OFF
> Remote Uncoupler work for Sargent couplers and
> Kadee couplers?
>
> The ad uses the phrase 'all major brands'. I'm
> guessing no for Sargent, they seem to need a
> vertical orientation:
> http://www.sergentengineering.com/
>
> Looks like some good ideas, like the switch stand
> on the switch motor.

The pole has a rectangular cross section and the cam has a rectangular hole.

There is no motor - it works using magnets.

It really is extremely clever..... :-)

We're working on a patent application now.

-Jason


funnelfan Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Looks a like a good product. I was wondering if
> the cam was friction fit, keyed, or otherwise
> secured to the motor shaft. Also is the switch
> machine a type of stall motor, or a two position
> solenoid or servo?

Jason:

I like both ideas. At first I was wondering what your remote uncoupler's advantage was versus the newer Kadee electromagnetic uncoupler and now I see three benefits:

1. Easier to install.
2. Ability to install after the track has been laid.
3. The blue light from the LED so I can see where the uncoupler is during uncoupling. (Obvoulsy, this is a big advantage since most of us install this kind of product because the location is out of reach for manual uncoupling and need help in seeing the location.)

Has a price been announced yet or did I miss it?

Edit: Oh, I see you have the prices posted. Me Bad. Your price is competitive, and I appreciate you offering a quantity discount. I'll be ordering a few though my local hobby shop.

Victor A. Baird
http://www.erstwhilepublications.com



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/15 20:34 by wabash2800.

    So how does this work ?? Hold the camera still so we can see whts happening instead of looking like the News 7 chopper flying around the latest apartment fire. 

The page and video on it show it well:
http://www.rapidotrains.com/railcrew.html


dcfbalcoS1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>     So how does this work ?? Hold the camera
> still so we can see whts happening instead of
> looking like the News 7 chopper flying around the
> latest apartment fire.