Magnorail - how to use reed switches and Arduinos

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  • Опубліковано 21 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 212

  • @Curious_Skeptic
    @Curious_Skeptic Рік тому +5

    No idea how or why I'm here on this channel, but thanks UA-cam! This is just amazing! Mad skills on so many levels! Looks like fun, but no way I'd have the patience for all this.

  • @andrewjeffries8721
    @andrewjeffries8721 5 років тому +66

    John, what a delight to see the end result! A very creative scene that goes far beyond the usual static scenery of a model! Bravo, sir! Although I have other areas in which my creativity is focused I can appreciate that you had to plan, design, test, tweak and work a lot to make the finished product. God bless you, John! Well done!!

    • @johnsminiatures8955
      @johnsminiatures8955  5 років тому +5

      Andrew, thanks for your kind comments. If you appreciated this video, I'm certain you'll like the next one that is going to be even more unusual and innovative. But it will take me about 4 months to make the new model.

    • @TimberSurf
      @TimberSurf 5 років тому +3

      @@johnsminiatures8955 Can't wait!

  • @bensonwr
    @bensonwr Рік тому

    Started watching these videos intrigued by the creativity . THEN i recognised then I recognised your voice. Thank you for so much joy over the years

  • @mikefranks4528
    @mikefranks4528 Рік тому +3

    Wow the finished product is amazing to watch. Just love it.

  • @Mike_Hughes
    @Mike_Hughes Рік тому +4

    OMG ! John, thank you SO much for 'introducing' me to this ! - I had absolutely NO knowledge of Magnorail... I did some work for Gerry Anderson on Thunderbirds (a very long time ago!) and know he, as I am now, would have been stunned at how useful this could have been !!! Take care, Mike

  • @dserrao7188
    @dserrao7188 День тому

    Omg! That was incredible watching! I can’t believe what you can do with modelling nowadays! Absolutely brilliantly done!

  • @____________________________.x
    @____________________________.x 19 годин тому +3

    Ingenious. Looks like the YT algorithm has blessed you

  • @graealex
    @graealex Рік тому +18

    Interesting to see this now. A few years ago, we used this system for a professional exhibit. But we used hall sensors and replaced the DC motors with servo stepper motors, so we could get synchronized travel, repeatable speed and just used one hall sensor per track as a reset point. Also used a fast Arduino Due.

    • @conorstewart2214
      @conorstewart2214 Рік тому +1

      For something basic you don’t need a fast microcontroller. The classic arduinos are slow but are definitely fast enough for models like this, people have even made drones with classic arduinos and they require a lot more precise timing and computation than a model. If you find you need a more powerful microcontroller for something basic it generally means you have inefficient or lazy code.
      You should also use everything available to you. Driving stepper motors directly from microcontrollers is a waste (not saying you did but just pointing it out). Just get a cheap stepper driver and then all you need is a signal to tell it the direction you want and a signal to tell it to step and the stepper driver will handle the actual motor movements and can do things like microstepping to get smaller steps or if using “silent” stepper drivers then the motor itself won’t make any noise.

    • @graealex
      @graealex Рік тому

      @@conorstewart2214 For each level of micro stepping for example, you also need to provide double as many pulses to the stepper driver, for the same amount of rotation. So again having a fast micro is advantageous.
      Actually a lot of examples where the good old 8-bitters CAN perform, but DON'T particularly well.
      And there is no reason to optimize software to run on an underpowered micro if you're doing a one-off.

  • @DrewsRailwayWorld
    @DrewsRailwayWorld 20 годин тому

    Absolutely brilliant.. I couldn't eyes my eyes of it, and the scene so beautifully set. ..Drew

  • @modellbahnkeller
    @modellbahnkeller Рік тому +3

    What an incredibly beautiful diorama with Magnorail. Thank you for your explanations. Best model railway greetings from Germany and thanks for sharing!

  • @marcotrivelli2116
    @marcotrivelli2116 Рік тому

    Brilliant! You confirm the discussion I had with a model maker-integralist: for him the models shouldn't be mobile, but all fixed! Evidently ten years ago I could already see far! But your model; very nice... only ever seen such a curved short bridge!!! 😊

  • @charlesballard5251
    @charlesballard5251 Рік тому

    THAT WAS WONDERFUL!!!!! Reminds me of a major accident or two that I had on my bike when I was a kid. Except no ambulance.

  • @Wolfyjinny
    @Wolfyjinny Рік тому

    I love this little scene, so well thought out and executed.

  • @jumbledfox2098
    @jumbledfox2098 Рік тому +1

    This is incredible!! Absolutely beautiful and breathes life into a scene

  • @ovalwingnut
    @ovalwingnut Рік тому

    That "motion" is so increadably smoooooooth. It's really quite breath·tak·ing. Thank you for the video. Cheers from So.CA.USA 3rd House On the Right

  • @psycho_memphis
    @psycho_memphis 4 роки тому +6

    that's on a whole other level mate, congrats!

  • @schrodingerscat1863
    @schrodingerscat1863 Рік тому +4

    First of all, this is a very good scene and takes Magnorail way further than I have seen before. Here's a suggestion though, something that would add a bit more realism would be to extend this concept to also control the speed of the Magnorail motor slowing it down so it's more realistic when vehicles go round corners.

  • @heikoh.6833
    @heikoh.6833 Рік тому

    Absolutely brilliant work. I love this idea and the craftsmanship. Greetings from Germany.

  • @JK-zx3go
    @JK-zx3go Рік тому +1

    The diorama is really brilliant.

  • @dusseljeef
    @dusseljeef 4 роки тому +4

    I like those "howto's" with technics as Arduino's. Thanks for sharing.. the video is well explained en the scenery is outstanding. Till next time!

  • @somedavehikes
    @somedavehikes Рік тому

    just happened across this. you have a wonderful talent, and the diarama obviously tells a story... great work!

  • @bobuk5722
    @bobuk5722 Рік тому +17

    Hi folks, I suggest using needle nose pliers or similar to hold the reed switch wires between the bend and the glass to further minimise the risk of damage. This action model looks wonderful does n't it!

  • @miccadehond3427
    @miccadehond3427 3 роки тому

    What a delightfull masterpiece!
    A big compliment to you Sir from the Model Railway Club Deventer MSCD!

  • @tnuag01
    @tnuag01 Рік тому +1

    Absolutely superb modelling - one of the most interesting videos I have watched in a long time. Thank you!

  • @DarwinsChihuahua
    @DarwinsChihuahua Рік тому

    This is the coolest thing I've seen all day! That's amazing work on many levels!

  • @titusllewelyn
    @titusllewelyn Рік тому

    Wow! The action model is wonderful! I now want to see all of them.

  • @kittonsmitton
    @kittonsmitton 5 років тому +2

    What a fantastic addition, more tips tricks and special effects please.

    • @johnsminiatures8955
      @johnsminiatures8955  5 років тому

      I'm starting work on a brand new model in the new year which I think will intrigue people! If you subscribe to my channel you will be notified when the video goes on line. Thanks for your interest.

  • @PaulRestorer
    @PaulRestorer Рік тому

    Never seen something like this. Amazing. Thanks voor sharing👍

  • @MrEriksweet
    @MrEriksweet 18 годин тому

    Totally surprised me, one of the coolest things i've seen.

  • @happyboar1019
    @happyboar1019 3 роки тому +3

    The final result is wonderful 🤩 you did a great job 👍

  • @1thomoose
    @1thomoose 3 дні тому

    Awesome work, fabulous detail, well done Sir.

  • @buggy4696
    @buggy4696 Рік тому +1

    Very nice video and I'm interested in knowing more about the special effects

  • @mrab4222
    @mrab4222 Рік тому +14

    4:55 You don't need the external pull-down resistor. The Arduino's I/O pins already have an internal pull-down resistor that's takes effect when you configure the pin with INPUT_PULLDOWN.

    • @gblargg
      @gblargg Рік тому +3

      Earlier Atmega CPUs don't have that, just internal pull-ups. Of course he can just wire the reed switches to connect to ground and invert the meaning of the inputs.

    • @conorstewart2214
      @conorstewart2214 Рік тому

      @@gblargg all of the arduino clones I have used have had both pull ups and pull downs so I would imagine the genuine arduinos are probably the same.

    • @gblargg
      @gblargg Рік тому

      @@conorstewart2214 Take a look at e.g. the Pro Micro schematic and the Atmega32u4 datasheet. No pull-down resistors.

  • @muriellestepler1148
    @muriellestepler1148 2 роки тому +1

    Never seen something like this. Amazing. Thanks voor sharing

  • @CrazyCoupleDIY
    @CrazyCoupleDIY Рік тому

    Man this is an absolute masterpiece

  • @quickwimnl
    @quickwimnl 3 дні тому

    For bikes, this system is genius. For cars and trucks, I prefer Faller carsystem.
    I love the display. I like movement on scale-models. Especially those with a little (dark) humor on it.

  • @TesserId
    @TesserId Рік тому +1

    Would have liked to see more about the assembly, configuration, and operation of the track underneath. I suppose I should see if can look that up. Anyway, very charming scenario for the sequence.

  • @christopherbaglin4314
    @christopherbaglin4314 4 роки тому +4

    Marvellous stuff! Something to delight me as a 50 year old, but the 'magic' of it would have fascinated my (former) 5 year old self even more!
    Could vehicles designed for the Faller Car System work? Advantage being having working lights (though no doubt functionality would be limited versus a proper Faller road system), but maybe the front steering would function more like a real vehicle. Obviously the vehicle would need the motor to be removed or mechanically isolated.
    Problem with the Faller system seems to be that the vehicles need to be quite large to accomodate the drive system and battery, meaning that you are restricted mostly to commercial vehicles. With Magnorail, normal cars, as well as bikes and presumably motorbikes, could be used- but not as autonomously, since all vehicles on a chain would start and stop together. But I bet both systems could at least be used side-by-side.

  • @timchalk6810
    @timchalk6810 Рік тому

    I love the mechanisms ised to illustrate the bicycle crash. Very clever 👍

  • @ZOMBIEHEADSHOTKILLER
    @ZOMBIEHEADSHOTKILLER Рік тому

    i was impressed untill the bike crash.... then i was blown away, that was very unexpected, and well done.

  • @azyfloof
    @azyfloof Рік тому +2

    I'd never heard of Magnarail before watching this, and I', so fascinated! :O The thumbnail looked particularly wild, like a robotic looking spin fossilised in stone :O
    Regarding Arduinos, I have a few genuine ones I got from Maplin years back (remember Maplin? :O) and I used those with the ISP program to problam bare chips. I can make incredibly miniaturised circuits that way

    • @luminousfractal420
      @luminousfractal420 Рік тому +1

      I used to run and get the maplins catalog of parts like it was my childhood comic 😊
      Helped with tearing down vcr's and things for investigation. Loved brass and steel mechanicals in electronics.

    • @azyfloof
      @azyfloof Рік тому

      @@luminousfractal420 I took apart an older model VCR a few years back, and the mechanism and arrangement of components compared to more modern VCRs is so much more wildly complex and satisfying :D The VCR really is the perfect marriage of electronics and mechanical engineering

  • @Martin-pb7ts
    @Martin-pb7ts Рік тому

    Very cool. I can only imagine how many hours of work went into this. I did a project some years ago where we wanted to demo something at a convention so we built a slot car track and we wanted to time the laps and have a board with the information in real time. We started with reed switches but couldn't get them to measure the passing cars accurately. I don't know if there was lots of electrical interference from the slot or if the car just went by too fast but we had to go with another solution. I did not know at the time that the orientation of the reed switch was important. We had an intern at the time doing the electronics and I wonder if he knew, he was really smart so he might have. If I ever bump into him I will have to find out. Maybe that was a reason for the problems we encountered.

  • @billsmith3195
    @billsmith3195 3 роки тому

    First time i have seen this and its most interesting.

  • @Vonzack
    @Vonzack Рік тому

    That's fantastic, what a great application of the magnarail and arduino's

  • @RussellNelson
    @RussellNelson 4 роки тому +36

    Do you know about state machine programming? It's where you have a place in the code for every combination of events. So, the initial state would be "motors off". The next state would be "bicycle running before accident". The next state would be "bicycle stopped, rider thrown". Etc. The transition between the states is driven by the inputs, or a timer. So you would have a timer with a random timeout (so the scenario gets run at random intervals), which gets set when entering State 0 (motors off). When that timer fires, it sets the state to State 1 (bicycle running before accident) and turns on the motor for the bicycle magnorail track. It stays in State 1 until the reed switch fires saying that the bicyclist has reached his doom, then it enters State 2. Etc. It makes it very easy to make a script, because once you have created the engine that drives the state machine, the states themselves are like Lego(tm) bricks. If you want to change the script, just move the states and their actions and their triggers around.

    • @Mike_Hughes
      @Mike_Hughes Рік тому +1

      This sounds brilliant! Thank you.

  • @robindow5742
    @robindow5742 5 років тому +2

    fantastic love te animation look forward to more videos

  • @patrickrichmond9896
    @patrickrichmond9896 Рік тому

    This is very educational as we learn also how the vehicles move on the Thomas the Tank Engine model series. I was wondering myself how the make vehicles like Bertie the Bus move or how sometimes the trucks or lorries move. And this is how it's done!

  • @danielguimaraes8644
    @danielguimaraes8644 5 років тому +5

    Fantástico. Você é um mestre! Parabéns

  • @DigiLab360
    @DigiLab360 Рік тому +1

    4 Years late, but it is still brilliant in 2023.

  • @ОлександрВонорд

    It is great! It is a cool story in the one little village! Decorations very cool! I mean you can add traffic light and other! Very cool!

  • @ColorMeMozart
    @ColorMeMozart Рік тому

    Wow, such amazing work, thank you for sharing!

  • @Gambiarte
    @Gambiarte Рік тому

    The accident effect is very nice!

  • @hobbyrob313
    @hobbyrob313 Рік тому

    How nice to see!
    the technique is also very well done!
    respect!
    Healthy and Friendly Greetings from the Netherlands!
    Rob

  • @radiancetoday5664
    @radiancetoday5664 9 місяців тому

    great help bro. thanks. dbs from INDIA

  • @DomWPC
    @DomWPC 5 років тому +20

    jeez, its almost like you've been a special effects expert for years and designed roller coasters or something 😉😂

    • @jaystocky4845
      @jaystocky4845 5 років тому +3

      we got em bois

    • @johnsminiatures8955
      @johnsminiatures8955  5 років тому +16

      Who would have thought it 🤔

    • @jaystocky4845
      @jaystocky4845 5 років тому +4

      @@johnsminiatures8955 nice to see you're enjoying you're retirement John.

  • @tvtoms
    @tvtoms 4 роки тому +2

    I'm currently building a small railway and incorporating magnorail. I thought I would mention how I plan to handle the warping / disintegrating photo card due to moisture issue.
    I've chosen to snip off the mounting points on the "track" and I'm gluing down strips of 8mm foam around the entire track area. Similar to how the cork is done in the video, but snug against the track. When I'm ready to plaster, I plan to remove the magnorail system, and cover the foam not with the photo card, but with some styrene sheet I have on hand. When plaster and maybe even landscaping is all dry, I should be able to slice out the styrene, fit magnorail and glue down the photo card. Even still I worry about the card. Is yours still holding up OK I wonder?
    I would love to use an arduino or two for triggering events along the bike path. Really fun idea and execution. I love the accident videos for inspiration. Thanks for sharing it.

    • @johnsminiatures8955
      @johnsminiatures8955  4 роки тому +4

      Make sure the plaster is completely dry if you are using photo card or it will delaminate with the moisture. I prefer styrene or polycarbonate sheet. Good luck.

    • @tvtoms
      @tvtoms 4 роки тому +2

      @@johnsminiatures8955 Ordered arduino starter kit today. Should arrive tomorrow. My magnorail channel in 8 mm foam is almost all glued down. It's tricky since it's all new construction and it's also my first time working with all of these materials and components. Fun times. Now here I am considering adding more to it.. will plastering ever get done? Is there a place I can check out your code by any chance?

  • @ConsultingjoeOnline
    @ConsultingjoeOnline Рік тому

    Amazing work!!! Wow

  • @RJHElias
    @RJHElias Рік тому

    What a fantastic job! Respect!

  • @Daleb007
    @Daleb007 Рік тому

    haha how cool is that bike, I love the little crash scene mate, very well done

  • @colinrimmer789
    @colinrimmer789 5 років тому +1

    Nice video John very informative 👍

  • @quickwimnl
    @quickwimnl 3 дні тому

    Have you tried veneer? There are sightly stronger magnets available for this system that also fix the problem with the magnets to the reeds. That might do the trick on future projects.

  • @alanwhite4003
    @alanwhite4003 11 місяців тому

    Brilliant stuff- need more please

  • @ljliberto
    @ljliberto 5 років тому +2

    Great job! Thanks for sharing.

  • @petermodin8719
    @petermodin8719 2 дні тому

    I just love it! Thank you for sharing :)

  • @joshuabray37
    @joshuabray37 Рік тому

    That is really good. I love seeing new ways to use Arduino's. Thanks for sharing!

  • @Compgeek86
    @Compgeek86 Рік тому

    There are tiny (less than 2mmx2mm) RFID tags that you could either embed in the chain or attach to a vehicle and attach a reader antenna to the track like the reed switch and use that to trigger vehicle specific actions along the track

    • @conorstewart2214
      @conorstewart2214 Рік тому

      That is adding too much complexity for a simple system like this. Everything along the chain moves at the same time and at the same speed in a very predictable motion. If you had pieces not on tracks and moving autonomously then maybe RFID tags would be a good idea, but in most track based system they are unnecessary.

  • @JestersHammer
    @JestersHammer Рік тому

    Now Scale it up from a Mini-Miniaturwunderland to a Miniaturwunderland. This little piece really leaves you in awe of what the guys in Hamburg have created.

  • @craigkershaw8593
    @craigkershaw8593 5 років тому +1

    Very clear and informative thank you

  • @victormanuelsemanatesolis3229

    Buenos días, gracias por compartir este video, quisiera saber donde puedo comprar los - magnorail - gracias

  • @bobherbert6494
    @bobherbert6494 4 роки тому +1

    This is outstanding and very clever. I want to build a variation of this idea and wonder if the script for the Bicycle Accident is available. It would be a good starting place.

  • @computerjantje
    @computerjantje Рік тому

    Thank you very much amazing creation. I love it

  • @ericperkins3078
    @ericperkins3078 3 роки тому

    Wonderfully clever and skillfully executed. The cyclist was a hack, obviously, but everything else superb!

  • @ABW941
    @ABW941 Рік тому

    I build static models, most of the time, but i wonder if one could use black sandpaper for such a road? It looks like asphalt and can be altered to show wear and tear, the impact of the seasons etc. For static models it is quite nice.

  • @tonywincott8448
    @tonywincott8448 5 років тому +2

    incredible idea and amazing detail. do you have any more information on it, more details please.

    • @johnsminiatures8955
      @johnsminiatures8955  5 років тому +1

      Have you looked at the accompanying video on using reed switches and Arduino boards at ua-cam.com/video/ieiawg7offE/v-deo.html

  • @diymicha2
    @diymicha2 Рік тому

    So cute and made perfectly. But you need to program a stop start ramp for the ambulance to make it look more natural

  • @JohnGunter_Johnprime
    @JohnGunter_Johnprime 3 роки тому

    Great looking diorama!

  • @YunScarlet
    @YunScarlet Рік тому

    Can I know what is your light setup look like? It look fantastic, almost like natural light on cloudy day. And because some part like the horse look shiny, it almost look like they all wet, and the light make it look like it just stop raining

  • @pypes84
    @pypes84 Рік тому

    WRT using photopaper as the running surface, polypropylene poster paper is pretty widely used in print for outdoor posters, it's similar to the stuff the new banknotes are made of, and I'd imagine it would work well as a replacement. If you had it printed on a suitable UV printer it would get a nice scale-accurate-ish matt finish for tarmac etc surfaces.

  • @Orlabahner
    @Orlabahner 3 роки тому

    Wunderschöne Idee und sehr gut gemacht.

  • @javierdarlington4858
    @javierdarlington4858 Рік тому

    Incredible GREAT JOB!!

  • @chuckvoss9344
    @chuckvoss9344 Рік тому

    Amazing work. Thanks for sharing.

  • @Fifury161
    @Fifury161 Рік тому

    Fantastic drama! That must be a dangerous section of road as I see what a Ford Fiesta in the river too!

  • @praveenshqrma5692
    @praveenshqrma5692 4 роки тому

    Hello sir i want to know about witch motor you use for inthis soundless

  • @computersocsci
    @computersocsci Рік тому

    The cheery music while panning up to reveal a freshly dug grave is some Monty Python level humor

  • @leandrolambardi9712
    @leandrolambardi9712 Рік тому

    Great channel! Amazing job! I just subscribed.

  • @lucianminea
    @lucianminea Рік тому

    Very, very cool !!! Well done !!!

  • @Venom2238
    @Venom2238 Рік тому

    Loved it, the scene was very funny.

  • @conorstewart2214
    @conorstewart2214 Рік тому

    You say you put in extra magnets to trigger the reed switches due to the orientation of the magnet that drives the bike or vehicle. Couldn’t you just put the reed switch under the track and use a single magnet?

  • @AndrewKing-rc5jj
    @AndrewKing-rc5jj Рік тому +6

    Hi John, I know I'm 3 yrs late in getting to the party, but what you've created is amazing. I'm now looking at doing something similar to my railway. Would there be any chance of a glimpse of your schematics and arduino sketches.?

  • @mylittleparody2277
    @mylittleparody2277 Рік тому

    Very nice!
    Thank you for sharing.

  • @lander1591
    @lander1591 2 роки тому +1

    Coming from experience, any unsealed wood or cardboard creation will eventually succumb to humidity and will suffer warpage and breakdown, unless you live in a desert or a salt mine of course. You can use paper and cardboard but the trick is to paint it and seal it from the elements with a doping agent like a varnish of some kind.

  • @milanatvuz
    @milanatvuz Рік тому +1

    The best idea

  • @ronliebermann
    @ronliebermann Рік тому

    Magnetic reed switches are most commonly used as part of a stainless steel float, that sits in a gas tank.
    When the float (which contains a magnet) drops to a certain level, it causes the two parts of the reed switch to stick together, completing the circuit.
    So it’s a low-fluid level warning device.
    This guy is using reed switches horizontally! That’s new.

  • @AS-br6wd
    @AS-br6wd Рік тому

    Absolutely brilliant

  • @TheEgoNaut
    @TheEgoNaut Рік тому

    brilliant work👍

  • @JohanSchwarz-Nielsen
    @JohanSchwarz-Nielsen Рік тому

    Very impressing!👍

  • @daveygivens735
    @daveygivens735 Рік тому +1

    Magnificent work. I've been trying to solve a problem with simulated running water. I've been relying on analog motors to transport a card stock "stream". I wonder if this could be harnessed for same?
    Cheers!

  • @JonnyMudMower
    @JonnyMudMower Рік тому

    This is amazing model building

  • @Phantomthecat
    @Phantomthecat 5 років тому +3

    That’s very clever. 👍

  • @watahyahknow
    @watahyahknow Рік тому

    wow this could become a whole seperate hobby next to running modeltrains