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Magnorail questions

Started by Bob Bryce, February 27, 2013, 03:37:12 PM

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Bob Bryce

Note:
As a thread about trucks and cars was unintentionally stolen by me, I split it into this separate topic.
It concerns questions about the Magnorail system. Magnorail is a small start up that I participate in.
The English Magnorail website is here:
www.magnorail.com/index_en.html
David.



David,

I, however, am really interested in this, as I am still in the design phase of my layout.  Now that I have reviewed some of the installation videos, it is pretty much obvious that this system cannot cross a railroad track, which means it must be installed where it will never do that.  That leaves my best option as a narrow bike trail that covers practically the entire outer perimeter of my layout for a mountain bike trail.  It will not cross over tracks, but in a few instances, pass under tracks in underpasses.  It will undergo changes in elevation both up and down hills, run parallel to some roads, pass under an elevated rail section, pass under the monorail, go through at least 1 tunnel,  and cross at least one shallow stream.  The drive motor will be accessible from below, inside the tunnel.

How wide are the actual track sections without the tabs, how deep of an area does the system need beneath grade and how long a section of "track" do you get in the kit?

If you want to join multiple kits together, can you do so and will you need multiple power wheels to drive it as it gets longer?

I am looking at around 36 linear feet of track.

How many bicyclists do you get with the kit and how many others are available?

RhB_HJ

I used to be an avid biker (off and on road). Since many semi-offroad trails use former railbeds one could stop designing the MRR and just put in the abandoned railbed along with very nice scenery.  ;D  ;D
But not being able to pass the Sunday-Outing bikers at considerable speed wouldn't be realistic.  :P ::)
Hans-Joerg Mueller
Coldstream, BC   Canada

http://www.rhb-grischun.ca

My train videos

Win7Pro 64bit; 8 GB RAM; i5 2.67GHz; 1920x1080 22" display

Bob Bryce

Quote from: RhB_HJ on February 27, 2013, 03:59:00 PM
But not being able to pass the Sunday-Outing bikers at considerable speed wouldn't be realistic.  :P ::)

So you are implying I need two parallel bike tracks, with each operating in the same direction at different speeds.   Cool! 8)

However, not sure I have the room in either the layout or the checkbook for that one! ::) :'(

Bob Bryce

#3
David,

What is the minimum (tightest) curve it needs to use?  How soon will this system (and maybe the Monorail track system) be in the Anyrail track library? ::)

David

Bob,

The Magnorail track system consists of 'track' and a 'chain'. Te chain goes around in a loop, and has magnets in it to drag along objects (cyclists/cars/boats) that are on the surface.

We have not yet created stretches of the length you have in mind. It was originally intended for smaller loops of about 5 to 7 feet (150 to 210 cm) each. That works well with just one motor in terms of friction.
Most of our customers create a number of smaller loops instead of one long loop in their model village so the traffic gets a bit more varied.

With longer stretches, multiple motors are required. We advise to use about 1 per 2 meters (7').
Another way is to have a chain with a length of 8 feet, and move that around your longer stretch with motors every 7 feet. That way, there are always two motors that move the bit of chain forward. So at any time, part of the track has no chain in it. We have not tried that with longer stretches though.

The tighest curve is about 3 to 4 inches diameter. Technically the chain can take a tighter turn, but the track can only be bent so far.

About cost: yes, it will get costly if you run long lengths of track. That's because it diverts a bit from how we first thought it would be used. Clearly if there's more interest in 'track packs' we'll see what we can do.

David.
David Hoogvorst. Founder and Owner of DRail Software. Creator of AnyRail.

Bob Bryce

#5
Your idea of using smaller lengths of chain sounds interesting.  If I wanted to use 2 or even 3 small lengths of chain spaced out over the 60 feet of Magnorail track, are the motors speed matched pretty well so one will not catch up to the chain in front of it?  Also do you currently sell just the guide without the chain?

Two questions from before, what is the size (width and depth) of the cut I need to allow for to install the chain and the guide?  How much area does a motor installation require?

David

Hi Bob,

The motors are quite well calibrated, but even then, the chains might not have the same speed because of different friction in different areas of the route. For instance, when there are many curves, the chain might slow down just a little bit. When bits of chain bump into each other I don't know what happens...

We currently don't sell the guide separately.

The measurements of the parts are in the manual:
http://www.magnorail.com/manuals/manual_MAGNORAIL_A3_120621.pdf

David.
David Hoogvorst. Founder and Owner of DRail Software. Creator of AnyRail.

Bob Bryce

Thanks David,

I understand the manual fine.  As far as the chains, it would seem that if one chain segment slowed in a turn and then picked up after the turn, the next chain would also slow in the turn and the distances between them in the grand scale would pretty much remain constant, but if you don't sell the guide seperately, the problem is mute.    I am going to have to redesign the bike trail though, as I simply don't have 12-1300 dollars to spend on the bike trail.

Back to the drawing board, or the program.

Bob Bryce

David,  I think I have found an alternate plan which uses about 10-12 feet of bicycle track and still does not cross any railroad tracks.  One very slight hill to navigate up and down, the rest flat.  Would I still need 2 motors?  If so, it sounds like buying 2 full kits would be better, then I get 10 ft of track, 2 motors and 2 bicycles.  If I need a little more track, I can get 1-2 two foot sections, correct?

David

@Bob: Yes, I think for that length it's best to buy two starter sets and combine them into one. 2 foot track packs are sold as well.

David.
David Hoogvorst. Founder and Owner of DRail Software. Creator of AnyRail.

Bob Bryce

David,

I went to the Magnorail web site to look into ordering.  On the English page, it listed a different form of currency. Would it be possible to put on the English page the cost in US dollars, and do you take Paypal, or what form of payment?  Also can you tell me what the shipping costs would be to US zip code 33781.

David

@Bob: All payments are in Euros (that's the weird symbol :) ). We do not have prices in USD yet. Today 1 Euro is about USD 1.30.

We do accept PayPal.

You can see the shipping cost if you open the cart.
There is a radio button 'Estimate Shipping & Taxes' there.

David.
David Hoogvorst. Founder and Owner of DRail Software. Creator of AnyRail.

Bob Bryce

Hi David, anything new on US pricing for your Magnorail systems?

David

Hi Bob!

We sold Magnorail to Maketis in France last January.

You can find them here:
https://www.maketis.com/en/84-bike

I'm sure they'd be happy to let you know about the possibilities.
David Hoogvorst. Founder and Owner of DRail Software. Creator of AnyRail.