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N Scale Working Semaphore Signals With Bounce
Project type
3D Design and Arduino
Date
July 2022
How To Build and JMRI Integration Article
A full writeup on building these, calibrating them and JMRI setup can be found on the Model Railroad Hobbest website in the Nov. 2022 Running Extra Issue.
https://store.mrhmag.com/store/p261/RE2022-11.html
This will allow you to make several types of semaphore signals in N scale. The Arduino sketch allows these to operate as three and two position semaphores in JMRI. These will likely scale up quite easily as well for larger scales. You'll need to know your printer and slicer settings well and have the printer dialed in for fine details. The spectacles are only 0.30mm thick as you'll sandwich two to together with a clear piece of plastic in the middle for the roundels (lenses). These will be the hardest to print. Use micro drill bits to ream out holes.
The "Complete" file will print out a few of all the parts needed so you can get a feel for making these.
The "Wire_Bend" STL is not made to be printed but is a 3D visual reference on how to bend the brass rod.
I'm currently working on a full write up for building, setting up the servos and Arduino, and JMRI setup.
In addition to the 3D parts you will need:
Materials:
1.2mm Brass Tube for the mast
M1-1.8 5mm to 6mm long Eyeglass Screws
0.2mm Brass Rod for linkage to the servos
0402 Warm White LEDs with 32 or smaller gauge feeder wires.
Electronics:
Arduino of some type
PCA9685 Servo Board
Wires and connectors of your choice
SG90 Servos
Tools:
Hobby knife for cleanup and cutting
0.5mm to 1.1mm drill bits and a pin vise
Needle nose pliers
Tweezers
Fine screw drivers for M1 screws
---PLEASE READ ALL THE COMMENTS INSIDE THE SKETCHES---
They will tell you how to use them and how they work in JMRI.
![N Scale Semaphores](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_c2eb1bdf0bea489aa249e52757b92a30~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1,h_1,q_90/5923dc_c2eb1bdf0bea489aa249e52757b92a30~mv2.jpg)
![N Scale Semaphores](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_c2eb1bdf0bea489aa249e52757b92a30~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_470,h_350,q_90/5923dc_c2eb1bdf0bea489aa249e52757b92a30~mv2.jpg)
![N Scale Semaphores](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_6dba46c934e5469287daccef107ae82c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1,h_1,q_90/5923dc_6dba46c934e5469287daccef107ae82c~mv2.jpg)
![N Scale Semaphores](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_6dba46c934e5469287daccef107ae82c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_470,h_329,q_90/5923dc_6dba46c934e5469287daccef107ae82c~mv2.jpg)
![N Scale Semaphores](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_d9f8c4d0bd124f3b8a85effff7707d2b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1,h_1,q_90/5923dc_d9f8c4d0bd124f3b8a85effff7707d2b~mv2.jpg)
![N Scale Semaphores](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_d9f8c4d0bd124f3b8a85effff7707d2b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_470,h_337,q_90/5923dc_d9f8c4d0bd124f3b8a85effff7707d2b~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_9fed214cbd134a2c8cd8e12b28e565e2f000.jpg/v1/fill/w_1,h_1,q_90/5923dc_9fed214cbd134a2c8cd8e12b28e565e2f000.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/5923dc_9fed214cbd134a2c8cd8e12b28e565e2f000.jpg/v1/fit/w_470,h_264,q_90/5923dc_9fed214cbd134a2c8cd8e12b28e565e2f000.jpg)