3D printed manual point lever for model railway

This is a simple manual turnout drive operated by a pushrod.

Terminal blocks are attached to the rod and use spring wire to move the turnout blades.You can mount toggle switches, like the MTS 102, MTS 202 in different positions, making the system adaptable for different setups. The files come with a small and a large version of the drive. I used 2 mm welding wire as the drive linkage, but a cable pull or control rods made from other materials would work just as well.

The small 3D-printed part allows for a more flexible installation and can easily be removed in case of damage.I installed T-nuts (insert nuts) from the top to provide a durable, perfectly aligned machine thread for mounting.Thanks to this system, it was also possible to further develop the first versions—which didn’t perform quite as well—and replace them with newer switch designs.I’m currently planning an additional version with a driven turnout lantern.

There are two ways to adjust the turnout drive.One method is to slide the terminal block with the spring wire along the pushrod, allowing for quick adjustment.However, I’ve found that it works much better to attach the spring wire to the terminal block that engages with the switch.Although this requires a bit more effort to bend and fine-tune the spring wire so that the point blades fit perfectly, the advantage is that the turnout drive can be removed and reinstalled repeatedly without losing its adjustment.