These gadgets have become new favorite toy. This is a linear servo intended for use in radio controlled airplanes. I am planning to use these as switch motors in my new layout. They have several advantages:
- They are easy to control from a Raspberry Pi using GPIO pins. You move the control arm by changing the duty cycle of use width modulation. No extra hardware is necessary and the software to generate the signal is really simple.
- They cost less than $10
- They generate more than enough force to throw turnouts.
- They are small and can be installed on top of the layout. I hate installing bulky switch motors under the roadbed (lots of cursing involved usually when installing Tortoises). I plan to build some small styrene covers for them or perhaps get some 3d printed on Shapeways.
- These appear to be much smaller than the rotary servos that companies like Tam Valley sells.