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Sharing some project planning phase: A (digital) ELECTRO-MECHANICAL Network
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RJSV:
   NOW, taking a self-critical viewpoint:
   Getting this '4 signal BUS' to work is nice project milestone, but also establishes challenge:  To make that series network to function with less.

   To that end, consider a 3 shaft SERIES BUS:
   You would 'encode' one of 4 (outputs), using two shafts, plus a needed clock (mechanical shaft).  The two 'addressing bits', using CW for '1', or CCW  (counter clockwise rotation, to a stop), for positioning a multiple selection switch, then pulse the mechanical 'clock' line, producing (rotary) output, on the one of four.
  This won't work, in extension, as each new access, further down the series string of switch box stations will require yet more and more 'bulk' of switching activity. Or, say, it can work but ridiculously burdened.
Each access, let's say you are at station 7; now to control and access the next, station 8, you need station 7 multiple times, for twirling those 3 inputs to station 8.  But for that, you have to revisit station 6, multiple times, and for that you need station 5,
...and for that...station 4, etc, etc etc.
   Gets to be a factorial number, of sorts, and the result is a (very) non-linear pile-up of required access/outputs, in the rotary encoded digital switching scheme!

   In current design ( 4 shafts total travel down the network line), a station count, like 30, is going to mean TWICE as many pulses issued by base control, VS having 15 stations, for example.

   I also, here POSTING A PICTURE, OF A BUG, as I have no picture of CAT.
RJSV:
   Maybe providing 'too much detail' but trying to write towards beginners, and plus that's actual kind of my own level of expertise; maybe similar to a 'diary'.
   I did work in a physics / engineering R & D situation, doing electronics development and testing, in development of high vacume, high voltage electron beam 'accelerator'. For a medical related application.
They insisted on every engineer keeping entries in a 'department LOG BOOK'; keeping track of project details. Plus, that was a 'shoestring' budget.  I got to view, first-hand, the dynamic of a little tiny 'shop', about 7 folks.
   We had the 'old guys': a couple  doctors investors in the venture. (They wanted to come 'tinker' with their Shakey hands.). We had, luckily, 'Hans', a mechanical genius with German accent so thick... For whatever reason, seems like the Swiss / German region has been a real center, for mechanical contraptions.
Now, perhaps India producing innovation...

   Picture showing my pivoting 'switch lever', right now I am 'adjusting' that 'mock-up' component, for best interface, with the two receiver wheels that are the switch 'poles'.  This pass, adjusting the cardboard piece for shortening (radius) of travel, from 2 1/4 down to 2.0 inches, pivot to 'tip wheel's.

   Mechanical and assembly problems include:
   1).  Perhaps use of 'oil finish' causes problems with
          glue strength:. I try not to put oil finish near glue
          areas (inside switch box).

   2).  Using wood dowels (1/8 inch),  as 'axels' is kinda
          lame, but works without massive friction.
   3.). Assembly issues must be included, in the
          packaging:. a consideration way way way outside
          my background, if you consider solely, an EE
          degree, with mainly software experience (on
          paper).

    But, innovation is a basic way of life, living in SF bay
    area,  and (these sorts of technology centers)
    attract all kinds of new developments.
       One university fellow noted:  Something like one
        out of every nine start-ups 'might' suceed.
        That's 11 percent.

   Other mechanical related issues involve needing simple one-way drive wheels, that don't turn when pushed 'backwards', with actual implementation using simple features, in plastic pulley wheel(s).

   PLUS, completion (of useable 3PDT switch), creates easy path, for other, ideas to follow (this).
RJSV:
Here is some more progress: In the photo the mock-up components show the main 'cross', or 'X', of signals. The 'A' output acts to reset the 'B' segment. The 'B' (chain) output acts to reset 'A' segment.
The diagram / photo helps for visualizing and avoiding interfering parts.
RJSV:
This next photo also shows 'X' shaped control paths, within the 3PDT switch box.
Many details of (this) partial paper test build were obsolete before construction finished...It's tons of work, thankless, but...can't see it THAT way.

   The basic idea, is a driver pulley at 3/4 inch diameter, going via band, to drive a 1 1/2 inch pulley, attached to the pivoting lever arm. The lever arm has the 'tip wheel' for driving one or the other, of output wheel pair.
RJSV:
   You can see the (picture) organization, shown back to front, is 'C' (green toggle bracket in back quadrant).
In front, is 'A', the red components, and 'B', the yellow components (shown on left-hand side of photo).
   Each 'switch' section takes up a quadrant of the whole box.
Each individual of the 4 sections has a compartment, so the full box has, from back to front, 'C' inputs, 'C' outputs, 'A' inputs, 'A' outputs, each taking roughly equal depth (1 inch each, out of 4 total).
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