Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Atlas 3D printed details

1453 views
11 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
  • 1,306 posts
Posted by Harrison on Sunday, December 22, 2019 7:27 PM

SeeYou190

With so few manufacturers of cast metal detail parts left, I think we are going to just need to accept the realities of 3D printing for these small items.

 

I'm not saying it's not a good idea, it's just very expensive considering a lot a people have 3d printers our have access to them.

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, December 22, 2019 8:14 AM

Lee English was showing off 3D parts on Ken Pattersons' latest What's Neat on Youtube.  English, who took over from his father, is not a model railroader.  He likes to design things.

He showed off a loco pilot that was 3D printed that looked pretty good.

He was also complaining about China woes.  It did not sound optimistic for the RS-3

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, December 22, 2019 1:16 AM

With so few manufacturers of cast metal detail parts left, I think we are going to just need to accept the realities of 3D printing for these small items.

.

I wish Reaper would come out with a line ifhighly detailed HO scale cats pewter figures, but how many people would pay $7.00 each for something you need to paint yourself?

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 7 posts
Posted by Thunderhawk on Saturday, December 21, 2019 7:31 AM

I'm familiar with the company that makes those for Atlas. They are indeed resin printed on a very high end printer. I have had some samples made on one of those printers and wasn't that impressed as apparently it doesn't do any anti aliasing. Or they never clicked that option. I have higher end home resin printers now that put out a superior product.

 

The printer those were printed on does fantastic on vertical and horizontal surfaces, best I have seen (you won't see a single layer line), but seem a bit challenged on small details with curved surfaces.

On the flip side, once you paint it those lines will likely disappear. And frankly, a lot of the older cast metal parts don't hold up so well to magnification either as the Atlas pieces as shown.

The pricing doesn't seem out of line at all to me. Would be surprised if Shapeways is cheaper and you don't have to design the parts yourself, don't have to wait a month or more, and you can't find Shapeways parts at your LHS.

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Yorkton, Sk, Cnd
  • 441 posts
Posted by wvg_ca on Thursday, December 19, 2019 3:02 PM

there are two ways to look at those ...

if you already have a printer, then there is a couple of cents for each one for filament cost ...

if you don't, compare those prices to 10$ EACH for die castings, lol

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Thursday, December 19, 2019 2:33 PM

rrinker
8 printed and painted detail pieces for $10 is an outrageous price? Guess I've been living in a different world... I'm guessing most of the cost is simply labor - as they are all removed from any rafts that might be needed, and cleaned up, and in most cases painted.


Well, as stated above, some of the printed pieces are in poor condition with very visible striations (e.g. the red air compressors), while the blue storage barrels seem to have a better finish.  I suppose if you are used to prices on some of the old-school model castings, 8 for $10 doesn't seem too bad.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Thursday, December 19, 2019 1:32 PM

8 printed and painted detail pieces for $10 is an outrageous price? Guess I've been living in a different world... I'm guessing most of the cost is simply labor - as they are all removed from any rafts that might be needed, and cleaned up, and in most cases painted. 

                              --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    April 2019
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 780 posts
Posted by SPSOT fan on Thursday, December 19, 2019 11:44 AM

Yeah, I’m pretty confident these things aren’t going to be to popular, especially for those with alittle computer experience and knowledge of shapeways, but at the same time I can see a bit of appeal for this product among those without 3D printing knowledge. I suppose I can easy picture these products on a hobby shop shelf, even if I would never buy them myself as a result of the clearly outrageous price!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Potomac Yard
  • 2,767 posts
Posted by NittanyLion on Thursday, December 19, 2019 10:09 AM

Everything they list was previously offered by a seller on ebay. Some of the pictures are identical even. They're matching his current listing prices too. 

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Thursday, December 19, 2019 9:47 AM

It looks like the big maufacturers are trying to get in on 3D printing, but they need to make a profit.

.

I will stick with Shapeways.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 5:32 PM

The marketplace will figure it out.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
  • 1,306 posts
Atlas 3D printed details
Posted by Harrison on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 4:37 PM

https://shop.atlasrr.com/c-1506-ho-scale-3d-printed-scenic-details.aspx

I just saw these. This is an outrage. They are not even resin printed, looks like the good old PLA I can print with for pennys. They totally look 3d printed, with the lines and everything. And the prices, Shapeways is way cheaper. Thats enough emotionless, short, sentences.

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!