I designed this and 3d printed it on my Afinia printer. It is based on a station in McLean, TX. This is HO scale, but I also did it in O Scale. Design and construction details can be seem at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/04/phillips-66-mclean-tx-3d-printed-in-ho.html
Kent in KCnvrr49.blogspot.com
Kent in KC'nvrr49.blogspot.com
Reminds me of some residences in the Del Mar Addition of Corpus Christi, Texas.
OK, I guess my next toy needs to be a 3D printer. In the meantime, I will see if I can master the required 3D drawing. My experience is with early 3D CAD programs where you more or less drew in 2D and then projected the Z axis. That I cna do. I did install Sketchup to try it but didn;t get very far yet.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
HO scale Frisco section house.
The basic structure was designed in SketchUp, and 3d printed on an Afinia printer, afinia.com. The house is based on plans for Frisco, SL&SF, section house published on frisco.org. More details on the it's design and construction can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/05/frisco-section-house-3d-printed-in-ho.html
Kent,
You're making excellent progress on the development of 3D printed models. I was wondering though whether it might be quicker and easier to print the individual building components and then assemble them kit style? If you could include more detail information into each component design, wouldn't the printer then be able to give you the desired detail resolution? Just a thought.
Hornblower
That's what renegabe did and posted about in this thread:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/228705.aspx
made a bunch of flat parts and then assembled it like a kit. I see places where it makes sense to use one method over the other, and also to combine methods to produce the finished model. Guess I need to get a 3D printer AND a cnc machine.
hornblower...I was wondering though whether it might be quicker and easier to print the individual building components and then assemble them kit style?....
I agree. The structures shown could have been built using traditional methods and materials, with the 3D technology used for something more complex, such as complicated ornamental brickwork or unique architectural details or windows.
Wayne
One use for 3D (as per Doc Wayne's comment) would be making "restoration" parts- where you have a damaged built structure or an incomplete kit (as from a swap meet)- and you re-create the original, using either a remaining like part or by drawing a new plan view diagram of the original part. Perhaps this might work also in kitbashing, to create parts needed for detailing locomotives and cars...
Cedarwoodron
Actually, I was thinking that the computer files for individual flat parts would require less memory. The smaller files should then allow for finer detail information without overwhelming the printer memory. Would this be true?
hornblowerActually, I was thinking that the computer files for individual flat parts would require less memory.
The sum total should be the same. Memory probably isn't a problem if you're printing at home, but if you send out to someplace like Shapeways they do have limits on file size and polygon counts. The problem with having Shapeways print each wall in a separate order is that you're going to pay a processing fee for each order, upping the cost.
Steve S
hornblower Actually, I was thinking that the computer files for individual flat parts would require less memory. The smaller files should then allow for finer detail information without overwhelming the printer memory. Would this be true?
No, this was about a 5 hour print job, and memory is not an issue, and has nothing to do with the quality of the printed product. I did a 17 hour job over last weekend. I will be posting it sometime next month...hopefully.
The detail is finer in the Z axis, than the X or Y, so you would not get as fine a detail if you lay the walls down for printing. You can barely see the layering, and what you do see looks like weathering in the Z axis. Printed laying down, the layers look like stair steps.
Kent in KC
nvrr49.blogspot.com
I 3d printed this on an Afinia home printer. The tile roof was made using the 1960's era Vac-U-Form toy over forms that I 3d printed. Design and construction details, along with some more pictures can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/06/barry-well-3d-printing-and-vac-u.html
Here are some bridges I designed and printed. Both HO scale. Design and construction details, along with some more pictures can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/06/stone-arch-bridges-3d-printed-down-on.html
Had a barrel of fun this weekend at the Maker Faire KC. Printed and gave away a lot of barrels. They don't photograph well in their natural state, but here are some pictures in primer.
Here is a link to some finished pictures. http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/06/barrels-wood-and-steel-ho-s-and-o-scale.html
Playing around 3d printing some glass blocks. This store front, based on a building in Memphis, was all printed. It is HO scale. Construction details can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/08/memphis-store-front-3d-printed-glass.html
I will be doing a clinic on using SketchUp, the drawing program I design with, at the National Narrow Gauge Convention in a few weeks. I will also be doing one on using a personal 3d printer.
Based on a prototype building in Chilhowee Missouri on the old Rock Island. Over 9 hours of total print time. Design and construction details can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/08/chilhowee-state-bank-3d-printed-in-ho.html. I will be doing a clinics on designing in SketchUp and using a home 3d printer at the National Narrow Gauge Convention next week. This is HO scale.
The basic structure was printed on an Afinia home printer, and the windows and doors were printed as shapeways. This is based on an early 20th century Gulf filling station. Design and construction details can be seen at http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/09/hexagon-gulf-gas-station-3d-printed.html
Based on the Cassville and Exeter depot at Cassville, MO. The basic building was printed in one piece and took 17 hours. Design and construction details can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/10/cassville-and-exeter-depot-3d-printed.html
I saw an article in Forbes web site today that HP will market a 3D printer in 2016 that will have 5 micron resolution. They showed a picture of a refinery structure built with the prototype that looked near HO scale. The handrails were exquisite. One problem, the initiakl price will be near $150,000. Maybe it will come down in time.
For reference purposes, a human hair is about 25 microns. For $3,000 you can get SLA printers that will do 37 microns in the X and Y axis, and 1 micron in the Z axis (kudo3d.com).
HO scale grain bins 3d printed on a home printer.
Design and construction detials can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2015/02/grain-bins-ho-scale-3d-printed.html
Those bins are exquisite.
One thing to keep in mind, except for foreground models 3D printing is already quite good enough. At 2 or 3 feet away, the human eye overlooks most opportunities for nit-picking and complaints about a lack of detail, etc.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
3d printed log cabin. The walls, windows, and roof are all 3d printed.
more details here: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2015/03/log-cabin-3d-printed.html
Mike Lehman, I think these would be okay foreground models, and yes, they are 3d printed.
More pictures and details at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2013/09/lawn-mowersmall-engne-repair-shop.html
I just have to have that reel mower in the middle. Reminds me of the one that my grandfather had, one time I came across it in his shed and he helped me get it going, had a lot of fun working on that, it was the one thing (besides the trains) that he had that I wanted when he passed. I actually used it the first year with the first house I bought, but eventually the age caught up with it and I lost a critical needle valve in the carb when the spring on it broke and it vibrated out. Even had sharp blades, some Amish in the area were good at sharpening those complex blades. Just need to paint it all orange except for black grips on the ends of the handles. And it would be era-appropriate for my mid 50's layout.
HO scale, 3D printed on a home printer. Construction and design details can be viewed at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2016/11/gulf-gas-station-ho-scale-3d-printed.html
Machine Shop with full interior detail, all 3D printed. The structure was printed on a home printer, and most of the interior details were printed at Shapeways. Desing details and more pictures at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2017/01/3d-printed-arch-roof-clear-side-walls.html
rrinkerI just have to have that reel mower in the middle. Reminds me of the one that my grandfather had
That sure brings back memories! My grandparents had one too, and I spent many many hours behind it cutting the huge lawns at their farm. It was self propelled and it had a Briggs and Stratton engine with the word "Rocket" on it. My dad showed me how to use a little twig to hold the throttle open all the way to get more RPMs out of the engine. You were almost at a trot trying to keep up with it but it sure got the lawn done a lot quicker! I'm not sure what killed it but it was probably more than 30 years old when it died. The treads on the tires were worn flat by the time I got to use it in the early 60s. My dad bought one too, but it didn't last 10 years, and that was on a much smaller lawn. By the way, he forbade me from sticking the throttle wide open!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!