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3D Printing for Model Railroaders

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  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 52 posts
Posted by PeteVS on Thursday, April 11, 2019 9:17 PM

How about 1/12 size models of old Lionel Standard Gauge equipment to run on Z gauge mechanisms to be used in doll houses??

Edit: Make that 1/8 size models. Z gauge of .256 scales out to about 3" gauge in "doll house" of 1/12. "Standard" gauge trains have a gauge of 2-1/8". I feel that such trains would be better proportioned to track size than to "environment" size unless they were unpowered.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • 102 posts
Posted by dkawala on Friday, April 12, 2019 11:00 AM

For those interested: Kathy Millatt shows how she used Autodesk Fusion to design and 3D print some oil drums in resin in this 3 part series on MR Video Plus. Here's the link:

http://mrv.trains.com/how-to/modeling/2018/12/how-to-library-3d-printing--modeling-with-autodesk-fusion-3d-part-1

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Ayer, MA by way of Queens, NY
  • 84 posts
Posted by TheGamp on Friday, April 12, 2019 12:36 PM
The printer that she references in the video (Anycubic Photon, UV-cured resin printer in the $500 ballpark) is a game-changer. I think it's still too small a build volume for cars, but I've gotten a friend who has one to do some HO-scale figure prints for me, and the quality is close to that of the fine detail plastic from Shapeways.
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 561 posts
Posted by TBat55 on Sunday, April 14, 2019 3:02 PM

1. People, in the exact posture, clothing, and colors you want. I have few on my layout bacause they all look phony.  The guy above with the drums looks like he's pushing a heavy lawnmower more than an empty dolly. And few have hats because they are too thick when molded.  Hats back in the day were on every head. That's a big advantage of 3D:  thin stuff without flash.

2. Cinder blocks. I bought several bags of them in HO but spent hours sorting good from bad.  Too thick, too much flash, out of scale, etc.  Plus they were white.

Terry

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, April 14, 2019 3:25 PM

Southgate
There's that expression be careful what you want because you'll probably get it. I was parusing ALCo diesels on ebay, and came across some 3D printed prime movers.

Thanks again to Dan, "Southgate"

Got my Alco engine blocks last week and gave them a quick shot of primer:

 Alco_engine by Edmund, on Flickr

They are just a little rough in spots but for the cost, they are excellent representations.

I bought the N&W boiler from a Shapeways designer. Now this is a work of art!

 Boiler_on_flatcar2 by Edmund, on Flickr

The boiler shell is hollow and even the flue sheets are modeled! The firebox walls are separate sheets just like a real boiler. Amazing stuff!

 Boiler_on_flatcar by Edmund, on Flickr

One little caveat is that I notice in curved designs sometimes the rendering is made up of multiple flat planes to make the arc. In other words it looks like the sheet was bent using a multiple brake rather than rolling stands, if you know what I mean. Sometimes the part can be sanded but other times there is rivet detail that would interfere. There's probably a way to make the "sampling rate" higher to mitigate this but for now I live with it.

You can see what I refer to in the Alco generators in the photo above.

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, April 14, 2019 3:31 PM

Ed,

The boiler looks much better now that it is painted. It's easier to see all the details.

I wonder if the problem with multiple flat planes could be resolved by printing the generators on end, or any cylindrical object for that matter? I think I can see the same effect on the boiler.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, April 14, 2019 3:45 PM

hon30critter
I think I can see the same effect on the boiler.

Yes, it is on the boiler, too, Dave. There must be a way of making the rendering "sample rate" or resolution higher. There's probably a trade off between resolution and production time, perhaps?

I'm sure it is something that can be overcome. I've seen many examples of nicely rendered curves in other 3D items.

Regards, Ed

  • Member since
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Sunday, April 14, 2019 4:03 PM

Harrison, do you have your own 3d printer? Or do you borrow one from your school?

The reason I ask is because I have access to a 3d printer for free, but you have to buy your own filament and actually go to the place to get your stuff printed. And they are name brand printers, which means filament is more expensive...

I want to buy my own knock off, but prices for those are also high. I'm wondering if anyone has found a good deal that I missed in my research...

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
  • 1,306 posts
Posted by Harrison on Sunday, April 14, 2019 7:35 PM

My robotics team has a Prusia i3 MK2.

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
    March 2018
  • 688 posts
Posted by BNSF UP and others modeler on Sunday, April 14, 2019 8:33 PM

Ah ok. Thank you.

I'm beginning to realize that Windows 10 and sound decoders have a lot in common. There are so many things you have to change in order to get them to work the way you want.

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