It's here! All the way from the Netherlands, My first 3D Print!
Whoops! I goofed on the dimensions. This is actually the right size for O Scale, not HO. No wonder is cost so much! Despite that flub though, this is very exciting. I've built hundreds of objects in the computer over my 20 year career, but this is the first time I've actually held one in my hand. The detail is all there, and it smells exactly like dirt! But unfortunately, as you can see, the post is warped. And I'm not sure why this happens or how to prevent it with future prints. Maybe the smaller (HO scale) size will eliminate that.
Okay, I've scaled the 3D drawings to the correct scale, and made some adjustments. There is a 1mm minimum thickness requirement, so I had to thicken up some of the details. This time I sent it off to Volkmars weapon of choice: i.materialize in Belgium. So we'll see what materializes. Yes sir! We'll see what materializes!
Dandy
Its your call, but at this stage in the evolution of 3D printing, if I was doing it, I'd use 3D printing for the "fiddly bits", like the tower cabin and base, and use a piece of metal or plastic tubing for the quite straightforward column.
ReplyDeleteYou don't *need* to do the whole tower as a single part.
Cheers,
Bill
Great start, Dandy!
ReplyDeleteBill's right - you would be better off printing the cabin and base, and adding a piece of brass rod for the column. As a further suggestion, "print" the hole in the cabin and base for the rod to fit into - no drilling necessary!
- Trevor
The nice thing about printing the post is that I modeled in the pilot holes for the grab irons up the post. They came out nice and straight. Something I find hard to do when adding grab irons to freight cars. I suppose a warped post is worse than crooked steps. Maybe I can make a drilling jig for the steps.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the input guys!
Dandy
> Something I find hard to do when adding grab irons to freight cars
ReplyDeleteBLMA (http://www.blmamodels.com/) makes a drilling jig for that..... at the princely sum of $4.00
Cheers,
Bill
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ReplyDelete(Oh my good, now I am my own Tag!)
ReplyDeleteI would perhaps do another way :
Part 1 - The roof with the entire cabin less the floor.
Part 2 - The floor plus the entire post. Hollow post designed for recieving a long screw or small brass tube. Hollow structures are warping less than plain (and cost less :-))
Volkmar