Cliff,

got your file and it looks great, thanks. not sure how to separate the parts in an STL file. I opened in solid works and all I see is one part that I cannot work with.

Please let me know.

Al P.

Hi Al, here's the link to the file:

The counterweight, guide rods, main liftable chute,associated pulleys and yoke, are all optional. That was the fashion for mines in my my area of interest, but feel free to not print those and instead lengthen somehow the short fixed portion of chute. Just watch your clearances with your trains! 

Cliff,

I guess I missed where you did the ore chutes and made the STL files available. I have a spot where I could use two and will print them on a form 2. I find the quantity of triangles generated will have an impact on quality separate from resolution used.

Al P. 

Cliff Jennings said:

FWIW, referring to your big flywheel Bob, I was incorrect. It was only a 36' flywheel (not 40') that the Union mine had in VC. This was for the pump (not the hoist). 

 

The foundations for this baby are still really impressive.

 

I don't know how they got it there. They probably made the wheel not far from there, but still, hauling pieces of a 104-ton wheel ain't easy. And to Rooster's earlier point, on what kind of flat car? I'm guessing each of those spokes shipped separately, and the hub was split into sections. 

 

Dang, I'm derailing, sorry!

 

Press on, Bob! it's wonderful you're getting into the 3D printing gig and are doing so much so quickly!

 

From the picture it looks like the spokes are pressed into the ring, and part of the hub is attached to each spoke.  Interesting design.

As far as speed getting things to print, I have, literally, been collecting and designing things to print (and cut, should I ever get a laser cutter) for *years*. It was mostly "Where did I put that?" once I had the printer set up on my desk.

Bob McCown said:

Next print test.  One of our members will recognize these, I'm sure.

 

 

Wow, nice. I could use a set or 3 my mine has 3 ore bins around the mountain.

FWIW, referring to your big flywheel Bob, I was incorrect. It was only a 36' flywheel (not 40') that the Union mine had in VC. This was for the pump (not the hoist). 

The foundations for this baby are still really impressive.

I don't know how they got it there. They probably made the wheel not far from there, but still, hauling pieces of a 104-ton wheel ain't easy. And to Rooster's earlier point, on what kind of flat car? I'm guessing each of those spokes shipped separately, and the hub was split into sections. 

Dang, I'm derailing, sorry!

Press on, Bob! it's wonderful you're getting into the 3D printing gig and are doing so much so quickly!

Awesome, thanks!

Your low-res prints came out better than the ones on my printer, so I'm looking forward to seeing your hi-res versions.

[edit] Bob, If you'd like me to post any pics of the assembly, with brass bits, just say the woid. 

Cliff Jennings said:

Aw, cool!!!

Thought you would enjoy that.  This was a test print at low-resolution to get the layout and orientation of the parts correct.  Once Im happy with them, Ill change to brown filament and print them at high resolution. 

Aw, cool!!!

Bob McCown said:

Next print test.  One of our members will recognize these, I'm sure.

Cliff would know...

Next print test.  One of our members will recognize these, I'm sure.

That's beautiful Bob!

Your work reminds me that sometime I'd like to make a load like that for the Union Mine in Virginia City NV. The problem was, it was 40 feet in diameter! And I've not seen any clear photographic or other evidence on how it was split up for shipment. I'll guess it was in 1/8 segments though, and probably with lots of cribbing and tie-downs.

Anyway, great job, and very inspirational! Glad you've gotten this great tool!

Cliff

Bob McCown said:

Anyway, after a couple test prints of small bits for gaming, I dove into a bigger project, a flatcar load; half of a giant flywheel.

I have 3 out of the 4 parts printed.   Each bit takes about 4 1/2 hours. 

Bob, before you glue it up, check the orientation.  I believe the bolt holes would face down as intended to attach the other half.

-Dan

Norman I would search Thingaverse and Shapeways and I am sure there are others. I know someone 3D printed an HO 4-4-0, but I cant seam to find it in my bookmarks right now

Rough and Tumble will have their Otto and Langen unit working this weekend with it's 14' flywheel.

https://roughandtumble.org/viewalbum/108

I use Fusion 360 to do all my drawing in.  Then I export it out into the slicer (Qidi Print), which lets me rotate and scale, and add supports.

I guess none of them are "easy" to learn, but I found Fusion 360 less hard than the others.  And all that geometry from school that I never though I'd need comes in handy.  

Hi Bob,

What Software are you using to Design your 3D Printouts?

If I am going to go through the Mental Effort of learning another Software Package,

what is the easiest Software Package to learn?

I simply want to print a Cab, Boiler, Domes and Smokebox Front.

Are there Software Packages specifically for Model Railroaders with BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS Parts already Designed ?

Norman

Really nice print, Bob. The bolt and rivet detail are great. This will make an interesting flatcar load.

John R.

Greg Elmassian said:

Looks like a cool machine, any reason that you got a dual unit, other than the great deal?

 

The metal frame looks very sturdy:

Dual unit?  It is a single extruder, though they do make a dual that I was eyeing.  And, yea, the steel frame is nice.  Its nice and sturdy, and relatively quiet compared to other ones that I've heard operate. The build plate kind of limits what I can make, though i have plans to make various bits in interlocking pieces.

Next up, probably, will be a test print of the ore chute drawings I got from Cliff.  And I'm going to modify my colliery windows that I had printed a few years ago, to make them sturdier, and print them myself.

Fun!

Welcome to the wonderful, wacky world of 3d printing.  Some many more projects to add to your list now :-)