Large Scale Central

Spine Car

Modeling Rolling stock
#1

Made these out of political sign board years ago, they still “work”, was never happy with the quality of them

Found a 5 unit spine car desing on sketch up, which basically gave me dimensions and a idea of what to make. the file however could not be used to make a 3d model, basically had to redraw the entire thing so that it could be printed

from the design

from the printer

printing some of the detail parts also

modified the junction so this can handle my curves

from the screen

to the printer

to partial assembly / test fitting / making a “to print list”

#2

Making a 3 car set, also making the bogies from scratch

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/v/t1.0-9/1965005_1480573568837682_542315712_n.jpg?oh=626a5bde06d19ed962f67d5e82822fe2&oe=53A0A445&gda=1404342404_867a71902b92da6ea2f4410e5e7a985f)

the ones on the left are from the first attempt, ones on the right are the second attempt

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/1013579_1480573712171001_235330150_n.jpg)

Bogies cost 65 cents to print, the 2 pin size holes on the right one will hold the springs in place hopefully

#3

Wow, that’s really good looking stuff Mark! What’s your plan for the wheel bearings? (metal bushings…or can the plastic handle it?)

#4

The plan is to insert a metal tube into the wheel slot, working on caps to stick on the end so they turn with the wheel

Today i’m printing the front walkway deck, trailer stands and the trailer wheel decks, hopefully I can get some of the 3rd car done also.

While i’m waiting for printing i’m workign on a dummy aristo craft motor block box and the piece that attaches them to the main frame and where the sideframes attach to.

#5

Cool… :slight_smile:

#6

Nice!

#7

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1376484_1481459542082418_599841067_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1454742_1481459528749086_48332288_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/1897657_1481459532082419_1852450731_n.jpg)

A and B unit almost done

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10167954_1481459575415748_2105650040_n.jpg)

C unit still needs some bottom supports

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1546037_1481459628749076_204030564_n.jpg)

trailer stand frized just a little bit

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1.0-9/10003540_1481459665415739_26741816_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/1979528_1481459715415734_1132462257_n.jpg)

Trailer platform was apparently too long and almost broke the printer, oops

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10153209_1481459712082401_109177814_n.jpg)

#8

What is the over-all length of the spine segments? It looks like a 53’ all-purpose spine set.

Can you tell me what print setting you are using, and if you plan on sanding / acetoning the pieces to remove the printing artifacts?

#9

Overall length is 25 inches, the a.b.c ends are each 8 inches so they can be interchanged easily, the middle section can then be modified to make 48’ 40’ cars.

My settings are the minimum

infill 5%

shells 2

layer height .3mm

resolution Low(faster)

Profile Low

Replicator 2 - Makerbot PLA - no rafts or supports

Sanding - depends on the part, i’m not a rivet counter and the bottoms do not bother me being not smooth, haven’t tried acetone yet but will experiment later on. I will probably primer then sand 2 of the cars, the blue car I’m thinking of leaving as it is, tinking about leaving the cars at the library on display for a week or 2 once completed to showcase what these printers can do.

Also did a cost estimate, not including the trailer decks(not printed yet) the cost per car for the plastic filament is $ 9.75 per car, time so far well i’m not posting that anywhere online that the CFO might be able to see :wink: Lets just say that if I had only 1 printer this wouldn’t be getting done anytime soon.

#10

I would be curious to see the print quality on the maximum settings. Do you have an example picture of such a print with similar resolution to the end grating pic above?

I am preparing to decide whether to purchase a Lulzbot, Makerbot, or deal with RepRapping something up.

#11

I have not done any prints on the max settings yet for any parts, I have 4 pieces left to print 3 decks and 1 “female” b end. I have 2 other female ends that I could compare the print quality to. the bad news is I won’t get around to that until probably Tuesday

#12

You mean we have to wait at least 3 days??

#13

I’ll be adding the bottom weights and starting to glue the base pieces together tomorrow, should have a pic or 2 with 40’ trailers on the decks to get an idear of what they will look like.

Designed a basic 53’ trailer ends that I hope to print also, for the sides/ roof and underframe i’m going with chloroplast for now until I can get a file made up for the laser cutter to etch a better design for the trailers

#14

Mark Dash said:

should have a pic or 2 with 40’ trailers on the decks to get an idear of what they will look like.

Sweet… As I was told a few moon cycles ago.

“It didn’t happen without pics”

So we wait!

#15

40’ trailers, huh? You printing the bogeys and the jack? I might have interest in some for my spine car version.

#16

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/1975035_1482919291936443_630403053_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/1977420_1482919305269775_1573317411_n.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10177329_1482919315269774_1840970677_n.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/10171158_1482919341936438_1857626491_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1557690_1482919385269767_1407920471_n.jpg)

This trailer is apparently 1/32 not 1/29, doesn’t look right on this car, would be better on a 40’ spine

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/485547_1482919408603098_501173342_n.jpg)

From the front - to the deck end, 53 footer should look great

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10171644_1482919465269759_1950565352_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10009298_1482919555269750_378236304_n.jpg)

#17

mocked up a 53’ trailer

(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10174922_1483921368502902_740747375744634707_n.jpg)

printed the ends and the jack

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/t1.0-9/1017768_1483921278502911_2267936533635794196_n.jpg)

some other shots today

(https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/10169271_1483921318502907_5060242287323922775_n.jpg)

still need to add the truck sorings and couplers

(https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/1016911_1483921345169571_5604205276413100345_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/10174922_1483921368502902_740747375744634707_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/t1.0-9/10246829_1483921465169559_4298680460593124586_n.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1507611_1483921485169557_8329213044539388225_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/10170876_1483921501836222_8288788318659434413_n.jpg)

#18

Printed the last piece today, waiting for good weather to paint now.

The blue car will remain untouched for now, painting the other 2 cars yellow and will letter in black for FFLX (Fayetville Free Library Railroad) probable number it the zip code for the library

On to the next project, Scratch build GP-30

(https://scontent-a-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/t1.0-9/10155520_1484016681826704_7039534944859949305_n.jpg)

(https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/t1.0-9/1549214_1484016715160034_6846383139555552938_n.jpg)

#19

So when does “Dash Printing” begin offering kits for sale?

#20

Those spine cars are really cool. Amazing what 3D printing can do.