3D double diesel
3D double diesel
The latest project ..... a 3D printed diesel loco (x2)
I thought I would try something a bit more ambitious with the printer. The model was downloaded for free from Thingiverse and then the parts printed out an assembled. I wasn't entirely happy with the first print (I discovered the X and Y axes weren't perpendicular), so I printed out a second one. I then decided the slightly wonky first one was OK and so will run them back to back (as per Australian sugar cane railways) - one powered and the other a trailer (for now).
So far each loco has cost around £3.00 in plastic, wheels - £9.00 (IP Engineering), brass bearings - £1.20 (G-Bits) and then the motor and gears for the powered loco - £12.00 (IP Engineering) plus 2 x li-ion AA - £8.00 (Ecolux) and a Deltang receiver/controller - £40 (RC Trains)
Total = £86.40
Many thanks to Ivan at IP Engineering. While fitting the gears, the insulating bush in one of the wheels shot off across the room and disappeared into that void where all small screws and washers end up. I contacted Ivan for a replacement and four bushes with wheels arrived FOC. Excellent service!!
Rik
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.I thought I would try something a bit more ambitious with the printer. The model was downloaded for free from Thingiverse and then the parts printed out an assembled. I wasn't entirely happy with the first print (I discovered the X and Y axes weren't perpendicular), so I printed out a second one. I then decided the slightly wonky first one was OK and so will run them back to back (as per Australian sugar cane railways) - one powered and the other a trailer (for now).
So far each loco has cost around £3.00 in plastic, wheels - £9.00 (IP Engineering), brass bearings - £1.20 (G-Bits) and then the motor and gears for the powered loco - £12.00 (IP Engineering) plus 2 x li-ion AA - £8.00 (Ecolux) and a Deltang receiver/controller - £40 (RC Trains)
Total = £86.40
Many thanks to Ivan at IP Engineering. While fitting the gears, the insulating bush in one of the wheels shot off across the room and disappeared into that void where all small screws and washers end up. I contacted Ivan for a replacement and four bushes with wheels arrived FOC. Excellent service!!
Rik
Last edited by ge_rik on Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:39 am, edited 2 times in total.
- Peter Butler
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Re: 3D double diesel
They look really good together Rik and the printing looks tidy too. When I first read the title of your thread I expected to see the two conjoined, Fairlie style!
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?
Re: 3D double diesel
Who's got the bug then???
Well done though, I've looked at that on Thingiverse several times, including literally 2 or 3 nights ago.
Well done though, I've looked at that on Thingiverse several times, including literally 2 or 3 nights ago.
Philip
Re: 3D double diesel
You'll notice that there are slight differences between the two locos. One is the original and the other uses additional / replacement parts which a fellow modeller added. That's one of the things I really like about 3d printers: the willingness to share ideas and resources. Just like Garden Railway modellers!
Rik
- GAP
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Re: 3D double diesel
Rik,ge_rik wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 8:36 pmYou'll notice that there are slight differences between the two locos. One is the original and the other uses additional / replacement parts which a fellow modeller added. That's one of the things I really like about 3d printers: the willingness to share ideas and resources. Just like Garden Railway modellers!
Rik
Do not worry about the differences between the locos if you are following Australian Sugar Cane railway practices then that is perfectly normal.
On those railways the only time most of their locos were the same was when they were delivered from the manufacturer, after that the fitters changed/modified them to suit.
A classic example was Mulgrave Mill, in the town where my Dad used to live, lowered the height of some of their locos so they could get under a Queensland Railways bridge. This from Zelmeroz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q903iH9pJSg
The sequence begins (at 16:25) with the duck under at Redlynch, with a QR Kuranda Scenic train and then empty bins heading for the Barron River delta, and a return chase around the west side of Cairns all the way back to the mill. Of note are the locos with cut down cabs (Hambledon and Redlynch) that were modified specifically for this service.
Last edited by GAP on Wed Jun 17, 2020 5:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
Graeme
From the home of the Ringbalin Light Railway
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... -page.html
From the home of the Ringbalin Light Railway
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... -page.html
Re: 3D double diesel
That’s really neat. 3D print has to be the way to go, I guess. Hmmm...
Re: 3D double diesel
Great work Rik, you've certainly grabbed this 3D printing with both hands.
Grant.
Grant.
Re: 3D double diesel
Not necessarily. There's a steep learning curve with getting the printer to behave and, unless you are skilled with 3d CAD programs, you are limited to the range of models which are available online. I'm in the process of drawing and printing out a simple box car / van for my railcar. I've managed to draw and print the sides but the ends are giving me all kinds of problems. The drawing looks ok on screen but when I try converting it to a 3d print all sort of weird things keep happening. Apparently, 3d drawings are susceptible to invisible issues (eg "reversed normals", "non manifolds") which mean they are impossible to print. I've discovered a couple of online tools which analyse and repair drawings so I am currently exploring those.
When / if I get somewhere I'll post what I've learned on here.....
Rik
Re: 3D double diesel
It's a love / hate relationship. As with most things, I do like exploring the new and pushing the boundaries of my knowledge. Unfortunately, I'm all too often skittering about on very thin ice ......
Rik
Re: 3D double diesel
Now, there's a possibility! Just a case of printing out the relevant bits, though I'd have to design a couple of powered bogies ...... Hmmmm.... (sound of cogs whirring and gears crunching)Peter Butler wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 3:06 pm When I first read the title of your thread I expected to see the two conjoined, Fairlie style!
Rik
Re: 3D double diesel
Thanks GraemeGAP wrote: ↑Tue Jun 16, 2020 9:27 pm Rik,
Do not worry about the differences between the locos if you are following Australian Sugar Cane railway practices then that is perfectly normal.
On those railways the only time most of their locos were the same was when they were delivered from the manufacturer, after that the fitters changed/modified them to suit.
A classic example was Mulgrave Mill, in the town where my Dad used to live, lowered the height of some of their locos so they could get under a Queensland Railways bridge. This from Zelmeroz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q903iH9pJSg
The sequence begins (at 16:25) with the duck under at Redlynch, with a QR Kuranda Scenic train and then empty bins heading for the Barron River delta, and a return chase around the west side of Cairns all the way back to the mill. Of note are the locos with cut down cabs (Hambledon and Redlynch) that were modified specifically for this service.
You do realise that it's your fault for seeding the idea of the b2b diesels.
Thanks for the video (and the photos sent previously).
I don't think my diesels will end up looking as smart as yours. The wonky one will be especially heavily weathered to distract attention from its wonkiness.
Rik
Re: 3D double diesel
There's a fair amount of filling and sanding to reach this stage. I've found a couple of coats of filler primer sanded down are needed before the normal two coats of ordinary primer, plus a fair bit of targeted filling and smoothing in between. I'm not sure how the finish from my cheapo printer compares with more expensive ones, so I might need to exert a bit more effort to get a decent finish.
Rik
Re: 3D double diesel
Which drawing software are you using, Rik?ge_rik wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2020 7:08 am The drawing looks ok on screen but when I try converting it to a 3d print all sort of weird things keep happening. Apparently, 3d drawings are susceptible to invisible issues (eg "reversed normals", "non manifolds") which mean they are impossible to print. I've discovered a couple of online tools which analyse and repair drawings so I am currently exploring those.
Philip
Re: 3D double diesel
Sketchup - I've downloaded FreeCAD but it doesn't look as intuitive so, for now, I'll stick with Sketchup and try using repair tools (ie the Cleanup extension and this website - https://3d-print.jomatik.de/en/index.php )
Rik
PS - I'm impressed with the website - it seems to pick up issues which the Cleanup extension misses
Re: 3D double diesel
I didn't much care for Freecad either. For Sketchup repairs/identifying errors I use Solid Inspector2 from their extension library. It isn't perfect and sometimes tells you there are errors without obviously showing where, but that's usually because it's tiny and needs mega zooming in.
If a face is showing in a darkish shade, that probably indicates a reversed face. Right-click on the face and the drop down menu has a "Reverse faces" item which often solves it.
If a face is showing in a darkish shade, that probably indicates a reversed face. Right-click on the face and the drop down menu has a "Reverse faces" item which often solves it.
Philip
Re: 3D double diesel
That's handy info, thanks.philipy wrote: ↑Wed Jun 17, 2020 1:04 pm I didn't much care for Freecad either. For Sketchup repairs/identifying errors I use Solid Inspector2 from their extension library. It isn't perfect and sometimes tells you there are errors without obviously showing where, but that's usually because it's tiny and needs mega zooming in.
If a face is showing in a darkish shade, that probably indicates a reversed face. Right-click on the face and the drop down menu has a "Reverse faces" item which often solves it.
Rik
- GAP
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Re: 3D double diesel
Thanks Graeme
You do realise that it's your fault for seeding the idea of the b2b diesels.
Thanks for the video (and the photos sent previously).
I don't think my diesels will end up looking as smart as yours. The wonky one will be especially heavily weathered to distract attention from its wonkiness.
Rik
That's OK Rik I have heaps of ideas that I can suggest any time you want something to make.
Here is an idea of a crossing with a difference starting at 8:31
https://youtu.be/a5wYy_wPXxs
You do realise that it's your fault for seeding the idea of the b2b diesels.
Thanks for the video (and the photos sent previously).
I don't think my diesels will end up looking as smart as yours. The wonky one will be especially heavily weathered to distract attention from its wonkiness.
Rik
That's OK Rik I have heaps of ideas that I can suggest any time you want something to make.
Here is an idea of a crossing with a difference starting at 8:31
https://youtu.be/a5wYy_wPXxs
Graeme
From the home of the Ringbalin Light Railway
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... -page.html
From the home of the Ringbalin Light Railway
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspo ... -page.html
Re: 3D double diesel
Thanks Graeme
Interesting! Those are seriously long trains. No wonder they need double diesels. Not sure Peckforton is quite ready for a sugar plantation just yet, though
Rik
Interesting! Those are seriously long trains. No wonder they need double diesels. Not sure Peckforton is quite ready for a sugar plantation just yet, though
Rik
- gregh
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Re: 3D double diesel
Great looking brace of locos Rik.
I still reckon they should be nose-to-nose not cab-to-cab. I guess that in Queensland they would get better cooling airflow with one loco's radiator at the front. But heat shouldn't be a problem on the PLR surely.
I still reckon they should be nose-to-nose not cab-to-cab. I guess that in Queensland they would get better cooling airflow with one loco's radiator at the front. But heat shouldn't be a problem on the PLR surely.
Greg from downunder.
The Sandstone & Termite's website: https://members.optusnet.com.au/satr/satr.htm
The Sandstone & Termite's website: https://members.optusnet.com.au/satr/satr.htm
Re: 3D double diesel
I'll give it a try to see what it looks like
Rik
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