SD40A First Run Testing CAD Files...!

Cleveland T Scale Sep 26, 2020

  1. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    OK! First run TEST print CAD files and sizing fit for the motor. We are off to a good start... Screens on the side need working in, and a few other things like the fans on top.. Well on the way to a good CAD file. Took about 3 days of drawing off and on to get this to this point.

    The drive motors fit! Woo Hoo! lol..

    working on the trucks, and drive gear sets.

    This is the first try on the resin printer...

    1.776 inch long(45.1mm) by .287 wide(7.3mm) and when finished will stand .390 approx tall(9.98mm)

    Modeled after the SD40A unit. This is my guinea pig... More good stuff to come..!

    Lain

    20200926_132056.jpg 20200926_131754.jpg 20200926_131710.jpg 20200926_131506.jpg 20200926_131442.jpg
     
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  2. SLSF Freak

    SLSF Freak Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    They look great - looking forward to seeing your progress!

    -Mike
     
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  3. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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  4. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    It has been a cool thing to draw and very tedious in the detailing...but worth it I think... To put things in perspective at this scale is a challenge all in itself.

    The true challenge now is finishing the gearing and motor rpm ratios....then...as you know making it all come together into a good powered unit.. The prototypical width makes putting the very tiny 3.2mm wide motors in these a tight squeeze to say the least...

    Thanks for the feedback!
    Lain
     
  5. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Hemi!

    Paint...weathering....whew! That is more challenging than making the engine! LOL! You just never really get how tiny these are till you print one out!
     
  6. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Wow, those are amazing!(y)(y)(y)
     
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  7. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    So, speaking of motors and trucks, which chassis are these shells going to ride on ?

    Dom
     
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  8. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    I am designing the engine from the ground up. I have to, there are no other chassis available to run the prototypical scaled down size I want for these. Currently, I am drawing in CAD all of the gear ratios, and worm drives. Some VERY small stuff. The trucks(bogies) will be prototypical 3 axle trucks with either two axle drive each or three. That is a challenge more than refining the shells.

    There are two approaches to this, one being worm driven gear ratio down, and planetary geared down. Will experiment in both.

    This being the first run test of the shells, I am refining the areas that need work. The vents are a challenge in this scale as some printed with detail and others blanked out. I am using these as the guinea pigs for lights, motor fit, ect.. Everything "theoretically" fits, but there are many small pieces that are involved as you know.

    Now that I have the print test shells, we can try lights and number boards. I am kinda torn right now on the number boards as if they really are necessary to have hollowed out for lighting, or they would be fine with just white backgrounds. They are freaky tiny!

    As far as shells go that will slip fit over Tgauge.com (Lorraine's motorized chassis), that will come soon for the F3-F7's units, F40PH's, E8 series...ect wide bodied units.. But for now, I am focusing all my energy on getting this SD40 up and rolling. I want to get this done as quickly as possible to get them to the rails for time of life testing. THAT...is where the real problems will poke their ugly heads out.

    Thanks Dom!

    Lain
     
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  9. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    Today, running lighting fiber optic to the light panels.. Another test on the shells. Quick sneak peek.. The nose of the unit will have two versions.. Over cab lighting (dual light) or over cab AND nose lighting (also dual lighting).

    20200927_190759.jpg
     
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  10. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Kurt!

    Lain
     
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  11. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    Dang, if you were to get a good lookin', running SD40 in T? You'd be a hero!

    I can just picture 3 Milwaukee Road SD40's pulling a freight thru a mountain landscape!
    (y)(y)(y)
     
  12. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks Kurt,

    I am going to do everything I can to fill all three of the first sentence you had there. I really like this "T" scale seriously because of the extreme challenge in it. Not to mention your second part...I too want a cool mountain scene with correct proportion and detailed engines, cars, ect...

    This scale to me, seriously pushes the limits of current resin printing and somewhat available components on the market for drives.

    Just short of making a watch...lol!!
     
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  13. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    Right now I am looking for a good person who can photo etch brass plates of hand railings and detail parts in plates. Someone who can make say, 10 to 20 plate runs in a 5x7 inch or larger plate.

    I will provide the CAD to run the plates. I am just not set up to photo etch brass at this time. If its good market pricing, I would just source the work. I do know there are people out there who are very talented at this sort of thing.

    If you know of anyone or you do this kind of work...shoot me a message.. I'd like to get a quote from you. Mainly this would be railings, fan details, and some side details. All flat geometry plates.

    Thanks ahead of time!
    Lain
     
  14. ddechamp71

    ddechamp71 TrainBoard Member

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    My pleasure ! All this looks like very interresting ! Maybe T will become as reliable as Z in a few years... :D When it allows hand-off low speed switching like I'm able to do with my Z scale stuff, I could be hooked !

    Dom
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2020
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  15. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    I've seen some layouts in T in the last couple of years, very smooth running. I was surprised when talking to some folks that they let it run for hours at a time. Looking more and more promising, especially if you lack room for a layout.
     
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  16. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    For sure Dom... You and anyone else who has attempted making a successful engine in this scale has had and still does have their work cut out for them. I find it fascinating to make such a tiny train and attempt to make it a smooth runner.

    I have machined for over 30 yrs and this ranks up there for challenges in such tiny components.

    Lain
     
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  17. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    I have seen mainly on Youtube some layouts... When I get this done.. I would love to test it on someones layout. I am just starting in T scale now of course...coming from HO, N and G scale. All of which I don't really have a ton of room for...so T scale is a very fitting scale to build.

    Not to mention I just can't get over how TINY this stuff is!

    Lain
     
  18. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    @Mark Watson was on here for awhile and he was doing some really cool stuff in T, but haven't seen him in awhile. His T-gauge SD70ACe in BNSF was so awesome!

    We just need a few American prototype cars and locos and this will probably really take off!:D
     
  19. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I'd love to see a T layout in the gondola of a G scale train....
     
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  20. Cleveland T Scale

    Cleveland T Scale TrainBoard Member

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    I seen his SD70ACE and thought it was really cool too! I really think there is a place for T scale. Especially if we throw the American rail system twist into it. Technology is always catching up so it makes building more and more realistic scaled down trains possible... Think about even when T scale started... The tech has come a long way in these short years.

    I have two more train cars I will be posting pics of probably on the weekend...the 62ft bulkhead flatcar and the 15,200 gallon acid tank car I was talking about in a prev post. I want to see more too!

    Lain
     
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