Anyone on this board know anything about this 3D printing I'm hearing about? Supposedly "Staples" is offering it to the public for a fee. Anyone know how much or just what it can do. I have some ideas about making a mock-up of some traction rolling stock I have been wanting to build. I think I could utilize this concept to build the outer shell of the particular car and then disassemble it, make a mold and cast the parts so I could make a fleet! This idea has got me excited. Who can tell me about it. Thanks gang, I know we have a lot of tech-savvy guys here. I am good at full size woodworking but this cad-cam stuff has me a bit befoozzled! Charlie
I'm not knowledgeable enough in the area but sure sounds interesting. And might have to start looking into it closer since I might not have to purchase a High dollar printer to take part. Thanks for the info
Hi guys, didn´t stop to introduce myself yet, new to the forum and model train. But is something that was dorment in me, and with the support of my wife i just started my first layout (start in the matter of planning, building will start this weekend with benchwork). Well, i saw this post and will give my understand about. The service that Staples is offering could give Charlie what he wants, but the material that that kind printer will be using is based on layers of paper, so i don´t know if will hold integrity to withstand molding. 3D printers are manufactured to work with different materials, aparently Staples using one that build the model through gluing paper in layer, with color and drawings on the ends, what is nice, most printers use synthetic or plastic materials that have one color only.
Thanks for the additional information Poletto, this is getting more interesting and I'm definitely going to have to do some more research to see if I can use this for things like structures for the layout. And from what your saying I think that might work. Now have to see what type of picture(s) that this process would require and give it a try.
What little I know. There are many different types of 3d printers. Most of the ones priced in the range for home use are basically computerized hot melt glue guns, and will print structures, but struggle with details. Next up the price food chain are ones that use liquid resin that is light cured. At this point there are only a few of these on the market in the home use price range...$3000 plus, and the resin can be up to $150 a liter. Shapeways, shapeways.com, is a service where one can upload ones designs and pay them to print the item. They over many different materials and grades of detail. They have machines that cost well in to the six figures, but will do some fine work, at a cost. Personal experience. I have an Afinia H Series 3d printer, and use it all the time. It basically extrudes ABS plastic at 250 degrees Celsius on to a moving platform. Here is my latest creation. It is HO scale, and for more detail on how it was built, you can go to this link: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/01/octagon-barn-3d-printed-down-on-farm-6.html I have also used shapeways, and have several items for sale on their web site. Here is an example of items I have designed for printing at shapeways. Again, all HO scale. For more detailed pictures, you can see them at this link: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2013/09/lawn-mowersmall-engne-repair-shop.html On my blog, nvrr49.blogspot.com, I post something that I have 3d printed every month, sometimes several times a month. Kent in KC nvrr49.blogspot.com
Hi,Just for your interest this is a "real" truck from downunder(one of our sons drove it) I got 3d printed.HOscale.I have a lot of models now of vehicles/buildings etc at my scale1:120. Done through Shapeways,although now also have an"UP2" myself for less detailed models.Works great Cheers Stu .
Here is a link to a clinic I did last summer on using a personal printer. I presented an updated version at the recent Amherst show. The HO scale airplane hanger is one of the more complicated items I have designed and printed. http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2013/07/model-railroading-3d-printing-using.html
This orange juice stand is a combination of 3d printing and repurposing the lid to an orange juice bottle. HO scale. Construction details can be viewed here: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2013/08/orange-juice-stand-repurposing-bottle.html
Hanger looks good. Glanced at your blog,certainly going to read a lot more when time permits,very interesting. Your printer is very similar to mine so your tips are very relavent to me.Keep it up. Cheers Stu
This smokehouse, in HO scale, was one of the first complete structures that I printed. It is small, and only has five parts. A nice quick print job. Construction details, and more pictures can be viewed here: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2013/09/smokehouse-ho-scale-3d-printed-down-on.html Kent in KC nvrr49.blogspot.com
I have had several questions about what can be done in N scale, and I have done a few things in N scale on my printer. They can be seen at:http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/02/n-scale-or-just-for-giggles-3.html There are a couple buildings and an open load.
I completed this HO scale low relief backdrop building last weekend. The lap siding walls and roof were all printed as one piece. The glass block window was also 3d printed. Construction details can be viewed here: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/03/back-ground-building-up-and-down.html
Just playing pool, in both HO and O scale. Designed in SketchUp, and 3d printed on an Afinia printer (afinia.com). More pictures and details can be seen at http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/03/pool-tables-ho-and-o-scale-just-for.html
I designed and 3d printed this based on a picture of a bank in Bennington, MN. It seemed a good size for a model railroad structure, but was still the longest printed I have done, as the basic building took over six hours to print. Design and construction details can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/04/bennington-state-bank-bennigton-mn-in.html
I guess I have kind of taken over this thread, that was not my intention! Here are some items I designed and sent to shapeways for printing. More pictures and details can be seen at http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/04/latest-shapeways-prints-ho-scale.html
Frisco Section house, 3d printed in HO scale I posted an in progress shot several weeks ago over on the HO, What's on your workbench thread, but felt I should post the finished picture here. This is based on Frisco section house plans, and the basic walls were 3d printed on an Afinia printer. The exterior wall, interior walls, and interior doors were all printed at one time. Design and construction details can be viewed at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/05/frisco-section-house-3d-printed-in-ho.html
I designed and 3d printed this well based on a hand dug, Oregon Trail era well here in the KC area. The roof tile was made with a 1960's Vac-U-Form using forms that I 3d printed. Design and construction details can be seen at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/06/barry-well-3d-printing-and-vac-u.html
Designed in SketchUp, and 3d printed on a home printer. Design an construction details can be viewed at: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/06/stone-arch-bridges-3d-printed-down-on.html?m=1 Kent in KC nvrr49@yahoo.com Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
I spent the weekend at the Maker Faire KC printing HO, S and O scale barrels and handing them out to any model railroader who stopped by. They don't photograph well in their natural state, but here are all three scales primed. Finished pictures of each scale can be seen here: http://nvrr49.blogspot.com/2014/06/barrels-wood-and-steel-ho-s-and-o-scale.html
