I am wondering if anyone has done this or is interested in this(I asked MR if they wanted an article, haven’t heard back yet). What are things that you think would be good for printing? If there is a lot of interest, I might start a shapways store. Some 3D printed oil drums:
Let me know what is of interest, And I will Cad it up and give it a test.
i have had a printer for a while, just use PLA… Did some things for the layout, no interest in sending them to shapeways … but I did put a few on Thingiverse
What I would most like to see are really interesting pieces of machinery to use for flatcar loads.
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This would take some research and careful design, but having some new loads that are not lumber, girders, pipe, or tracked vehicles would be great.
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How about a hammer mill for a rock crusher, or a tub grinder component for a sugar mill.
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-Kevin
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Drums are fairly common, so probably would not sell well. You would be competing against mass produced injection molded plastic at a much lower price.
The market niche for 3D printing is making something that are not readily available in the mass produced market. For instance, look at all the HOn30 items, conversion kits for N scale mechanisms, etc. I have bought some narrow gauge things from Shapeways for Bootbay Railway Village. In any scale, there are many hundreds or thousands of items available, and many designers. I am not trying to shut you down, but as an entry level designer, you would heve to have something unique to get some attention, attract sales and get good ratings and customer feedback.
Items for around the diesel shops; EMD and ALCO traction motors
a smaller EMD prime mover
Alco prime mover, GE, others.
locomotive generators-alternators
A detailed static blomberg truck with traction motors or a conversion bolster to use Athearn parts to build a complete one. This idea could be applied to Flexicoil trucks in 2 and 3 axle form, AAR trucks, etc.
Caterpillar D17000 engine as used in GE 44 tonners, and other applications
HO scale is woefully short on decent vintage forklifts like Clarks and Hysters from the 50s and 60s.
I’ll think of more but gotta run right now. Dan
One of the items I really wanted to see was a “bare” locomotive boiler. These were shipped by flat car and backshops across the country would often replace complete boilers or major components of them.
While gathering materials to scratchbuild such a boiler, I recently checked at Shapeways and found that such an animal has indeed been produced. Mine will arrive tomorrow [:)]
[Y] Put me on that list, too!
Oh, yeah! Seeing Dan’s reply above about the prime-movers reminded me. I’d like to see first-generation locomotive platforms with partially stripped cowling or shells as would be seen in various shops or scrap lines where parts have been cannibalized. Also a prime mover shell where the power assemblies have been removed to place into a scrap line diesel.
Something like this but I’m more interested in EMD E and Fs and Alco PA and FAs where the diagonal bracing is left in place but the side
I’ll go for dry bulk trailers. There are some out, but a little competition would help with the outrageous price they currently ask.
Here’s what I mean:
Picture from Heil Trailers. They all don’t need to be chrome. Most cement bulks are a plain gray.
Some can load themselves, all can unload. Those that load themselves would be an easy thing for modelers to modify themselves. No special casting or tank needed.
Mike.
Perhaps there is value in 3-D printing for creating footprints before getting structures or other things. Having a depiction of a structure helps in planning where to place scenery, track etc. I don’t see any other steady market for 3-D printing in MR.
This is the way of the future. Go for it but don’t spend too much money on it because the returns will probably be limited upfront. I have bought a few things from shapeways. Smaller items are ok because of the lack of fine details. As mentioned, HOn30 works well for that reason. If I had the time, I would try some structures.
Simon
Mass-manufacturers are beginning to embrace the technology. Here is an HO machine tool made in 3D plastic from Kibri:
https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/kibri-ho-38676-horizontal-shaping-machine/
I’m sure we will be seeing more items coming to market as the technology goes up and the costs go down.
Atlas has a line of 3D printed accessories:
https://shop.atlasrr.com/c-1506-ho-scale-3d-printed-scenic-details.aspx
I bought a bunch of different styles of PRR catenary supports from a Shapeways designer.
These would have taken me weeks of scratchbuilding based on articles in the Keystone Modeler. For me they were a blessing.
IMG_5577_fix by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
How about components to build a Bush train shed?
I’d like to see a roof top water tower smaller than the Walthers.
The are a couple youtubers that 3d print for their own MR,
My son-in-law made me some 40’ containers on his printer. I have an N Scale layout. I could paint and detail these containers and save the $7 - $12 expense for the many containers I need for an intermodal train.
While I wouldn’t spend the money to buy a printer at my age, I have purchased several items.
One of the best things I got was a radio tower that would have taken me weeks to build.
One thing I have found, but have not purchased, are some modern 3-D semi trucks and trailers. Those of you in N Scale know that these are difficult to find, and the ones available are expensive.
There is sooooooo much stuff out there now, on Shapeways, and from all of the sellers, and all of the individuals that do printing, you would be hard pressed to view it in a day.
Good luck to the OP.
Mike.
Ed, Yes, I already just bought a pkg of those Keystone diesel details on eBay. THEN discovered there’s what looks like a VERY nicely detailed traction motor with axle and wheels at Shapeways.
Excellent job on those stripped locomotives! (I like your scenery too) Dan
Thanks, Dan.
I check in at Shapeways every few weeks to keep up with what’s new.
Cheers, Ed
M-Wellll-now!
There’s that expression be careful what you want because you’ll probably get it.
I was parusing ALCo diesels on ebay, and came across some 3D printed prime movers. Not just one, but THREE different sets of the ALCO 251 diesel, in V-8, V-12, and V-16 versions. Each set comes with a complete built up engine, and a bare stipped down block (crank case)
They also have EMD 710s (modern) in 16 and 20 cylinder sets.
Here’s a link below. I ordered a set of Alco 8 and 12 cyl engines and I’ll let ya know how they look when they get here. I’m not affiliated with the seller. Dan
The first time I saw a 3D printer was on TV making the prototype of a product. The 3D printed object was then used to create the mold for mass producing the item. The second time was in the movie Jurassic Park 3 where they printed the sound box of a raptor.
The first time I saw one in person was at a robot convention. They were using it to print parts to build more 3D printers. There were no mass produced 3D printers that you could buy at a store yet, but you could buy one from this company.
A few months ago I found an item on Sharpways that I didn’t like so I sent a message to the creator and he made changes in it for me. That might be one of the best things about 3D printing. You can’t do that with mass produced molds.
Anyway how about some interior details for diesel locomotives?
Thanks, Dan!
Those will fit the bill nicely [Y]
Regards, Ed
Wow Ed- I imagine that would take at least $20 in Plastic!
I just ordered some cheap(china) filement, I think I will try making some Alco and early GE engines, and maybe cast some. I like the forklift Idea, That is something folks at shows might like.[:)]
