Templot Club Archive - Search Results
To search again, click the Back button in your browser.
Search results for: shrinkage
17 results found.
... slow if you want to use it for anything of significant volume. I haven't done much more on this project recently, I've been busy with other things. I must get back to it soon. Currently it needs some work on the gauging, for rail sections which don't match the prototype dimensions. Looking back at the prints I made a couple of months ago, I'm more than ever convinced that the prints improve with keeping. It's difficult to be sure of a mechanism for this, but it is likely related to differential shrinkage. Certainly I know from injection moulding that mouldings age-shrink if not injected at a high enough pressure. And 3D filament is extruded at a tiny fraction of injection-moulding pressures. Judging the results with a fresh eye, I think the 7mm results are really quite good -- on a par with 3D resin prints, and not far behind injection-moulded chairs. The 4mm results are more iffy. At least so far. Fine at normal layout viewing distance, but not so good in cruel digital close ...
... , and I have just read them again for the first time since then). 5. store the template again and try printing it. 6. if it works, try the same on the other affected template(s). Sorry there is no way to do them all in one go. Changing the subject, do you find that the pages are aligning accurately from the laser printer? Or have you been storing the paper somewhere hot and dry before use? Laser printers heat the paper, which can cause differential shrinkage, with sometimes mis-matches of up to 1mm or so on adjacent pages. Several users have reported such results, and I normally recommend using an ink-jet printer for accurate printing. regards, Martin. posted: 11 Nov 2015 10:44 from: Gordon S Hi Martin, apologies for not getting back sooner. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll give them a try later today. I hadn't given much thought to the alignment issue with the laser printer, but have found a slight wander when sticking multiple ...
... approach would be to vectorise your .bmp file using the free version of WinTopo( http://www.wintopo.com) and import the resulting DXF file into the background shapes instead of using a picture shape. If you would like to send the .bmp file to me at martin@templot.com I will see how it prints on my inkjet and virtual printers (sorry I don't have a laser printer to try). Generally for accurate construction templates it is better to use an inkjet. Laser printers heat the paper, which can cause some shrinkage and mismatch between the pages. regards, Martin. posted: 15 Nov 2007 02:29 from: Edward Martin thanks. I finally managed to get the underlying OS map to print with the trackwork on top. The only way this would work was to convert the original OS map into a black&white image (1 bit) of size 74KB cf. the original bitmap of 1.7MB and this worked with a 24-bit limit in "graphics limits". When I tried the same with an 8-bit ...
... topic: 1840 Ballasting Track posted: 21 Feb 2012 00:23 from: Dellboy I have recently come across a different approach to ballasting insitu track. It uses resinal powdered adhesive (e.g. Cascamite) mixed dry with the ballast at a ratio about 3 or 4 ballast to 1 adhesive. The ballast and powder mix is spread and levelled on your track, then sprayed with a water/IPA mix. This wets the ballast and the adhesive. Apparently ideal for ballasting S&C since there is slight shrinkage as it dries. Has anyone tried this technique? posted: 21 Feb 2012 00:53 from: Martin Wynne Dellboy wrote: Has anyone tried this technique? Hi Derek, Yes, years ago. Cascamite sets rock hard. It's worse than PVA in producing concrete slab-track. Also, it's important that the correct amount of water is used in the mix. If too much is added, or more is added after the setting reaction has begun, it may never set properly and remain permanently sticky. For ballasting, ...
5. Printing
... options: 1. Install a virtual-printer PDF generator, and create your output as PDF files for printing elsewhere. This works very well under Windows with one of the many PDF generators -- Win2PDF is recommended. In the next upgrade version (free to existing users) Templot will be able to create PDF files natively. 2. Export you track plan and templates as a DXF file, for printing via any CAD package. I can dump to a friends networked laser printer Laser printers heat the paper, causing differential shrinkage. This can cause problems in the alignment of multiple template pages. For the best accuracy an ink-jet printer is recommended. regards, Martin. posted: 16 Jul 2010 22:43 from: julia Martin Wynne wrote: Everything you need to know about Templot on Linux, kindly compiled by Adrian Cherry: I don't know Linux so I can't answer about printing. Templot looks for a standard Windows printer driver, some of which can create files. Having had a read up on it, it seems that wine ...
... problems. You may possibly be able to correct for problems using the data distortion functions (main> program panel, then program> expert> data distortions> menu options), although I'm not too hopeful about that -- and I'm minded to remove them from Templot in future. It's a long time since I dismantled a printer, so I don't have much idea how the PX710W paper feed works, sorry. Some general points to bear in mind are: 1. Laser printers heat the paper, which can cause differential shrinkage and mis-match problems. Generally ink-jet printers produce much better results for accurate track templates. 2. Don't use high resolution "photo quality" printing for track templates. It is much better to set the plain "Text" or "Letter Quality" option in the 300dpi to 720dpi range. 3. Don't use shiny paper which might slip on the feed rollers. Matt paper or thin card is better. 4. Consistent paper feed relies on having a clean perfectly round roller with no accumulations of fluff ...
... newport_rod wrote: What experience to other Templotters of gluing plots down have? And advice would be appreciated. I use a spray adhesive made for scrapbooking. A light spray on the track bed and a VERY light spray on the back of the template. It acts like a contact cement but you have a little more time to get the template aligned properly before it sets. Even if it does set you can still peel the template off although it will probably be unusable after removal. I have not noticed any appreciable stretching or shrinkage of the paper The brand name that I use (in the USA) is "Elmer's Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive" I am sure that something similar must be available in the UK. I also use it to glue cork roadbed to the baseboard. Glen posted: 18 Nov 2010 21:13 from: Andrew Fendick Hi, You might look at this thread, which includes links to some others as well. topic 166 Andrew posted: 19 Nov 2010 15:15 from: wcampbell23 I have printed my plan on ...
... (a) 24 bit colour at 431.077 MB (431,077 KB) bitmap (b) 8 bit grey scale at 143.694 MB (143,694 KB) bitmap What is scale of track plan: The plan was originally drawn up by the LNWR to a scale of 40 foot to 1 inch (1 :480), however due to perhaps bad storage over the years (1921 to date) I found the plan had shrunk slightly and had to modify the scaling in Templot to 1:492 to correct for shrinkage. This ratio was determined in Templot by trial and error, using the ruler against the scaling bar of the background image and also measuring a known proto distance on the plan background image. Plan size (from original Tiff file): approx. 62" x 27" I say approx because when I had a print taken from the original file which was supposed to be 1:1, the local printer appears to have printed it just a tad under 1:1 so these dimensions were taken from that printout copy ...
9. Questions on the basic fundamentals on prototype (and scale model) turnout dimensions and design met
... track-work, I would really like to understand any implications using partial templates that are, out of spec, so to speak before I go too far and have lots of rework to do in the near future. Many thanks again Martin Kindest regards, Brian Nicholls. posted: 21 Feb 2011 00:40 from: Brian Nicholls Hi Howard, Many thanks for your response. Regarding confidence in my plan, I have so far found it to be reasonably accurate, despite having to correct the scaling in Templot due to shrinkage of the plan being poorly stored over the years. To correct for the scaling, I measured using the Templot ruler against the scaling bar on the drawing background image. Also I had a copy of another original LNWR drawing for one of the stations overall roof trusses, which was something like 198 ft 6 in long, this being a known dimension I could also measure on the background image as verification for accurate scaling to 4mm to 1 foot. I take your point about pre-grouping track may be something very different ...
... topic: 922 Waterproof tough paper for printed templates posted: 12 Aug 2009 15:25 from: Martin Wynne This looks interesting: http://www.toughprint.com A tough waterproof paper substitute, available for both ink-jet and laser printers in A4 and A3 sizes. It would presumably eliminate the problem of shrinkage and distortion of multiple-page track templates from laser printers. It's popular with outdoor users for printing maps from the web. Has anyone tried it for track construction templates? regards, Martin. posted: 12 Aug 2009 18:22 from: Alan Turner But it's £160/ream! Alan posted: 12 Aug 2009 18:53 from: Martin Wynne Alan Turner wrote: But it's £160/ream! Hi Alan, £13.49 for 25 sheets: Inkjet: http://www.penroseoutdoors.co.uk/acatalog/Memory_Map_ToughPrint_Inkjet_Paper .html Laser: http://www.penroseoutdoors.co.uk/acatalog/Memory_Map_ToughPrint_Laser_Paper .html That's around 54p per sheet. 10 thou Plastikard is around 80p per sheet -- and you can't print on it! regards, Martin. ...
... . My question is, has anyone out there tried this method and if so, have you found any pitfalls with this method? Regards, Dave posted: 10 Apr 2012 19:22 from: Raymond I'd have thought that they woould work exactly the same of droppers. Regards Raymond posted: 10 Apr 2012 20:08 from: Martin Wynne Hi Dave, A general engineering principle is that you don't use a mechanical fixing as an electrical connection. Mechanical fixings are subject to the stress of thermal expansion/contraction, timber shrinkage, vibration, etc. The original Protofour riveted plywood track system used an electrical feed through one of the rivets, and it was always unreliable. When a soldered rivet fractured due to thermal expansion, guess which one it was? Most users soon abandoned the system. A suitable wire for short droppers is bare 1/0.5mm solid copper wire from old telephone cables. If you drill a 20 thou hole through the web of the rail*, the wire can be neatly soldered into it using a smear of 179deg solder ...
... do a lot of photography. For a scanner, I'd suggest thinking about your needs and buying accordingly; for me, photography again is an issue, including scanning old medium-format slides. Cheers Nigel Last edited on 14 Jun 2012 15:31 by Nigel Brown posted: 14 Jun 2012 15:32 from: Martin Wynne Hi Ken, If printing Templot templates is an important consideration, bear in mind that an ink-jet printer is far preferable to a laser printer. Laser printers heat the paper, causing differential shrinkage. It can be difficult to align laser printed pages accurately. regards, Martin. posted: 14 Jun 2012 15:36 from: Paul Boyd Hi Ken Ask five people about printers/scanners and you'll get six recommendations! It depends on what you want to do with it and how much you want to pay- I've no idea where the Lexmark X73 fits in the range. If you're looking for archival or high-end photo quality scans, a separate scanner is better than a combo, similarly with printing, ...
... time using previously unused sheets all from the same packet. Many thanks. Ray posted: 1 Oct 2012 21:27 from: Martin Wynne Ray Hughes wrote: I have an HP Photosmart printer and believe that I have calibrated it as best I can. Hi Ray, Printer calibration applies only to directly printed pages, it has no effect on PDF files. Do you get the same mismatch if you print directly rather than via PDF? Is this an inkjet printer or a laser? Laser printers heat the paper causing differential shrinkage which makes it very difficult to align adjacent pages with total accuracy. I noticed it is called a "photo" printer. Don't use it in photo mode to print track templates -- it will be slow and use vastly more memory, and the extra ink density may cause the paper to cockle with same distortion effects as for lasers. Is the printer standing firm on a level surface? Modern printers seem to be of flimsier construction than older ones. If the frame is distorted it will probably still work but the ...
... not remove the template at the end of the track building, I just lifted it off its temporary construction board and stuck it in place with some "3M stuff" (does anyone know of an alternative glue that sticks well but allows adjustment before it goes off?) that did not swell the paper and sticks like the proverbial. This time I've stuck it directly to the baseboard (another departure from before when I used 3mm cork) which is 12mm MDF sealed with a coat of paint to prevent/ reduce swelling and shrinkage which in turn is mounted on four 90mm high supports which in turn sit on the layout sub base(18mm ply). Why did I go for such a complicated set up? My need/ requirement here is to have the layout broken up into sections 3' to 4' long so that I can build each section in the comfort of our main living room and so that if there any problems in the future I can remove a section from the main layout in the shed and bring it into the house to ...
... pdf...) and how would I ensure that the print shop machine was calibrated. Hi Godders, 1. if you want accurate calibrated printing the best option by far is to find someone running Templot connected to a good-quality ink-jet or large-format printer and get them to do it for you from your BOX file. Impress upon them that you expect them to calibrate their printer using the functions in Templot. Don't let them use a laser-printer, which will heat the paper causing differential shrinkage and generally poor precision. 2. failing that, the next best option is to export a DXF file from Templot, and send or take it to a specialised CAD printing firm for engineering drawings. There are not many such firms about, and it will be expensive. Impress upon them that you want precision printing for scaling purposes. They don't normally do that for ordinary engineering drawings, but they will at least know what you are talking about, and should be able to do it. They may want to do ...
... going under gauge after a few years due to using plywood sleepers. Is this something that happens alot? I am making mine to 4-SF so I am hoping it has a little more leniency compared to P4 as I don't want to have to attempt to fix issues with my track after a few years as i'm already going through too many just trying to thread them on lol Cheers Hi Michael, Wood shrinks mainly across the grain as moisture evaporates. The drier the environment the wood is kept in the more the likely shrinkage. Plywood is made from alternate layers of wood bonded together with the grain of the outer layers always being in the same direction. 0.8mm ply sleepers are made with 3 layers in total so assuming you have the sleepers/timbers cut lengthwise with the grain there won't be an issue. I use 0.4mm ply as well for goods yards and such like as it doesn't take as much cinder ballast to build up the groundwork. As Martin says there are many layouts out there that have been fine for many years. I think ...
... will speed up the screen response a lot, while you are working over a different part of the plan. I found that the original was not quite dead straight, it is on 1117569mm radius, as you can see in the BOX file. Not much (over a kilometre on the model!), but noticeable over such a length. I don't know if that is because the prototype is on such a radius (doubtful, that would be 4233 chains radius full size). More likely it has been caused by shrinkage of the original drawing. Either way it needs straightening in order to match the drawn tracks to the required radius. I adjusted the starting control template to match using the swell mouse action at the centre (using the Up Main line): http://templot.com/companion/swell_function_ctrl_f10.php It has worked out quite well, as you can see: 2_241849_470000000.png The files are attached in several following messages, if of interest. cheers, Martin. Attachment: attach_2706_3310_midland_central_2 018_07_24_2334_37.box 183 posted: posted: 25 Jul 2018 00: ...
Search took 0.123 seconds
Back to Templot Club