Templot Club Archive 2007-2020
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posted: 7 Jan 2009 12:31 from: Mike Pogson
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When the recent thread on laser cut bases by C & L started, I was just leaving on my Christmas/New Year summer break, so I couldn't join in. I have been using a Laser Cutter for about 2.5 years now. Its primary task is to cut & engrave plastic labelling for the electrical industry, however its usefulness for modelling has not been lost on me, especially for track bases. During the recent thread, there was mention made of the difficulty in using DXF files exported from Templot in other programmes. I have to say that I have not found this to be a problem. I have put together a set of images to illustrate this. The first image shows a DXF file exported from Templot and imported into my CAD programme (Rhinoceros). I did not use Templot to create the diamond in the Scissors crossing in this instance. This scissors crossing is using 4 off B8 turnouts and is to P4 gauge. Scissors+from+Templot.jpg  The second image shows the Diamond crossing created in the CAD programme Scissors+edited+in+CAD.jpg  The third image shows the whole crossing placed on a 6 meter curve Scissors+bent+in+CAD.jpg  The final picture shows a track base cut in plywood for this formation P1030790.jpg  The base is over 600mm long, so couldn't be cut in one piece. The right hand end was cut seperately and each piece was cut jigsaw style and joined, The short piece could easily have been a longer piece of track base. The joins between the sleepers are where the various crossings go. A milled or etched brass plate fixed to the base of the crossing rails is accurately located on pins in the track base. This is similar to the technique the P4 track company use. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down a suitabe source of pins yet. Incidentally, once the data is in the CAD programme, its quite straightforward to generate a mill cutting path to accurately cut the rail for the various crossings. Mike Pogson |
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posted: 8 Jan 2009 00:59 from: Richard Spratt
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Mike Pogson wrote: Great. Does the jigsaw style joint mean that you could effectively you could produce a jigsaw puzzle for a whole layout? I know it would be a pointless waist for long sections of plain track! Roughly how much would it have cost me If I'd sent you the DXF file? Richard |
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posted: 8 Jan 2009 16:34 from: Mike Pogson
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Richard Spratt wrote: Great. Does the jigsaw style joint mean that you could effectively you could produce a jigsaw puzzle for a whole layout? I know it would be a pointless waist for long sections of plain track! Hi Richard, Yes, a whole layout could be produced as a jigsaw puzzle. I have used Templot to draw the track formation for Bournemouth West. This comprises of 19 turnouts, 2 Scissors crossings and one double slip. I shall be cutting the track bases as a jigsaw puzzle, complete with plain track. Costs: There are two elements to the cost of custom bases, one is the cutting element, and the second is computer time to arrive at the cutting profile. I charge A$40 per hour for computer time. For the example given (Curved scissors crossover), computer time was about 30 minutes. So A$20, or at current exchange rates 9GBP. Cutting cost for this example A$32 or 15 GBP. So all up cost around 24 GBP. This assumes there is no problem with the DXF file. The main thing with this is leave the extensions to the sleepers off. These track bases can also be cut in plastic, Styrene, ABS, Acrylic, Delrin (Acetal), but definitely NOT PVC. The same principals can also be applied to cutting station platforms, buildings etc. Mike |
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posted: 8 Jan 2009 19:45 from: Martin Wynne
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Mike Pogson wrote: The final picture shows a track base cut in plywood for this formationHi Mike, That's looking good.  Just one thing to mention though. I notice the logo "Lovett Scale Models". If you are using Templot commercially, you need a commercial-use licence. The standard Templot licence is for non-commercial use only. There are some concessions for members of Templot Club at: licence concessions which would cover supplying track bases to Richard. But for general commercial use you need a Templot commercial-use licence. Prices are shown at: order page. Also it is a condition of all licences that if it is not for your own use, all Templot-derived material should be marked
or similar wording. Just drawing your attention to these matters -- I realise this is still in development. regards, Martin. |
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