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TEMPLOT 3D PLUG TRACK - To get up to speed with this experimental project click here.   To watch an introductory video click here.   See the User Guide at Bexhill West.

  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed. Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.
  • The Plug Track functions are experimental and still being developed.

    For an updated overview of this project see this topic.   For some practical modelling aspects of using Plug Track see Building 3D Track.

    The assumption is that you have your own machines on which to experiment, or helpful friends with machines. Please do not send Templot files to commercial laser cutting or 3D printing firms while this project is still experimental, because the results are unpredictable and possibly wasteful.

    Some pages of this and other topics include contributions from members who are creating and posting their own CAD designs for 3D printing and laser-cutting. Do not confuse them with Templot's own exported CAD files. All files derived from Templot are © Martin Wynne.

How do I get the rail to sit on the sleepers

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Greg

Member
How do I get the rail to sit on the sleepers when I export as DFX .Or How do I remove the chairs and get the rail flat on the timbers before exporting .This is just a test before doing some turnouts
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@Greg

Hi Greg,

Welcome to Templot Club. :)

Currently the 3D export functions are still in experimental development. I haven't yet implemented the rail fixings (chairs and baseplates) dialog, so there is no means to change the default seating thickness setting. You would need to change that to zero to have the rails sitting flush to the timber surface.

At present it is fixed on the default 1.75" (prototype) dimension and there is no means in Templot to change it. That will come in due course, but I can't say when. I will look to see if I can provide a temporary fix in the next program update.

Until then, the only way to get what you want is to edit the exported DXF file in your CAD program. Select all objects in the RAILS3D layer, and drop the Z position by the equivalent of 1.75 inches at your model scale.

In 4mm/ft scale that would mean subtracting 0.5833mm from the Z position, but you didn't specify your scale:
seat_thick_tcad.png


cheers,

Martin.
 
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@Greg

Hi Greg,

Many thanks for reporting this issue.

In the next program update I have added this setting to the rail section data:

rail_seat_height.png


It's not strictly part of the rail section of course, but life is too short... :)

These rail dimensions are template-specific. The seat height can be changed to zero (or any other dimension or negative) as required.

This dimension will apply in the 3-D export when the template has not been set for experimental chairing. If it is set, the chair dimensions will apply instead.

(Likewise the templates are rebuilt with the model rail section dimensions which have been set on the DXF dialog when exporting.)

Note that if you set the rail seat height to zero the timber is lifted up to meet the underside of the rail. This would need further thought if you wanted to print chaired and unchaired track base in the same timbering brick:
rail_seat_height_diff.png

rail_seat_height_diff1.png

It would make more sense to print separate bricks for each, and adjust the timber depth accordingly.

I'm hoping to get the next update released very soon.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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