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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 Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.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.

3D printing services

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Location
Holmes Chapel, Cheshire
Info
Builder of Finescale Signals in 2mm scale to 7mm scale, Trackwork, Turnouts and Layouts.
Am I alone in wondering where I can get a workshop with expanding dimensions? With all the usual modelling stuff, PCs, 2 printers, and a Filament printer, I am rapidly running out of room. I think further hardware will have to go elsewhere.
 
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When I get time, I will see if I can give my old Pen Plotter a cutter option. It might be difficult to accommodate anything of the thickness that might be ideally needed without some major modifications, as I don't think the maximuim pen lift will be enough.
 
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Am I alone in wondering where I can get a workshop with expanding dimensions? With all the usual modelling stuff, PCs, 2 printers, and a Filament printer, I am rapidly running out of room. I think further hardware will have to go elsewhere.

You are not alone. My shop is 36 x 20 feet and it's still not big enough :) (Mind you if I tidied it up it would be a bit better but who has time for that?)
 
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I am noticing with interest of a development on RMWeb regarding the possibility of someone starting up a sort of alternative to Shapeways, obviously not so all-encompassing as it is is likely to be Model Railway stuff pre-dominantly. Might interesting for some wishing to dip their toes in, without splashing out on equipment straightaway. The main reason people are interested is the sheer cost of Shapeways, bad enough pre-Brexit now a non-starter.
 
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I am noticing with interest of a development on RMWeb regarding the possibility of someone starting up a sort of alternative to Shapeways, obviously not so all-encompassing as it is is likely to be Model Railway stuff pre-dominantly. Might interesting for some wishing to dip their toes in, without splashing out on equipment straightaway. The main reason people are interested is the sheer cost of Shapeways, bad enough pre-Brexit now a non-starter.

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/166241-uk-3d-printing-marketplaces/
 
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Interesting, could we send Templot chair files to be printed?
@Hayfield

Hi John,

Yes. If you are asking whether the file format is compatible, then yes, the STL files exported by Templot would be directly usable by the 3D printing service. You don't need to do anything with the file or know anything about it. Just send it.

I'm assuming the 3D printing service would do any mesh repair needed, but if not it's easy to follow the instructions in Templot to use a free online mesh repair service, and again you don't need to know anything, it's just a couple of clicks before sending the file.

However there are two different service intents which seem to be mixed up and need to be clearly separated when discussing this idea:

1. you send a file to be 3D printed. It's just for you, and the service sends the finished printed part back to you. Just as you might ask a friend to 3D print something for you.

2. you create a design for sale to others (in addition to your own needs). The service creates the printed parts and puts them for sale on its web site in your name. A percentage of the sales revenue is paid back to you.

I don't know if there are established names for these two different types of service, but they sure need distinct names before we can make much sense of the posts in the RMweb topic.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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p.s.

Perhaps I should add a reminder that any file derived from Templot remains my copyright -- that's one of the terms of use for Templot.

You can do anything you like with material derived from Templot, short of claiming your own copyright on it.

Martin.
 
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Interesting, could we send Templot chair files to be printed?

Hi John,

No need to wait. You could upload them to Shapeways today. Might be a bit expensive but they'll quote you the price first.

We actually did that a couple of years ago. Not a great success mainly because I could not get accurate information on the rail profile and also because the resin was rather brittle.

Cheers,
Andy
 
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A bit expensive is something of an understatement. Post-Brexit it is an order of magnitude so, due to the imposition of extra delivery charges. Indeed the cost of delivery could exceed the actual cost of the item. Enough is enough. Once I have used up my small stash, I will be looking for another solution.
 
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p.s.

Perhaps I should add a reminder that any file derived from Templot remains my copyright -- that's one of the terms of use for Templot.

You can do anything you like with material derived from Templot, short of claiming your own copyright on it.

Martin.

Martin

Its just out of curiosity but My knowledge of what to send is zero, as you know I have bought items from Shapeways, but they seem to be very expensive against other retail items I have bought, this from the UK seems it might be an answer and I guess it would be a good place to keep an eye on

Do they use the some material as you for the filing jigs please and is this something that can be downloaded now
 
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Martin

Its just out of curiosity but My knowledge of what to send is zero, as you know I have bought items from Shapeways, but they seem to be very expensive against other retail items I have bought, this from the UK seems it might be an answer and I guess it would be a good place to keep an eye on

Do they use the some material as you for the filing jigs please and is this something that can be downloaded now
Shapeways have always been horrifically expensive for shipping, but they are good. I use them for personal stuff as well as prototyping for work bits where a UK supplier would be even more horrifically expensive for a 1-off. A genuine UK equivalent would be wonderful, preferably one with a workable search function! I bought some stuff from Shapeways fairly recently, and it was no more expensive than pre-Brexit, but still expensive.
 
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Shapeways seem to have a preference for using UPS, not the cheapest pre-Brexit but now you could also be hit with a "handling charge" plus VAT on top as well. So that's at about £20.00 on top of the actual carriage cost. There are some cautionary tales on RMWeb.

I do have an FDM printer but haven't had the time or inclination to finish setting it up, let alone use it. When I do get around to it I currently have a choice of PLA black or ABS black (not sure I will use the ABS at the moment, if indeed I can use it with my machine).
 
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I bought some stuff from Shapeways fairly recently, and it was no more expensive than pre-Brexit, but still expensive.
That has been my experience too. Not just from Shapeways, but generally- I order work's stuff from USA, Commonwealth and Pacific Rim, as well as mainland Europe. It's slower, but not more expensive. I recently received a quote from Vistaprint and it was 5% more expensive than last time, which allowing for inflation means effectively the same. However, I found a local supplier instead.
(noted only to be used as a benchmark for others to compare their experiences against- not in any way trying to revive a 5 year old debate that has been done to the death.)

"There are some cautionary tales on RMWeb."

Aren't there always? The hobbyist equivalent of twitter.
(noted only to be used as a benchmark for others to compare their experiences against- not in ...)
 
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"There are some cautionary tales on RMWeb."

Aren't there always? The hobbyist equivalent of twitter.
(noted only to be used as a benchmark for others to compare their experiences against- not in ...)
I've just fallen into a thread about Templot on the Scalefour society forums - Martin being told how to write his own software and how it must look. Although I'm a member, it reminded me why I don't participate in the forums on there - they make Twitter and Facebook look really quite tame!
 
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