Entering 3mm Scale rail measurements

[BetweenTheTunnels]

Martin,
When I responded to a post on Western Thunder from @Hayfield (I think) about 3D printing with 3mm rail (Code 60 I think) - see this post - you asked me if I had some suitable 3mm/ft bullhead rail and did I know the dimensions to enter in Templot.

The rail from the 3mm Society has now arrived - is there a post somewhere that says what measurements need to be taken and where they are entered in Templot? I have tried a search around rail dimensions on this forum but haven't come up with anything. Initially I am just in the designing stage, but am looking to 3D print a 3mm/ft point off over Christmas.

Cheers
Richie

 

[Hayfield]

Not Guilty my lord, but happy to be mentioned and its great that Templot is being used in more and more scales and gauges

A word of warning about rails, the age of the rail is important. C&L have now new dies of their own from which rails are drawn, Firstly you need to be sure whether you are using new or old stock. Secondly as dies get older they get worn and the size increases

My farther was a wire drawer. I have his micrometer and he had to constantly check the work was still to specification when wiredrawing, If the rail die is from a common user die, it will vary according to how worn the die is

 

[BetweenTheTunnels]

Thanks @Hayfield

The rail has come from the 3mm Society shop, so I have no idea how old it is or who actually produces it for them .. but I'll take your comments on board and measure a couple of different lengths. It might be more relevant if I ever get round to the 'life layout project' but for the small little shunting yard providing layout, I suspect most will be from the same batch.

 

[Martin Wynne]

I have tried a search around rail dimensions on this forum but haven't come up with anything.

@BetweenTheTunnels

Hi Richie,

Here you go:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.p...3d-printed-cnc-milled-laser-cut.229/post-6610

cheers,

Martin.

 

[BetweenTheTunnels]

Martin,
Can you tell me where the 3D custom rail section window is located in the menus? I have measured the rail, but spent 15 minutes searching around Templot and not found it .. probably me - I am due an eye test!! But I am getting the feeling it could be buried inside another menu option?

I have been back on the link that you posted, but cannot find any other reference to how you access that window!
Sorry!

Richie

 

[Martin Wynne]

@BetweenTheTunnels

Hi Richie,

n.b. Make sure you have set your model scale first.

Martin.

 

[BetweenTheTunnels]

@Martin Wynne
Ah thank you Martin, I hadn't realised it was actually part of the 3D side of things, I thought it needed to be in as part of the layout design.

Many thanks.
Richie

 

[Martin Wynne]

@Martin Wynne
Ah thank you Martin, I hadn't realised it was actually part of the 3D side of things, I thought it needed to be in as part of the layout design.

Many thanks.
Richie

@BetweenTheTunnels

Hi Richie,

There is a setting for rail head width in the template specifications for the printed paper templates. This is primarily intended for prototype track planning adjustments, e.g. for narrow-gauge rails, industrial flat-bottom, etc. real > rails > rail section data...

This setting is template-specific -- i.e. each template can have a different rail width.

The template setting is over-ridden in the 3D exports to ensure your chairs fit your actual model rail. This applies to the entire export file, you can't have different rails in the same DXF/STL file.

Martin.