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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.

     Templot5 - To join this open-source project on GitHub click here.  For news of the latest on-going developments click here.  Templot5 is now included with Templot2 - download.

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 Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.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

Plug track at Scaleforum

Quick reply >
Hi James all well here I could not get to Scaleforum as doing a lot of running back and forwards to Haywards Heath... I was there on Friday but had to get back home. My 3D printing is on hold at the moment I need some Filament but I am revising the resin side. During the summer i got to a max of 19 degress in my garage even in winter it does not dip below 10 degrees. But i believe that the resin needs somewhere between 20 to 25 for successful or consistent prints. I am looking at vivarium heaters at the moment. As well i am changing the rafts to only lose jaw chairs and separately the jaws. I can then be more vigorous on the cleaning of the chairs with out losing the jaws. Also i will let the prints dry normally rather than in the full sunlight i was doing during August.

Bad planning on me my next visit to Haywards Heath is mid November should have been in October to end up in Uckfield.

BTW how did the house move go.

Keith
 
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Hi all, my initial thought post Scaleforum are as follows:
Firstly, a big thank you to Steve, Phil O, and Terry for helping-out by standing-in whilst I was called away for the Lecture, like John I wish we'd had more time for a natter, but as was quite clear, it was very busy both days.
For me it was a very enjoyable weekend, especially so to spend time with John, who kept me topped-up with tea and jelly babies.

I was very impressed with John's COT track display pieces, and kept pinching them to show visitors. I didn't hear a single word of criticism (constructive or otherwise), even the Scale 7 chaps who are a discerning bunch were very impressed indeed.

Clearly, the enthusiasm for Templot generally and Plug Track in particular is very high indeed, more so perhaps than the discussions/feedback and general input here on Templot Club might suggest.

There was a significant hiccup in Sunday's classroom session where I was looking at creating and exporting bricks. I think I may have been visited by a gremlin, as try as I might I kept getting the 'you haven't selected any timbering bricks - do you want to export all templates' message. After some time, during which I mostly managed to conceal my panic, the chair labels mysteriously appeared and all was well. I hadn't noticed that the chair labels were missing up to that point. Speaking to an audience and using Templot simultaneously is not easy. :)
I suspect that the 'bug' may have been related to switching between T2 & T5, but cannot be sure. I've spent time this evening trying to replicate the symptoms and can't. So this isn't an official 'bug' notification post but it may make some sense to Martin or Steve.

I will make a video to show the process this week and post it to the Scalefour Forum for those who may have been confused by my apparent incompetence. The audience were kind however, and I was embarrassed to receive a round of applause on both days. :)

What was clear to me was that lots of folks are getting a great deal out of their own experiments with Plug Track. I spoke with several folks who had invested in 3d printing equipment specifically for Plug Track who liked the fact that they could produce the parts without CAD skills. Many of those I spoke with commented upon how useful they found my videos, and how discussions on here have helped their understanding of the 3d printing process generally. This was very encouraging, and got me thinking about several new videos which might benefit our community. (with the proviso that I'm still learning myself)
Again, everyone I spoke with understood the experimental nature of Plug Track and were keen to join-in for the joy of doing so, recognising the ongoing development work which has been going on.

A comment I heard from many was how encouraging it was that there was innovation in the hobby, and how it might attract folks into the hobby especially young people. I whole-heartedly agree this these sentiments.
If that proves to be the case, then these newcomers will be starting their journeys with a foundation based upon prototype practice which will be encouraging for the finescale side of our wonderful hobby.

John, I completely agree with the suggestion of having a large screen. Should we do this again I will make sure that we have one.

I'll write some more thoughts soon when I've had time to properly decompress, but right now I have some COT trackbases looking at me and some code 125 rail kindly donated by John - guess what I'll be up to next. :)

Martin, I wish you could have seen the enthusiasm first-hand. I think you'd feel very proud.

Finally, I counted only 5 folks who asked me directly about the availability of GWR chairs. Far less than I'd expected. :)

Best wishes,

James

p.s. The Plug Track Roadshow will next be appearing at the Uckfield show in October
James, shout if you want support/assist at the Uckfield show? I’m willing to come down for the weekend and help out if you want. Terry
 
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173.jpeg
Forgot to take a photo its a 1-4.5 angle

A filing jig I printed today for code 125, following on from the grip issues I incurred last week, today I reduced the slot depth from 1.55 mm to 1.5 and kept the head width to 1.6. The fit and grip was greatly improved. I used the Neptune 4 with the jig settings Martin published, 2 hours later all finished
 
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Hi Terry,
from another topic:-
Just for info,
I will be at Uckfield as part of the Scalefour South-East activities. I'm scheduled to be there on the Saturday morning and Sunday afternoon. The organisers are rotating the demo's. Also, I will apparently only have half of a 6 foot table, so will only have my laptop and a few samples on display.
I will also be attending the show on Saturday.
Steve
 
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Hi Guys,
Firstly and I want to stress this not is mean to be a negative post, its just a few honest open questions.

Whilst I fully realise why, and support the idea of getting plug track out to more people I.E showing what it can do at shows etc.
Are we in fact jumping the gun with this one?

I can't help but think does this untimely end up putting more pressure on Martin? Either directly (pressure to get more things working in a faster time frame)
or indirectly, just having to answer a lot of questions that are new user questions? (I know we can / should be taking the strain on these) and sometime we do, but you can see from some of Martin's posts its still making him feel he needs to respond.

Just putting out out there
Cheers
Phil
 
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Phil

Having been at a 2 day show there was a lot of interest in both 2d Templot and 3D Templot, whilst we were very busy for 2 days speaking to what was really hardened railway modelers. It may have generated a bit more interest in Templot, but in recent months Templot club has not seen a massive rise in new members asking lots of numbers

I have no idea whether membership of Templot Club was increased. The whole idea of having a stand at Scaleforum was to publicize Templot 2D, 3D and Templot Club and hopefully generate more interest in these subjects

Totally accept we must not put extra pressure on Martin, but with the added help by a small group with a wide range of expertise must be a great help for Martin.

I think there is nothing wrong with these displays as I certainly was able to assist existing Templot users overcome some simple issues they could not solve, I expect the other 4 who also assisted found the same thing.

I don't think COT track is taking off yet, simply as in the past year or so most of the work was focused on 4mm scales. Certainly in 2D Templot is well received with the 7mm modelers, 3D I expect will slowly grow in this group.

It would be nice for Templot club to grow and we are seeing we all can learn from each other. But point taken not to open the flood gates
 
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I have no idea whether membership of Templot Club was increased. The whole idea of having a stand at Scaleforum was to publicize Templot 2D, 3D and Templot Club and hopefully generate more interest in these subjects

Hi John,

Current actual membership is 574. But we see a great many more unregistered visitors reading the topics.

Templot would be much more widely known if there was a competitor software to compare it with and argue about. It's a bit of mystery to me why there still isn't anything comparable after all these years. Jeff Geary's Trax program looked like coming close, and then fizzled out. It suggests that there isn't really very much interest in track-building across the hobby as a whole.

Given that the defining feature of a railway is the track (the clue is in the name), it's surprising that there is so little interest in it. Without it we might just as well be modelling tractors or helicopters or doll's houses. Peco have been able to build a thriving business selling entirely freelance track designs which wouldn't be acceptable for locomotives or rolling stock.

How many households still have a traditional home computer suitable for Templot? It must be falling off as almost everyone now has a smart phone which can do everything (except run Templot). And even fewer seem to have a printer now.

Martin.
 
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Hi John,

Current actual membership is 574. But we see a great many more unregistered visitors reading the topics.

Templot would be much more widely known if there was a competitor software to compare it with and argue about. It's a bit of mystery to me why there still isn't anything comparable after all these years. Jeff Gearey's Trax program looked like coming close, and then fizzled out. It suggests that there isn't really very much interest in track-building across the hobby as a whole.

Given that the defining feature of a railway is the track (the clue is in the name), it's surprising that there is so little interest in it. Without it we might just as well be modelling tractors or helicopters or doll's houses. Peco have been able to build a thriving business selling entirely freelance track designs which wouldn't be acceptable for locomotives or rolling stock.

How many households still have a traditional home computer suitable for Templot? It must be falling off as almost everyone now has a smart phone which can do everything (except run Templot). And even fewer seem to have a printer now.

Martin.

Martin

Its long been recognized that track building is the poor relation in the hobby, but with "finescale modelling" its interesting to see how many folk are using Templot, usually a friend has drawn up the plan. So it will be impossible to assess how many folk actually use Templot is impossible to know.

Track building is alive and still kicking as when we look at the recourses available, my list ended up a lot bigger after first thoughts. We have seen Peco have now been involved with the EMGS, but more importantly Wayne Kierney with British finescale providing 00SF, EM and P4 kits which are being well received, These are really plug and play where pre-machined vee and switch rails are provided to slide into pre printed (resin) bases, sounds familiar. Now the EMGS & S4 societies are providing his kits/ kit of parts

Where we are in a years time will be interesting

What's stopping folk using COT track

1 Its very new so there will be a bit of hesitation from a mainly conservative group of modelers (older folk many into RTR)
2 Lack of access to prints and in a lot of cases, pre-formed rails
3 Start up costs may put a lot of folk off
4 Only turnouts available

I think there is a lot of difference between someone willing to spend £10 to £20 in trying something out and forking out £200 on a machine you may not know how to assemble let alone use
 
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Hi John,
Hi John,

Current actual membership is 574. But we see a great many more unregistered visitors reading the topics.

Templot would be much more widely known if there was a competitor software to compare it with and argue about. It's a bit of mystery to me why there still isn't anything comparable after all these years. Jeff Gearey's Trax program looked like coming close, and then fizzled out. It suggests that there isn't really very much interest in track-building across the hobby as a whole.

Given that the defining feature of a railway is the track (the clue is in the name), it's surprising that there is so little interest in it. Without it we might just as well be modelling tractors or helicopters or doll's houses. Peco have been able to build a thriving business selling entirely freelance track designs which wouldn't be acceptable for locomotives or rolling stock.

How many households still have a traditional home computer suitable for Templot? It must be falling off as almost everyone now has a smart phone which can do everything (except run Templot). And even fewer seem to have a printer now.

Martin.

Hi Martin,
I don't think its quite so hard to understand why, most of the great leaps forward in rolling stock have a lot to do with products moving to China and therefore taking advantage of the need to retool to the new current standards, coupled with the lower cost that used to come from Chinese workers adding so much detail by hand.

The truth is the track has mainly been so far out of scale for so long, most modellers just live with it. You can see simply in the detail in the RTR models but its still all made for OO scale (not saying I agree with that)
You have to get into the S4 and S7 people before true track fidelity becomes a concern.
If you add to that the old school way of making fidelity track, required a good ability to solder. You can see how moving to 3d printing is likely to be a bit slow to catch on.

I think you make a very good point about, there is a danger in Templot being old school PC based.
You can even see the original idea of printing templates out and making trackwork on this could actually die out sooner than we may all think.
cheers
Phil,
 
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Regarding the possible lack of the ability of modern computing methods not compatible with Templot, this could be said about any hobby/pastimes which uses 3D printing or other design processes. 3D printing is going from strength to strength

As for computing machines we have 2 x iPhone's, 1 iPad, 2 laptops and 1 desk top. We are a family of technophobes!!! I don't think the ability to use Templot will decline
 
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Regarding the possible lack of the ability of modern computing methods not compatible with Templot, this could be said about any hobby/pastimes which uses 3D printing or other design processes. 3D printing is going from strength to strength

As for computing machines we have 2 x iPhone's, 1 iPad, 2 laptops and 1 desk top. We are a family of technophobes!!! I don't think the ability to use Templot will decline
Hi John,
I think you just highlighted Martin's point to a tee. Your first three devises are cloud based. IE no hard drive so not Templot compatible.
re your other point, nobody said 3D was dying it is clearly growing, but it is most certainly is also moving to being cloud based, in fact a lot of the newer 3D printers can directly connect directly to the cloud, and there are hundreds of cloud based STL files to pick from.
cheers
Phil
 
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.
My guess is that at present far more Templot users are interested in 2D track planning than in 3D printing, despite the fact that we have largely ignored them in recent months. That might change of course -- especially looking at the rising cost of track materials.

But right on cue, this has just been posted:

https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=106670#p106670

Martin.
 
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Phil

If I was quite a few years younger I would start supplying turnout kits in 7mm scale, as I have said somewhere if I was a potential punter I would far easier spend £10 to £20 on an experiment, than fork out £200 on a system I may not be able to operate. That's the initial hurdle and I guess most railway modelers in 7mm scale now err towards the ready to run market, or simple kits

Having said this Wayne Kierney seems to be doing well with his 3D resin kits in 2 & 4mm scales and gauges. I think the big players are happy for firms like this as they can sell their RTR flexitrack systems on the back of it.

I imagine various enthusiastic modelers looking for an in to the retail side of the hobby are keeping a close look at the developments. Initially more likely those more inclined to 0mf or Scale 7, simply because at the outset as it is their only option. This method does lend itself to 7mm or above modelling

A test track beckons
 
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.
My guess is that at present far more Templot users are interested in 2D track planning than in 3D printing, despite the fact that we have largely ignored them in recent months. That might change of course -- especially looking at the rising cost of track materials.

But right on cue, this has just been posted:

https://www.scalefour.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=106670#p106670

Martin.

Sadly open to members only

edit

Found a route for public viewing
 
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Martin

That was a great weekend, no negative comments that I heard of, other than Templot 3D can only do simple turnouts. Which for the time being is partly true, unless you don't mind a spell on the naughty step

There was a lot of enthusiasm for both 2D and 3D. And given how many days of usage and the progress to date COT track was in its infancy and I think we all know the potential it has in 7mm scale and above, no doubt with machines and materials getting better over time it will find a use in 4mm scale

In one way it's a shame you could not experience the acceptance Templot has in the hobby and the enthuasm shown by those who stopped and chatted

In the cold light of day I think we will not see an explosion of either Templot users, given how easy to use, I don't think we need downloadable templates. Printable files (if only a length of track) is another thing, something someone can easily access and print is worth a try

As for those without printers, folk like Terry who are willing to give a service and provide samples/kits (partial or full) would in my opinion help break the ice/spread the word, certainly if we had been a commercial entity (I am definitely not advocating we should be) firstly we would have been very satisfied with the reception we received. Secondly sold a few bits. Still lets hope we sowed a few seeds

John
 
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@Hayfield @James Walters @Martin Wynne @Steve_Cornford
Hi John and James,
That looks as though you had quite a few people showing interest well done.
Just a question on the video there appears to be a shot of the Elegoo Neptune 4 printing a track brick, however on closer inspection it looks as though the clips on both sides of the brick are curling off the build plate screenshot attached. Was that the case?
Was the issue of getting the bricks to print 100% right covered?

On a slightly related topic I have been reviewing some of the Zoom meetings we a view to getting up to speed with documentation. and came across one made about 20 months ago now.

One of the things that came up was a debate on how to get Plug track out to a wider audience. The general feeling at the time was we need to basically encourage people to see the value and consider purchasing the equipment needed to get into using plug track.
Martin had just finished the last chairs need to make a simple turnout. so the timing seemed right.

In favour were James, John Myself and a somewhat muted approval from Steve. One wise voice raised concerns it was actually far to early to push such an Idea, given Plug track was still very much in its experimental infancy. We did not take too much notice of him in truth.

Fast forward 20 months we have moved forward in some areas leaps and bounds, certainly COT was not even a conceived Idea at that time. We have shifted to an Open source platform. Were Steve is now tackling programming and being very active in helping Martin . Mainly at this point in time in getting the visual functions improved. The ability to now name each chair being a fantastic improvement.

What has not yet really made much progress is the ability to do more than a Simple Turnout and even then if we want to split hairs (not saying I do here) but just pointing out as Martin has already done so, there are two chairs on that simple Turnout that are not as accurate as the others. Some of the the so called 8 sided chairs these being the prototype X and B chairs and there is not yet a Slab and bracket type A chair, or the two other chairs (only one of this is I believe an 8 sided chair) ( Martin please correctly if I have this wrong) that would be needed to accurately create both regular and irregular obtuse. ( yes it true you can Kludge to create a regular diamond, if you want to simple emulate Peco type track ( not saying thats a bad thing either)
So why am I bothering writing this,
well is quite simple.
What does Martin think we should do from here?
After all when you watch back the zoom everything Martin raised concerns about has come to fruition. It not at all hard to see where all the frustration has come from.
Cheers
Phil.
 

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Was the issue of getting the bricks to print 100% right covered?
Yes it was. That print failed as I hadn't prepped the bed properly as I was discussing lots of other things at the time to lots people.
It was typical that the camera turned-up at the same point and frustrating that the moment has been captured for eternity.

But really Phil, do you need to question whether or not John and I have covered everything 100%?
We gave our time freely to help and encourage others, that is all.
 
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Phil

With the Neptune and Kingroon we and others on here have found the build plates need glue, I had no issues with the Kingroon in printing track bases, but I was used to the system, set it up before the show opened and on both days produced usable prints which one happy punter took home

As for James and the Neptune, I guess he set it up whilst being involved in a discussion and he was distracted, I have no idea if he uses glue or not

Every now and then something happens in the printing (normally when the bed has not been prepared properly) and its a case of starting again. I did find the name tags Martin put on them was the main culprit and needed more glue

Now I have a J cloth kept wet in a plastic bag which is impregnated with glue and before the bed warms up the cloth is rubbed all over the plate so I can see a sheen on the build area

I think we now have a much better idea about promoting it and if anything only see a trickle of enthusiastic newcomer's. Terry's idea of offering a service may be a more realistic way of getting Plug track out and about
 
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What does Martin think we should do from here?
@Phil G @Hayfield @James Walters @Terry Downes @Lancastrian

Hi Phil,

The significant point is that Templot is now an open-source project with others involved. So what I think is only part of the answer, others have ideas too.

John is currently doing a great job spreading the word on Western Thunder, James is making excellent YouTube videos which have a big following, and Terry is now offering to make sample pieces of plug track for anyone who wants to see it in the flesh. And Ian is looking at broadcasting the news in the 0 gauge world. Rich and Tim are looking at improving the docs.

For myself ideally I would like to leave all this public-facing stuff to others, and just get on with the program coding behind the scenes. I'm aware that not much has happened in the chair department in recent months, and I'm working on that as we speak. The rate of progress is determined by how often I have to break off to write explanations, and Steve is helping with that.

So thanks to everyone -- all aboard for what looks to be an exciting time for model track-building, after very little had changed for years.

The biggest single change since the Zoom meeting you mentioned is the discovery of the difference the latest Klipper-based FDM printers can make, not just in speed as expected, but also the ability to use FDM for chairs. With the falling cost of these printers, this has shifted the dial towards FDM and away from the less user-friendly laser-cutting. But I'm also keen to make sure the CNC-milling option doesn't get forgotten.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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Yes it was. That print failed as I hadn't prepped the bed properly as I was discussing lots of other things at the time to lots people.
It was typical that the camera turned-up at the same point and frustrating that the moment has been captured for eternity.

But really Phil, do you need to question whether or not John and I have covered everything 100%?
We gave our time freely to help and encourage others, that is all.
Hi James,
I was not trying to have digs at you or John, I am fully awere you both gave up your free time to attend the shows. I was simple asking maybe badly, if you were both explaining, the actual making of the components (no matter which method you use, is most certainly not a plug and play scenario)
There is as I think we all know, a lot of frustration in getting the best out of all the various machines.

Its totally unfair and very likely to result in a lot of unnecessary questions and ultimately negative press, if we don't explain whist the plug track /COT concept is very good indeed. Getting the best of the tools (I am not just talking about FDM here, is not that simple) for Example John by his own admission is not got getting the best out of the resin printing. And I had to go out and purchase a Creality Falcon 2 before I was getting the Laser results I was happy with. (hopefully my Masuter pro) is better at playing with CNC made components.

Not to mention my personal problems with now three FDM printers, which has told me, there often a problem waiting to happen. unless maybe your as much into FDM printing as you are into railway modelling.

I am not sure you can actually make a sizable layout using FDM printers, unless your afour mentioned knowledge of printers was up to the endless playing that is required. Once you get into the hundred's of hours of printing that would be needed.

wait until it things start to ware out on you, it happens much quicker then most people think.
Time will tell if I am being a profit of doom or just very bad with FDM printers.:) I do hope I am proved wrong and it's me that can't simply get the best out of them.
cheers
Phil,

.
 
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My experiments have been lately solely with 7mm scale, my disappointments with resin printing is solely down to the loose jaws and their respective slots to accommodate them, as far as the chair printing they were good, I have found FDM printed plug chairs more brittle.

Until our experiments with COT track, rail sizes had not been fully firmed up in the directory, My unscientific findings have come to me concluding that COT track chairs are less fragile or more robust than plug track chairs. unlike my traditional track building ideas where I thought building turnouts and crossings and using flexitrack for the plain trackwork, in 7mm scale I am happy to print plain track, even in small sections.

234.jpeg
Not a single chair broke, the wing rail jaws nicely cliped under the rail head into the web and is held in place with 2 part epoxy, Vee, wing and check rails held in place with a dab of superglue. No clips between the 3 bricks as the mass of the rail keeps all 3 bricks tightly together

In fact COT track I have found in 7mm scale to be exceedingly adaptable and like British Finescale kits very simple to construct and seemingly quite robust

I have read somewhere on here someone and James adding an additional substance which makes the resin more supple and greatly reduces curl, perhaps those who are experimenting could share their experiences in an easy to find stand alone thread (I have unsuccessfully tried to find it)

Terry happy to assist if anyone fancies a 7mm COT print

John
 
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message ref: 14380
My experiments have been lately solely with 7mm scale, my disappointments with resin printing is solely down to the loose jaws and their respective slots to accommodate them, as far as the chair printing they were good, I have found FDM printed plug chairs more brittle.

Until our experiments with COT track, rail sizes had not been fully firmed up in the directory, My unscientific findings have come to me concluding that COT track chairs are less fragile or more robust than plug track chairs. unlike my traditional track building ideas where I thought building turnouts and crossings and using flexitrack for the plain trackwork, in 7mm scale I am happy to print plain track, even in small sections.

View attachment 12363 Not a single chair broke, the wing rail jaws nicely cliped under the rail head into the web and is held in place with 2 part epoxy, Vee, wing and check rails held in place with a dab of superglue. No clips between the 3 bricks as the mass of the rail keeps all 3 bricks tightly together

In fact COT track I have found in 7mm scale to be exceedingly adaptable and like British Finescale kits very simple to construct and seemingly quite robust

I have read somewhere on here someone and James adding an additional substance which makes the resin more supple and greatly reduces curl, perhaps those who are experimenting could share their experiences in an easy to find stand alone thread (I have unsuccessfully tried to find it)

Terry happy to assist if anyone fancies a 7mm COT print

John
Hi John,
Just to be clear, I don’t add anything to my chair resin, nor do I resin print timbering bases. I’ve tried in 4mm scale and can confirm that it’s not ideal. The other contributor was working in 2mm scale and has obviously found an approach which works for him. There is considerably less mass in a 2mm print which probably accounts for the curling being less of an issue.
Cheers,

James
 
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During my stints of helping out on the Saturday at Scaleforum, it was always stressed by those of us dishing out the information, that it was still very much experimental and not everything was yet doable and nothing has yet changed in that direction.

It will be sometime before I need to dip my toes in the water as I have built the trackwork on my current trainset, well before 3d printing was affordable or doable.

I try to keep up with the progress being made on all fronts. I'm looking forward to the time when the transfer of the software from ver2 to ver5 is complete and Martin can spare more time on the chairs, which I think will make the biggest difference to self build finescale trackwork.
 
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My experiments have been lately solely with 7mm scale, my disappointments with resin printing is solely down to the loose jaws and their respective slots to accommodate them, as far as the chair printing they were good, I have found FDM printed plug chairs more brittle.

Until our experiments with COT track, rail sizes had not been fully firmed up in the directory, My unscientific findings have come to me concluding that COT track chairs are less fragile or more robust than plug track chairs. unlike my traditional track building ideas where I thought building turnouts and crossings and using flexitrack for the plain trackwork, in 7mm scale I am happy to print plain track, even in small sections.

View attachment 12363 Not a single chair broke, the wing rail jaws nicely cliped under the rail head into the web and is held in place with 2 part epoxy, Vee, wing and check rails held in place with a dab of superglue. No clips between the 3 bricks as the mass of the rail keeps all 3 bricks tightly together

In fact COT track I have found in 7mm scale to be exceedingly adaptable and like British Finescale kits very simple to construct and seemingly quite robust

I have read somewhere on here someone and James adding an additional substance which makes the resin more supple and greatly reduces curl, perhaps those who are experimenting could share their experiences in an easy to find stand alone thread (I have unsuccessfully tried to find it)

Terry happy to assist if anyone fancies a 7mm COT print

John
Hi John, thanks, are You saying it's okay to put your image 7mm COT print on my website?
 
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Hi John,
Just to be clear, I don’t add anything to my chair resin, nor do I resin print timbering bases. I’ve tried in 4mm scale and can confirm that it’s not ideal. The other contributor was working in 2mm scale and has obviously found an approach which works for him. There is considerably less mass in a 2mm print which probably accounts for the curling being less of an issue.
Cheers,

James

Thanks James, I seem to have misunderstood your reply in thinking you were doing a similar thing....

Certainly with British Finescale the track base I have is quite stable and probably much the same as solvent on thick plastic timbers, Wayne stated he had his own resin recipe and I assumed this is how he is altering the resin mix

Sorry if I have got it wrong
 
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message ref: 14385
Certainly with British Finescale the track base I have is quite stable and probably much the same as solvent on thick plastic timbers, Wayne stated he had his own resin recipe and I assumed this is how he is altering the resin mix
@Hayfield @James Walters

Hi John,

I think Wayne is heat-treating his prints to flatten them, or keep them flat.

You can do the same with resin printed chair rafts and timbering bases -- wait a few days for them to finish curling, put them in very hot water, you can then flatten them easily, then in cold water to set them flat.

It's a bit of a palaver and when I tried it with a timbering base the gauge went wrong. Presumably you could adjust the shrinkage settings in advance to deal with that.

My view is that it's a daft way of making timbering when the resin build plate is so small and FDM printing is so much easier. But that's just me.

cheers,

Martin.
 
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message ref: 14386
Probably because there is only a trickle of people that are about to embark on finescale track building at any one moment in time.

Steve
Trackbuilding methods, whilst obviously important to a layout, are only one of the parts of the jigsaw. Scenics, baseboards, buildings, locos, rolling stock, electrics are also needed. At any point in time visitors to shows are maybe not planning to start a new layout but just viewing the layouts, spending money with the traders to add extra items to an existing layout or just having a day out and enjoying the cakes and tea. It is good to plant the ideas behind 3D printed track into peoples minds but if they revisit in x years time they may find technology has moved forward. We may be printing the rails as well and using a process to coat the running surface of the rail with a conductive material. In the larger scales you can use battery power and radio control already of course.

Full marks to those at Scaleforum for waving the flag.

Rob
 
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message ref: 14389
Hi John, thanks, are You saying it's okay to put your image 7mm COT print on my website?
Terry

Please use any photos you require and if you want the odd print, just ask.

I noticed you are asking for customer box file, I assume its the 2D file you are asking for.

I for one would rather 3D ( build and slice) the file myself.

Thinking further ahead I would be very wary of any non standard adaption and or duplicated templates on any files received, unless its a bespoke file. Even then I would tread carefully (the exception being those sent by the good folk here)

In short happy to help out anyway I can

John



Trackbuilding methods, whilst obviously important to a layout, are only one of the parts of the jigsaw. Scenics, baseboards, buildings, locos, rolling stock, electrics are also needed. At any point in time visitors to shows are maybe not planning to start a new layout but just viewing the layouts, spending money with the traders to add extra items to an existing layout or just having a day out and enjoying the cakes and tea. It is good to plant the ideas behind 3D printed track into peoples minds but if they revisit in x years time they may find technology has moved forward. We may be printing the rails as well and using a process to coat the running surface of the rail with a conductive material. In the larger scales you can use battery power and radio control already of course.

Full marks to those at Scaleforum for waving the flag.

Rob

Rob

Whilst the numbers actually starting to build a new layout may be low those thinking of it are much higher, then we have those who wish to extend the layout, amend its design or simply replace a broken/poor working /bad looking turnout(s). Trackwork is being sold in large numbers every day so the pool available is quite large

Now I don't know if we have fully resolved the issues we had resin printing in the summer ? certainly this is something we as a group can do without waiting for Martin to find time, if we have resolved the issue then 4mm scale plug track could progress further. May be its just those using it are just not sharing their progress

In 7mm scale, yes in time a hybrid COT and plug track system will be important, but that's for the future. At this moment COT track works with turnouts without too much trouble, looking at what's available either in its detail/look or price point. In 7mm scale the case for using Templot 3D is much stronger

Advanced Temploter's can make diamond crossings and I think at a push single slips. I have made a dual gauge junction that works with little effort, it simply shows how adaptable COT track is. Pushing the boundaries, if I can manage it on my own it can't be that hard.

I for one cannot see masses of modelers going out buying printers, a few who either have or have access to a printer may have a go and perhaps if a file(s) was available may have a go

I think Terrys idea of having a service available, would allow those who are interested at least dip their toe in this discipline with out breaking the bank

Recently we have had a couple of new members into Templot Club both giving it a go or offering their services which is most encouraging and we should encourage them. Its good to see someone new having a go

John
 
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