Timbering brick connector clips

[Chris Hodge]

Hi Guys.
I am still doing some experiments with plug track and have drawn a basic track plan consisting of a couple of turnouts and some short pieces of plain track which I need to split into panels for 3D printing.
I have just watched the recording of the zoom meeting where it was shown how create a print boundary and how to split a base in order to fit it on the printer bed and have arranged the pieces on a couple of print panels following the example shown.
There is probably a dropdown menu somewhere that I can't find, but the question is how do you find and add the joins between the pieces in order to make a seamless track base.
Regards Chris

 

[Steve_Cornford]

Hi Chris,
I am away from Templot computer but this might help:-
https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.p...ed-cnc-milled-laser-cut.229/page-14#post-5275

Currently connector clips are held as background shapes so you need to save your shapes as well as templates, but Martin has plans to change that in future.

Key thing is to store your brick templates with different colours and create the clips that belong to each brick in the same colour, then when you export by colour the correct clips get exported with the brick.

Connector clips have not featured recently as Martin wants to improve them, but if you search the forum you should get the idea. Also search for splints
Steve

 

[Chris Hodge]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the reply.
I have saved that link and have found some others relating to the subject. I will study them in detail and
they will give me a chance to practice on some test bricks.
regards Chris

 

[Martin Wynne]

There is probably a dropdown menu somewhere that I can't find, but the question is how do you find and add the joins between the pieces in order to make a seamless track base.

@Chris Hodge

Hi Chris,

The joiners are called connector clips. The menu you are looking for is this one:

All the brick shapes are implemented by re-purposing the existing background shapes. That was a temporary kludge to get something usable while I was developing plug track. The connector clips are re-purposed target mark shapes.

I'm intending to replace the whole thing with a new brick assemblers function in due course. But not yet, there are too many other unfinished loose ends at present.

This is still an unfinished experimental project. I can't provide detailed finished instructions for everything until it is in fact finished.

In the meantime everything is in a state of flux. I will try to write more explanation about the temporary brick shapes this week, although it has all been written before somewhere on here.

cheers,

Martin.

 

[Chris Hodge]

@Chris Hodge

Hi Chris,

The joiners are called connector clips. The menu you are looking for is this one:


View attachment 8080


All the brick shapes are implemented by re-purposing the existing background shapes. That was a temporary kludge to get something usable while I was developing plug track. The connector clips are re-purposed target mark shapes.

I'm intending to replace the whole thing with a new brick assemblers function in due course. But not yet, there are too many other unfinished loose ends at present.

This is still an unfinished experimental project. I can't provide detailed finished instructions for everything until it is in fact finished.

In the meantime everything is in a state of flux. I will try to write more explanation about the temporary brick shapes this week, although it has all been written before somewhere on here.

cheers,

Martin.

Hi Martin Thanks for that.
I did some digging last night and found the menu entry and so am experimenting with them.
I managed to connect them to the ends of some turnouts, then printed them, didn't come out too bad but I need to try some different bed heat settings as the ABS layers were a bit fragile and came apart very easily.
regards Chris

 

[Martin Wynne]

as the ABS layers were a bit fragile and came apart very easily

@Chris Hodge

Hi Chis,

You are printing in ABS?

All bets are off in terms of any of the dimensions or settings provided in Templot. I have no experience or knowledge of printing ABS -- the plug track bases are intended to be printed in toughened PLA-Plus, likewise the filing jigs.

If you are experimenting with ABS please post your results because I'm sure others would be interested. But please, please, not in any of the plug track topics -- it's a constant battle of wits to avoid confusing beginners. Please post any information about using ABS in the Models, methods and materials section of Templot Club:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?forums/models-methods-and-materials.11/

Thanks,

Martin.

 

[Chris Hodge]

@Chris Hodge

Hi Chis,

You are printing in ABS?

All bets are off in terms of any of the dimensions or settings provided in Templot. I have no experience or knowledge of printing ABS -- the plug track bases are intended to be printed in toughened PLA-Plus, likewise the filing jigs.

If you experimenting with ABS please post your results because I'm sure others would be interested. But please, please, not in any of the plug track topics -- it's a constant battle of wits to avoid confusing beginners. Please post any information about using ABS in the Models, methods and materials section of Templot Club:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?forums/models-methods-and-materials.11/

Thanks,

Martin.

Hi Martin,
I tried ABS because I already had it set up on the printer from a previous job and thought it might work.
Not a problem as next weekend when I get home I will return to using PLA Plus
regards Chris

 

[Martin Wynne]

.
see also:

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/experimental-plug-track-continued.673/post-7745

https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?threads/experimental-plug-track-continued.673/post-7786