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 Some of the earlier pages of this topic are now out-of-date.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

Tip of the day - Fixing printed construction templates

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Martin Wynne

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West of the Severn UK
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Enjoy using Templot?
Thanks.

Please do not send requests for help direct to me via email.

Post your questions on the forum where everyone can see them and add
helpful replies.
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If you print on ordinary office paper, aligning and sticking down the printed construction templates can be very fiddly.

It's much easier if you print on thicker paper. I recommend 160gsm, which is almost a thin card:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002YCH5OG

Then use a craft knife and steel rule to trim each page all round exactly on the red lines.

Stick the trimmed pages down like fixing tiles, butting them together (i.e. no overlaps). This makes it much easier to get them accurately aligned.

160gsm card doesn't cockle with water-based adhesives and can be left in place under the ballast if you prefer to build pointwork in-situ.

If it's just a trial printout, you can stick the trimmed pages to a roll of decorator's lining paper as a backing sheet:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07YDRLTDD

cheers,

Martin.


More tips of the day: https://85a.uk/templot/club/index.php?forums/tips-of-the-day.44/
 
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To add to that, I find it helpful to print with a 50mm grid then use a 1m rule across multiple sheets to check there's no cumulative dimensional error creeping in, and also no very slight twist. That works for those of us who can't cut exactly on the red lines!
 
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