clockspring3D
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Roller Train Tilt Carriage and Some Gear Thoughts!
🕑 Added 2020-12-03 22:19:02 +0000 UTCHey there, wonderful people!
I guess this is my end-of-month rambling post, but let us start by talking roller trains. As you've probably already noticed in the photo, we now have a side-tilting carriage, and as usual it's print-in-place and requires no supports. The wheels and connectors are exactly as in the original carriage, so this one can just join onto the end of any existing train :)
Talking about wheels, though, I'm currently revising how all that works! There will be a Version 2 of all these train models that will:
* Have less friction in the wheels and turn more readily on less-grippy surfaces
* Fully enclose the bottom of the axle to hold the wheels more securely (but without adding friction)
* Possibly have a thicker axle to reduce twist-derived friction, depending on whether test prints show an overall improvement!
* Possibly have a different connector style that doesn't involve small parts, but that one is tricky. If the connector changes, though, there will be adaptors to connect both styles together :)
The tilting part uses a nice big hinge-style mechanism anchored to the end slabs, so it works right off the bed, and has the same tolerances that I use with everything (0.5mm)!
Printing Tips
This thing is designed for straightforward printing - no supports required and no crazy angles. However, as usual with articulated models you'll want to make sure your bottom layer is nice and neat, and that there aren't any print issues like stringing or overextrusion that might bind moving parts together!
The carriage prints on its side like so:
File Locations
You'll find this one on Dropbox under 788 Roller Train Tilt Carriage
The existing roller train files are nearby, under 789 Roller Train
(Dropbox link post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dropbox-and-are-31697592 )
Other Thoughts!
There are other roller train parts under way at the moment, but what else have I been exploring in the meantime? Well, non-circular gears have been a particular thing over the last month, though it's all very much a work in progress, and are still exploratory forms that aren't quite as functional as they need to be to be developed into something more final:
It's interesting to realise sometimes that you've made a fundamental error in a design. Check out that one at the front -it has two levels of gearing connected together in a rigid way, but it just didn't work. Eventually it dawned on me that (amongst other errors) I'd overlooked the fact that non-circular gears don't necessarily turn at a constant rate relative to each other.
Two gears meshed together will move at the same speed at their point of intersection, which means the one that effectively has a shorter radius is moving slower than the one that has a longer one. The upshot of that is that by binding it to a circular gear that needs a constant rotational speed I'm creating something that can't possibly work :D There were some other problems, too, but that one was a show-stopper! Anyway, expect to see some non-circular gears incorporated somewhere, since they're just so cool :)
(and some more train bits, because they're fun)
xoxo
Sven.
Comments
Clockspring3D
Woohoo! :D
Yay! I also love the new connectors and enclosures for the axles! Back to printing!
Clockspring3D
Let the completion begin! :D
Just printed the tilt carriage! Turned out great. Sooooo....when will we see a caboose to complete the train? 😁
Clockspring3D
Thank you so much! :)
Clockspring3D
There very soon will be :D
Clockspring3D
Aww, thank you! :)
Dave DeWitt
Printed engine and each carriage in a different bright color. All printed perfectly at full size. Definitely roll best on carpet. Your work is amazing 😊👍
Clockspring3D
Thank you so much! 😁
Corinne McConkle
I love your work! The train is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
This little train is coming out so cool! What could be better than a model train at Christmas? I can't wait to see the other cars you've got in the works, I hope there's a caboose.
Donovan Sachs
Awesome work as always. Think I might print a set for a family member. I've got so many different files you've created that I want to print I just don't know where I want to start! So much good stuff! Thank you for doing what you do!
Clockspring3D
Yeah, printers are funny things! I love that kind of feedback, though - knowing what problems occur is really useful when trying to design to make sure they don't happen! :D
Clockspring3D
Haha, thank you! :)
Just got finished printing the engine and 3 cars. It turned out great. Reading the above post, I'm glad you're going to enclose the wheels. I'm having an issue with 1 of the small wheels on each car and engine coming loose. It's funny, because it's not all the small wheels, just one...Fully enclosing the axles will probably solve that one. Anyway, great design! Making the tilt carriage next!
Martin Zeman
Another one??? NICE! Will be next in the printing queue. :D I am currently printing few of them for my daughters. :) You are doing really amazing job!
