clockspring3D
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Roller Train!
🕑 Added 2020-11-30 14:41:13 +0000 UTCHey there, wonderful people!
I really enjoyed putting the Roller Van together, but the obvious question was: how can we join a bunch of these together. And so, the Roller Train was born! However, from a design perspective, it has a few differences. Read on!
Most obviously, the wheels on this one are different. The van had huge exaggerated buggy wheels, but that didn't really work so well for a train, so I went back to the (virtual) drawing board, and made small wheels with proper axles, rather than the hourglass shape of its predecessor. Now, initially, the base of the engine and carriage extended down far enough that the axles were entirely enclosed, and that looked nice and neat! What it added, though, was friction.
So, version two was an exercise in trimming away as much material as possible around the axle. The base was raised, and void channels were added to reduce the contact area between the axle and body. The wheel arches were also raised so that the wheels wouldn't end up rubbing against those, either! See, the smaller wheels also mean less contact area with the ground, so they are at a natural disadvantage compared to larger wheels, so the friction aspects get really important.
The other obvious difference is that there are linking components to join the carriages together! The front of each carriage overlaps the rear of the one before it, and a bolt slips through the top and fastens to the bottom, fixing the two carriages together but allowing them to turn freely against each other.
There are actually two differen bolt designs, one with a larger head, and one with a slotted head that could be used with some kind of bladed tool, like a screwdriver. Just use the one you like best :)
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 Engine and Carriage print on their sides, and the bolts sit head-down, like so:
File Locations
You'll find this one on Dropbox under 788 Roller Train
(Dropbox link post: https://www.patreon.com/posts/dropbox-and-are-31697592 )
Final Thoughts
I'm really resisting the urge to make the longest train I can, but it really does make me wonder what other kinds of designs would lend themselves to endless extension in the same way. Marble runs? Much, much larger geometric assemblies? Tiny drawers?...
Happy train-ing!
xoxo
Sven.
Comments
Clockspring3D
I am really glad to hear that! The world needs more designers :)
Clockspring3D
Probably! But not this particular train. Printing sideways lets the wheels print in place, but it's completely the wrong approach for making Duplo-style connectors. So, that idea might have to wait for a future project :)
Clockspring3D
Ah, resin is a whole different world! I've had mixed results trying to print these designs in resin - any tiny remnant of liquid resin tends to ruin everything in post-print curing. I would try out the Epicyclic Tester - it's a small but complex assembly of moving parts intended for quick testing of print settings. Also, try joining the discord server - I know some people have tried resin for these designs in the past, so you might get some insights there :)
Jon Liao
just joined yesterday and printed the van on resin but teh wheels fused to the body. any tips on how to print without using fdm?
Dave DeWitt
All cars printed perfectly at 100% size on PRUSA MK3s with PRUSA Slicer at default settings. Just adorable. Every one of these non-support designs helps me to better understand how to design support free objects!
This is amazing. Is it possible to make one that is Duplo compatible?
Clockspring3D
Thank you, sir!
Clockspring3D
Coal cars, you say? :D
Clockspring3D
I have had ball bearings sitting around forever with the intention of doing marble runs! I keep getting distracted by other things, but maybe now is the time... 🤔😁
Clockspring3D
Hahaha! 🚂🚃🚃
Cathy O'Malley
choo, choo, choo awesome
Clockspring3D
Hmm, possibly - the connection could possibly be a press- fit hinge, though the trick will be designing it to disengage rather than break if it's twisted, so that it doesn't end up in small parts anyway!
Jeremy Giacoletto-Stegall
Looks awesome, can't wait to print this for my kids. Also, a marble run would be loads of fun. I am imagining a modular, free-standing, marble run with a place to add a motor for lifting the marbles... please!
Charlotte Heilling
These are awesome and a know a pair of boys and a little girl that will love them. I have a concern about the joining pin though. is there a way to make it so that one end has the pin attached so there isn't a swallowing hazard?
Cool - thank you so much
OGF3
Talk about coming through after the van!
It would be cool to print a ton of these for Toys for Tots. Or something like that for kids
Great job man!
It would be cool to have like “coal cars” that can hold rocks or marbles!
