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Talking T Gauge
The Original Forum Dedicated to the World's Smallest Model Railroad Scale
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Szdfan
Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 6:07 am Post subject: Reprap |
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Being a student without the funds for a laser cutter, I've been looking at other options. I came across something interesting --
http://reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome
Any thoughts? Would this work to fabricate T scale car sides? Or is it too inaccurate at this point? |
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jmg123
Joined: 20 Jan 2009
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:51 am Post subject: |
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I guess as long as you don't mind your model being +/- 22.5 cm in scale then then it might be ok. From the 3D prints I have seen though I think it might come out a bit too coarse for T scale at the moment.
The other interesting part of the project is the arduino clone/modification they have developed to do the control electronics. I am playing around with getting one of those to drive the t-scale (and OO) models automatically via the internet. |
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oztman
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
Posts: 34
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:26 am Post subject: |
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Very interesting indeed. Without going into politics, this is a truly revolutionary concept. Staying within the bounds of our hobby, there's no telling what this might lead to once greater precision is achieved.
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Gary
Z scale, but very curious about T - and who knows? |
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Szdfan
Joined: 30 Sep 2008
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| jmg123 wrote: | | I guess as long as you don't mind your model being +/- 22.5 cm in scale then then it might be ok. From the 3D prints I have seen though I think it might come out a bit too coarse for T scale at the moment. |
I was wondering whether it was too course. It's probably even too course for HO. However, I agree it's an exciting concept.
Would a home-built CNC machine using a dremel tool be a better option for T scale, or is that still not accurate enough?
http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-to-Build-Desk-Top-3-Axis-CNC-Milling-Machine/ |
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David K Smith
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Joined: 03 Sep 2008
Posts: 435
Location: New Jersey, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:51 pm Post subject: |
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I think it depends entirely on what you were intending to model. There are a number of techniques to consider, such as etched metal, urethane casting, soft metal casting, laser-cutting, CNC milling, RP, scratchbuilding, and so on, any one of which would be advantageous for a particular type of application, but I don't think there is one that is suitable for virtually everything.
For example, some enthusiastic fellows have been making stuff in other scales using medium-high-end RP technology, thinking they could make anything and everything. Trouble is, it's really only suitable for certain applications, and has been less than ideal for items like vehicles--which, if they're bad in Z scale, would be awful in T.
Then there are some fellows who are truly thinking outside the box and discovering new applications for very unusual technology. In particular, I refer to the vinyl sign cutting machine to make rolling stock. Anyway, with regards to CNC, there are several sources of structure kits that are made using CNC. Myself, I'd love to have access to such a system to make roadbed for handlaid track.
So, I think that it requires people who are willing to try stuff. It's hard to predict what will or won't work until you try it--although, when there is a known level of resulotution that's very low, such as appears to be the case for RepRap, it might rule out that technique right away. Then again... could it be used to make a small "pre-fab" layout base?
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—David
http://www.t-gauge.net/
http://1-450.blogspot.com/ |
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