Can this Art-Deco bridge be 3D printed?

[OldEastRR]

I've seen ones on the net but they have solid framework not open column/arch construction.
The arches could be printed as thick flat 3D sides with minor details, one a mirror image of the other. The rest of the bridge - horizontal cross beams joining them,  the roadway, and the concrete railings -- can be done w/ dimensional styrene and Rix products.
Also would not be as long or tall as the one pictured, just three-arches of identical height.   

[GGNInNScale]

The quick answer is yes.  The key would be dimensions needed- this would scale the parts into the build volume, and determine how many parts would be printed to make your final structure.

[robert3985]

The answer is "Yup"...but, to get a bridge the size of your photo, you'll need a BIG 3D printer, or...print lots of smaller parts to glue together.

I prefer 3D resin printing over FDM for its much smoother surface and much finer details.

So, you don't have to compromise on details for your bridge.  A present-day 3D resin printer will print anything you want on your bridge.  What will take the time will be making the 3D model, but...the forms you need for a concrete art-deco bridge aren't that complex.

Since delving into G-scale, I've discovered that the ideal glue to use for permanent joints is the same resin you've printed your model with.  Just apply carefully, carefully wipe up any excess, observing safety protocols, then hit the joint with a UV flashlight...and PRESTO!...it's monolithic.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Sumner]

...Since delving into G-scale, I've discovered that the ideal glue to use for permanent joints is the same resin you've printed your model with.  Just apply carefully, carefully wipe up any excess, observing safety protocols, then hit the joint with a UV flashlight...and PRESTO!...it's monolithic.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

Works, but way too much exposure to the resin for me.  Everyone's tolerance for working with the resin is different.  Mine is more than some and less than others.  My dad worked in power plants his whole live and was exposed to a lot of asbestos during the time.  Lived to 94 but I'll bet a lot of others didn't live to 70 or much past that. 

Never know how some of his will effect us.  At 81 likely something new won't get me but still I'll use CA and then if I need to fill a small defect or joint use Tamiya putty. Sure CA has some health implications but maybe not as many as resin.

Sumner

[robert3985]

Works, but way too much exposure to the resin for me.  Everyone's tolerance for working with the resin is different.  Mine is more than some and less than others.  My dad worked in power plants his whole live and was exposed to a lot of asbestos during the time.  Lived to 94 but I'll bet a lot of others didn't live to 70 or much past that. 

Never know how some of his will effect us.  At 81 likely something new won't get me but still I'll use CA and then if I need to fill a small defect or joint use Tamiya putty. Sure CA has some health implications but maybe not as many as resin.

Sumner

Sumner

I've worked around various chemicals all of my life being a commercial model builder, machinist, graphics & technical illustrator, auto mechanic, carpenter, photographer, sculptor, gold miner...and at 76 I'm in excellent health.  Although there may be side-effects from using resins, glues of all sorts, wax solvents, de-greasers, machining lubricants, rtv, fine sawdust, paints...I could go on and on...I don't worry about it much except I use precautions, such as the right kind of gloves, and the right kind of respirator..as well as ear and eye protection...especially with aromatic chemicals/substances such as UV resins, and whatever atomized paint is coming out of my airbrush.

However, the small amount of uncured UV resin you need to use to glue your prints together is nothing compared to what you're being exposed to when you're printing...the print sometimes taking almost a day to finish up with an open vat that it's going in and out of during those hours.

So, if the OP decides to resin print his bridge, he's gonna get exposed...even if he wears a respirator, gloves and an apron all the time...and, even if he's got an externally ventilated spray booth to put the printer in.  Gluing the parts together using the same resin that's in his vat will not generate enough extra exposure to worry about if he's already not worried about it enough to actually do 3D UV resin printing in the first place.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Sumner]

.....However, the small amount of uncured UV resin you need to use to glue your prints together is nothing compared to what you're being exposed to when you're printing...the print sometimes taking almost a day to finish up with an open vat that it's going in and out of during those hours......

Just to point out (not criticize) for those considering resin printing you don't need to be around the resin for very long if the printer isn't where you are.  I timed myself the other day.

Went out and uncovered the resin vat...I keep it off the printer....added some resin.... stirred it and put it on the printer's bed and put the cover on.  Started the print and left.  I was out in the shop for less than 2 minutes to do that.

When the print was done (over 4 hours).... went out... took the cover off....popped the print off into the wash-n-cure basket.... put the basket/print in the cleaner on the wash-n-cure station...... put the lid on and started the washing.  Again in less than 2 minutes to do that.  Washed for 4 minutes.   Moved the basket to the second wash bucket and washed another 4 minutes.  Took it out and blew it off and put it back into the wash-n-cure and cured it for 3 minutes.

I'm usually not in the shop during prints but some times I am for a while.  I'm lucky in that there is a lot of air volume there as the shop is 27' x 41' with 10' & 12' ceilings.  Personally I wouldn't print in the house in a bedroom or a spare room with resin. 

Again we all have different comfort levels using chemicals.  When I was into car stuff more I painted with a charcoal filter some and without a few times but then spent the money on a 'supplied' air setup.

Sumner