Weekend Update 3/18/12

[up1950s]

Brian,

In computer graphics, it's sometimes possible to make things look smoother by actually adding a bit of "noise" to a surface, to break up the artificial lines caused by the digitizing process. I wonder if something similar would work for these objects?

If you put a very shallow random 3-D texture on the flat surfaces--of a scale comparable to the resolution of the printing process--it might help "dither" the stepping lines, removing the linearity and thus making them far less obvious to the human eye.

A small V at the bit tip will produce V troughs , unless the bit moves at a snails pace .
A end-mill type of bit with small edge cutters will do the same , unless the bit moves at a snails pace .
A canted but totally flat bit the produce a shallow clapboard effect , unless the bit moves at a snails pace .
The outer edge velocity of the bit may be causing a melt ridge .
A microscope inspection of the cut edgewise might give a clue .

I hope you can fix this , as I want the well flat to be made .

[up1950s]

Thanks for the complements guys .

[diezmon]

I worked on some bridge abutments, using an idea I had to simplify it.  I cut foam to shape, then smeared with a thin coat of spackle.. roughly applied.  When dry I sanded it just to remove the high peaks.. then scribed in the stone joints.  The long lines are a razor saw, then I scribed the individual brick lines with the 'ol exacto. 







waddya think? I still need to apply some decent coloring, but you get the idea.

[Zox]

A small V at the bit tip will produce V troughs , unless the bit moves at a snails pace .
A end-mill type of bit with small edge cutters will do the same , unless the bit moves at a snails pace .
A canted but totally flat bit the produce a shallow clapboard effect , unless the bit moves at a snails pace .
The outer edge velocity of the bit may be causing a melt ridge .
A microscope inspection of the cut edgewise might give a clue .

The thing is, there's no "cut" being made here. 3-D printing is an additive process, not a subtractive process. The objects are built up, a layer at a time, by solidifying goop in a computer-controlled pattern using a laser.

On surfaces that aren't exactly aligned with the laser's writing pattern, the limits of the system's resolution will cause stair-stepping, like the "jaggies" in a low-resolution bitmap image on your computer screen.

On surfaces that are aligned with the pattern, you may still get ridges, because the passes by the laser have to overlap somewhat. Otherwise, the goop won't be adequately solidified in between the passes, and the object won't hold together.

The idea of forcing a pattern is to break up the obvious lines caused by aliasing and overlap; the human eye is drawn to straight lines, so the pattern acts to camouflage the lines. Also, since the resolution of the goop isn't infinite, breaking up the lines might actually reduce their size, since isolated peaks will tend to slump a bit more than a solid cliff.

[Zox]

I worked on some bridge abutments, using an idea I had to simplify it.  I cut foam to shape, then smeared with a thin coat of spackle.. roughly applied.  When dry I sanded it just to remove the high peaks.. then scribed in the stone joints.  The long lines are a razor saw, then I scribed the individual brick lines with the 'ol exacto. 

That is some excellent work! Totally convincing.

[up1950s]

The look is great on that abutment .

[bbussey]

In computer graphics, it's sometimes possible to make things look smoother by actually adding a bit of "noise" to a surface, to break up the artificial lines caused by the digitizing process. I wonder if something similar would work for these objects? ...

Rob,
It might work.  But rather than searching for ways to "trick" the process, I'd rather find a work-around while waiting for technology to advance to the point where it's viable straight off the machine.  It's close, but not quite there yet.  Using etched .0025" thick stainless steel plates as insets, with the tolerances on the ProJet parts as tight as they are, should create a seamless match.  I have etched plates in hand for the Pullman Standard 1944 caboose (NE5), and the RP "core" is en route and scheduled for delivery on Monday.  So I'll be able to confirm the theory within the next few days.

... I hope you can fix this , as I want the well flat to be made .

Rich,
I actually want to tool the C&O well flat, so that some of it can be diecast to get some weight in the car without having to carry a load.  I've had the design for years, and got quotes from my contractor at the same time as the XIH.  The manufacturing cost was well within the acceptable range, but the one thing that scared me off at the time was what the MSRP would have to have been, since there were literally only six cars in the class, with six roads owning the cars over the years and only seven unique paint schemes in total - which obviously limits severely the number of releases on the model and would require a faster amortization of the tooling.  That isn't as much of an issue now as it was four years ago, with current MSRPs now over $30, so it will see the "light of day" at some point in the next few years.  I like to use the digital model as a test because it has all the features that give the RP processes trouble: slightly sloped areas, free-standing brake line, tiny keyhole openings, tiny bolt detail on the deck plates, etcetera.  The ProJet actually rendered them very well.  But I want to tool it eventually with regular production runs so that everyone has a chance to get it.

And you continue to impress with each spectacular UP steam kitbash you churn out.  Outstanding work.
 

[rogergperkins]

  As you all know, we spend many hours of modelling with no pictures to post.
I am still struggling with adding Digitrax as an option on my layout.  The goal is to be able to run engines with decoders on DCC, and yet maintain the option of running the 20 or so steam locomotives on the roster that have no decoders.

The turn table/engine facility is one of the "no decoder" zones.  I have the Walther's indexed turn table, however, I find that periodic maintainence is needed to achieve proper alignment of the tracks with the turn table bridge.   I found that a track alignment tool meant for use with flex track is a handy tool for aligning the spoke tracks with the bridge track.

This all grew out of a decision to add power to 3 more of the spoke tracks.

[delamaize]

This weekend was eventfull when it comes to railroad related stuff. First off, my daughter was Helping me run trains on the "Unitrak on Cardtable and Northern" and decided she wanted to run the heisler, witch she promptly dropped on the ground.  Luckly being that it is 90% brass, and I like to over build stuff, as a whole, it faired good, the only damage was the 2nd most complicated part, the drive truck. I totally rebuilt then thing, and other than a random bind that I can't seem to find, it runs better than it did before. Nothing to really to take pictures of, you guys have seen the Heisler before, nothing has changed.  EDIT: Ended up totally rebuilding the drive for the valve gear, bind was in there, it's solved now, runs even better.....

The A5 is pretty much on hold untill I get a pair of westinghouse cross compound pumps, Marker lights for the smoke box, and if the archer rivets ever get here. It's frustrating because I am so close to being ready for paint, witch I'm dreading. It seems that every model I make looks better without paint than with!

On real railroad fronts, I actually was able to catch something intresting on my local line:




and some local passenger action

[John]

Where are you .. Baumholder?

I used to ride these "Shienenbus" cars when I was a youngster between Bad Aibling and Rosenheim .. looks like this one was converted to MOW

[delamaize]

Where are you .. Baumholder?

I used to ride these "Shienenbus" cars when I was a youngster between Bad Aibling and Rosenheim .. looks like this one was converted to MOW

Damn John, you're good, you hit the nail right on the head! My wife is stationed at Baumholder, we actually live in Birkenfeld.

the shots are taken at Heimbach.

[Dave V]

Got home from a road trip to find my ChuckPak containing an X58:

[GaryHinshaw]

St. Patricks Day 2012: the first train(ette) to ply the Hill under its own power:



It's not much, and there's still a long way to go, but it does serve to remind me why I'm building all this benchwork.

Richie, it's great to see your steamers plying the virtual rails here again.  The banner is quite a piece of work too!

-gfh

[dsumner]

[dsumner]

Caught BNSF Officer's Special at Caliente, CA Tuesday, March 13; 1st pic last post, 2nd pic this post.