Shapeways news??

[ednadolski]

I'll have to look into that gear macro Sumner is using. I build my 3D prints in TurboCAD, but if there's another CAD/macro combination that shortcuts the tedium of building gears, I'll gladly learn it.

https://geargenerator.com/

One possibility, perhaps --- I haven't looked in detail myself.

Ed

[Sumner]

....
Granted that printed gears probably will not wear as well as Delrin or such (which can crack anyways), but otoh they can readily be replaced with new prints.  One plus there it that our models don't have to deal with the greater loads/stresses of larger scales.....

Yes my thinking also.  With the amount of resin needed they are beyond cheap.

... I build my 3D prints in TurboCAD, but if there's another CAD/macro combination that shortcuts the tedium of building gears, I'll gladly learn it.

If one needs the knowledge before designing, I did for sure, this guy's video really helped me...

With that info I added GFGearGenerator to free non-commercial Fusion 360 ( Download Here ).  You need a couple things to design a gear, but not much and it will do the rest. You need to know the 'Standard' (metric/English); the 'Module' (metric) or 'Pitch- (English); 'Number of teeth'; 'Gear Height' (thickness) and the 'Pressure Angle'.

To determine the 'Pitch' you only need the number of teeth and the overall diameter of the gear in inches and the formula [ Pitch = (2 + # teeth)/ O.D. in inches ]. If you use Module you also only need the number of teeth and the overall diameter of the gear in mm). Pretty simple and explained in that video. I had the three stock gears (drive, idle & axle) that I knew the number of teeth on and could get close on the diameter of the gear. Using that and the video info I came up with a pitch of 63 on one gear, 65 on another and 64 on the third. All of the gears that mesh together, the larger drive gear in the gear tower and the axle gears and the idle gears have to be and are the same pitch. The small differences in the pitch numbers was due to accuracy in measuring the diameter to a thousands of an inch. Since 64 was a very common pitch I went with that and it seems to be right.

Using a pitch of 64 as the 'Pitch' in Fusion 360 I had a gear that ended up working first time in under 30 minutes. So much for 'Black Magic' although it still would be that without the GFGearGenerator add-on as it did all the heavy lifting.



More info on the above here ....

https://1fatgmc.com/RailRoad/Locos-1/page-9.html

Back to the original post and ...

Jeff uses them for gearboxes, not gears.

So is Jeff printing only the housing or the housing and gears?  I'm confused on what he really needs?

Sumner

[JeffB]

Found on FB:
https://www.techzine.eu/news/devices/123134/dutch-3d-printing-service-shapeways-makes-restart/

Thanks Chris...  Not on Facebook and a quickie Internet search didn't yield anything useful.

Jeff uses them for gearboxes, not gears.

Yes...  Only for the gearboxes themselves.  I've been experimenting with printing them on my SM8K and they're OK, but I have to pay a lot of attention to the orientation they're printed in. 

For gears, I use gear stock from NWSL or KKPMO in Poland.  I don't trust 3D printed gears for long term and have no desire to have to replace them as "consumable" parts.

For "designing" gears, I cheat and use GearTRAX for SolidWorks, but the version I have only works with SW2001, which I have installed on a separate laptop (I use SW2022 for all other design work).

Thanks for the info and input guys...

Back to the original post and ...

So is Jeff printing only the housing or the housing and gears?  I'm confused on what he really needs?

Just the housing... 

Jeff

[Chris333]

If this is any use to folks, it was sent to me by a guy designing a Climax.


I have the .xls file too, but it won't let me attach.

[GGNInNScale]

I agree with JeffB.  I have an OLD Roco-Atlas HO diesel that I forgot to sell a few years ago.  So, the gears are all cracked, as expected.  Thinking about printing new gears, or use NWSL whom has the gears in Delrin, and the whole wheel/axle/gear assemblies.  Not cheap, though...  Hmmmm.

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

Shapeways is back on track in The Netherlands........ see the website!

[Dirk Jan Blikkendaal]

Shapeways is back on track in The Netherlands..... old founders as management..... see the website!

[peteski]

Well, they aren't really back to the way they were.  See another related thread:
https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58881.0

[sirenwerks]

Do they do anything in N? Everything I see on their site is HO.  Or is handled by the "Partner" sites? (which I assume are other companies they do prints for)

Edit- OK, did find some N scale shipping containers and roll off dumpsters.  I'll take a look through the 'Partners.'

3D Central mentioned on FB being at the last Portland NAPM meet with an N scale version of the Evans side slider, but I didn't get to go to the meet.


In some respects, the 3d printing shtick is a step 'back' for modeling - since so many collectors have flooded the market. I've said it before - As far as model railroading goes, and this probably holds for military, vehicle, and some other modeling  niches, if a provider can sew together the various parts - primarily printing, etching, and decals - into one business, I could see it being successful within the model builder niche (not including the RTR crowd, who would need someone to build and paint and decal the models). I think moving beyond the hobby/ma & pa stage of business and having some serious customer service savvy will also be VERY important to whether consumer's glam onto the idea that 3D modeling will be a lasting path to getting what modelers want. I also think  some exposure on the show circuit would not help. Ordering online only is one thing but there are plenty of people who still have never seen a 3D printed product to know what they might be buying and how to work with it, and the 3D model is not B&M shop-friendly.

[Mark5]

For those that want to see the impact of the Shapeways shutdown in the N scale / N-gauge trolley and tram world, I have created and added a page to my N-Trolleys website:  http://www.trainweb.org/n-trolleys/available.htm

This page lists what is available worldwide in ready-to-run (or drop-in power chassis) and in resin-printed shells, plus a list of most of the N trolley products that were on Shapeways. In short, the Shapeways-impacted list seems to be longer than the list of what is still available. Dozens of American style carbody shells have vanished off the market, in what was already a very small market of offerings.

Rich K.

Very informative website! I added it to the Model Railroad Links section of the Railwire: https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58933.0

Mark

[peteski]

Maybe there's hope after all  . . .

Just received  email from Shapeways:

Welcome Thangs to the Shapeways Family!
Expanding Horizons for Our Creator Community

Dear Shapeways Community,

As part of our journey this year, we’re excited to share some incredible news: Shapeways has acquired Thangs, the leading 3D model sharing and discovery platform!


Together, we’re building a seamless ecosystem that empowers designers, shop owners, and anyone looking to turn ideas into reality.

Two weeks ago, when we announced that we were bringing Shapeways back home—to its team, its co-founders, and its community—we truly meant the community as well. We are deeply grateful that, through this acquisition, we will be able to provide a new home for our community and an optimal solution for the loss of the Shapeways Marketplace.

Thangs will be that home as it has a modernized platform for creators with robust IP protection and a team that works very closely with all of their creators. Additionally, this collaboration will bring exciting updates:

-New opportunities to monetize designs with expanded tools and resources.
-A stronger, more connected community of designers and 3D printing enthusiasts.

Our mission is to enable you to thrive in this rapidly growing space. By combining Shapeways’ world-class manufacturing capabilities with Thangs’ innovative tools, we’re unlocking new possibilities for the entire 3D printing community.

Discover the future of 3D design and printing at thangs.com. Learn more by reading our FAQ here.
Here’s to an exciting new chapter for our community!

-On behalf of the Shapeways Team, Marleen Vogelaar
Print Your Model at Thangs.com
Essential Shapeways Updates

A Letter From Our New CEO, Marleen Vogelaar

[Chris333]

Surprised you opened an email with "Thangs" in the header.

[davefoxx]

Surprised you opened an email with "Thangs" in the header.

He mistakenly thought it said “Thongs.” 

DFF

[basementcalling]

He mistakenly thought it said “Thongs.” 

DFF

Doesn't Railwire have a header for that? If not, a thongs header is needed. Immediately. 

[peteski]

Yeah, I opened that Thangs email.  I like them thangs, especially if they are on females wearing a thong.   

I also thought we had a thong-themed banner, but it might have been purged few years ago when due to some member uneasiness, I believe some banners were taken out of circulation.