I need 40 ON30 stock cars and the prices are a little steep at that quantity! 
So I thought I would fire up the CNC machine and see what I could come up with. Works for me! 
Russ
Bachmann on left CNC on right
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Nicely done
How long does it take to set up a CNC machine to do that and how many assembly pieces do you end up with
I find that process to be fascinating
Thank you for the post
j
Did you use a CNC milling machine, or was it 3D printed? Where did you find or create the template? Looks very cool!
My retirement dream was to have a real shop (not in my garage). So I have a 40x50 dream shop with lots of toys. My CNC machine is industrial grade and comes with industrial grade software. My past life was all computers so that part of my shop was a no brainer!
The software is so easy to use at this level not at all like some of the internet freebie stuff. In the software there are tons of really neat little tools that making something like drawing the stock car pretty easy. I have a digital micrometer to take measurements off of the Bachmann ON30 cars. In the software you draw a box and then go back and edit the dimensions of the box and input the numbers from your measurements. Now you have an accurate box. For the rest of the detail you just repeat the process. There are even special software tools to help in the step and repeat and placement of the parts. When done there are tools to 'nest' the parts so you don't waste materials. The software make me look pretty smart and that is saying a lot! Russ
The stock car layout, is about 12 inches wide by 10 inches tall. Design time about 30 minutes, cut out time about 6 minutes, cleanup time about the same. I can get 32 out of a 48x96 1mm sheet of pvc (plastic) that costs $32. That makes the raw car body cost about $1. Trucks and couplers are just regular off the shelf goodies. So about $13 to $15 a car.
That's a very clever and economical way to attack the problem. I think that may be the future of modeling some items. Laser cutters are coming down in price which presents another method of creating car bodies of certain types (and other parts).
Matt as it turns out I also have a laser cutter and the exact same file that works for the design phase works with either machines cutting software. The CNC is just much larger and very fast by comparison to the laser. My 3D printer is not compatible design wise and so it requires a different design phase before printing. I use the 3D printer for items that I can't find or are to costly to purchase in quantity. The laser is great for small FLAT stuff like some o scale items or smaller. For my live steam stuff (1 1/2 inch scale or 1/8th full size) the CNC cuts out full sheets of plywood 48x96. So laser or cnc for 2d stuff and 3d for 3d! Russ
1/8th scale CNC freight house.
O scale CNC structure
Great work. Oh, how I wish I knew someone with one of these who could make me a few ET&WNC hopper cars...
Did you cut or burn the O scale building? What CAD/Cam system are you using?
Pete S
If you've ever seen a pen plotter draw a map by picking up the pen and moving to a point, setting down the pen, and then moving to a second point to draw a line, then you can sort of get an idea what a CNC router does. Of course the main difference is the router has a high speed cutting tool in place of the marking pen. So the answer is the pieces are cut out of what ever the material is. It is referred to these days as SUBTRACTIVE printing in difference to 3D printing which is ADDITIVE printing.
For 3D stuff I use Cubify Invent an absolutely awesome $49 software package. For the CNC stuff I use Vectric Aspire software which is much more industrial but has a price tag to go along with it. Russ
