Printed Bolster/coupler pocket

They look great. What 3D CAD program/printer [service] did you use? Another cool project would be a replacement coupler box that bolts to an Atlas car, but carried a Kadee coupler.

Very nice, indeed. 

Is that a San Juan coupler?

Mark in Oregon

Patrick,

How sweet, love the trucks as you already know, but the draft gear simply sweet!

I'm purposely using the San Juan coupler since I know what perimeters I'll be using on my layout...ie  train length, weight, hills (none)  etc.

That way no one will ask me to make them some for use with kaddee's until maybe I've had more time to test everything for rougher, 2 rail guys.

Some of the non-stress parts I plan on making I might offer to those who show an interest.  As long as it doesn't become a chore for me.  I have enough work to do converting all my crap, which BTW, this method will greatly reduce my time from workshop to service on the layout.  It took me over 3 hours to scratch build a coupler box and that came out ok.  I can spend 2 hours hashing out a design on SketchUp, and make an exact copy as I need them for my rolling stock.

I am using SketchUp and Shapeways printing services.

Wow Nice! i would like to learn some 3d cad software to try that out! although I work as a CNC machinist now and I've entertained the thought of building my own CNC mill setup and trying to make some parts on it for scratch building.

kcmike, Welcome Home. We vets need to take care of each other.

Dick

Viet Nam 1968

Hi Patrick,

These coupler pocket and bolster upgrades look very nice! Have you been working on a version that will adapt Atlas's PS-4427 and Trinity 5161 hoppers?

Thanks,

John

Thanks CBQer, and thank you for your service in Vietnam

Patrick that is sweet... 

great work Patrick!

tell us more about the material. it sort of looks like polyethylene.

VERY INTERESTING.  Thanks for sharing..Someday I'd like to replace dozens of obscenely wide AtlasO and Kadee  coupler pockets with near scale width ones center line drilled to Atlas spacing so that the pocket aligns with the end sill.  My coupler of choice would be one of the new Kadee’s with internal springing.

Two questions.  What did the commercial printing service charge per piece?   How durable is printed plastic?  With coupler pockets I suspect the largest risk would be the sheer force on the boss in the pocket.  Even with careful operation there is a lot of draft gear force with 30 car trains on 2% grades.

Ed Rappe

Can they print in wax to be sent to a foundry?

Actually any thermoplastic should work with the investment or "lost wax" process. Brass model railroad detail castings are mostly made using polystyrene patterns.

I have had lost plastic parts made, but most are wax shot into rubber molds.  Some plastic requires a "double burnout" which is simply twice the time at. 1200 or whatever they use to burn the wax out.  My MTH PAs are products of lost- plastic foundry work.  

But if all these machines work with is polystyrene, we are still better off than before.