Re: Flanger Operation

Posted by Keith Hayes on Jun 11, 2024; 3:17am
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Flanger-015-tp19711p19792.html

Mike, the 'blade casting' was the most difficult part to model due to the shape of the web that holds the blade. It took pondering overnight, but I got it figured out. I was going to model that part loose, but in the moment, I figured, "Just make it part of the model." So I did and put it in at about the height in the drawing. We shall see how that works out with the part when it comes. The test frame has the coupler at about the right height on D&RGW trucks. I have some PVC trucks for 015 and some San Juan trucks on order for 013. No, Jim the 013 trucks are not quite right, but they are brass and will add some weight to the idler car.

By the time I got the blade casting done, I was so anxious to submit the part to Shapeways I forgot the dead bracket. As you say, it is easy to add after the fact. When designing this, I am making decisions about how I want to build the model and what work I think will be easy, or be easier, to fabricate. The part is designed to have a wooden bottom deck and top deck; the handrails and air lines will be fabricated from brass; Kadee couplers and springs will slide into the coupler pockets; I will fabricate the lifting mechanism and switch stand. All this could probably be modeled as part of the 3d print, but the part would be very fragile, and the 3d-printed deck would not look like the wood deck will. Those are my decisions, so if I post this for purchase, you have to abide by what I have decided.

The part did get posted successfully to Shapeways. I submit a stereolithography (STL) file, and then the website mulls this over for a while and either tells me there are problems or says it is on the way. The posting process has improved and I am getting less errors--when you work in the virtual world, it is really easy to think you are drawing in one plane when you are not--ask me how I know. I think the only error might be that the web of the casting behind the flanger blade is missing. If this is so, it is a pretty easy fix. I got an email that the part passed the human review and is on the way to print. We should all know in about ten days....