3D printed short couplings

peterpavuk

peterpavuk

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I have a fleet of yellow shell tank wagons, which I always run as one train, so i thought why not to design a short couplings. Here is a result. The couplers are connected with small rubber o-ring, which is a lot of faf to connect, but they do look good and works perfectly well while towed or pushed even on S-shaped R1 radius. I will print more and install it on all my Shell tanks, leaving standard ones only for leading and trailing ones - to still be able do switching with my auto-couplers equiped locos.


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I've used magnetic couplings on some of my stock.

They work well, but I've had to glue the magnets in when they've worked loose....
 
Paul M said:
Not too strong, otherwise seperating the wagons could be difficult. It's quite difficult to get the strength right
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A lot appear to be liking Magnetic Couplings, plenty in TT120 are using them as well. But do make uncoupling a real problem particularly if you want to have individual wagons detached from trains though coupling up nice. My thoughts are Ok within a permanent set with whatever choice of uncouplable type at the ends and with all individual wagons plus motive power.
 
dunnyrail said:
A lot appear to be liking Magnetic Couplings, plenty in TT120 are using them as well. But do make uncoupling a real problem particularly if you want to have individual wagons detached from trains though coupling up nice. My thoughts are Ok within a permanent set with whatever choice of uncouplable type at the ends and with all individual wagons plus motive power.
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my current solution is kind of permanent - amount of faff to connect them is just too much :)
 
Excellent solution to the visually horrible looking hook and loop couplings.

I designed some knuckle couplers for my US trains, they are slightly shorter than the hook and loop couplings so giving closer coupled wagons and coaches.

I don't uncouple my consists therefore a fixed coupler works for me. They are easy to connect and disconnect by a vertical movement.

The LGB and Bachmann knuckle couplers are available to buy but would work out expensive to equip my entire collection. They are also well over scale and I don't need the uncoupling facility.

Photo showing LGB tanker wagons-
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AL
 
AlanL said:
Excellent solution to the visually horrible looking hook and loop couplings.

I designed some knuckle couplers for my US trains, they are slightly shorter than the hook and loop couplings so giving closer coupled wagons and coaches.

I don't uncouple my consists therefore a fixed coupler works for me. They are easy to connect and disconnect by a vertical movement.

The LGB and Bachmann knuckle couplers are available to buy but would work out expensive to equip my entire collection. They are also well over scale and I don't need the uncoupling facility.

Photo showing LGB tanker wagons-
View attachment 355064


AL
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These knuckle do looks nice. I am currently working on a magnetic prototype that i can later make look like knuckle ones, for now i just want to figure out geometry, pivoting etc - i can add beautification later.
 
Cost and faff to swop things out can be a real no-no which is why I have stuck with big standard LGB hook and loops. Though they do nit look very pretty they do work entirely reliably which for me is more important than looks as an operator. Motive Power (MP) is a different matter and I do think the LGB hook does detract from their looks which is why all my stock has hooks each end with the MP having the hook dropped by 30thou by a bit of plasticard where the screw goes. Unwanted uncoupling a rarity with that small modification.

Oops sorry done it again with thread drift!
 
dunnyrail said:
Cost and faff to swop things out can be a real no-no which is why I have stuck with big standard LGB hook and loops. Though they do nit look very pretty they do work entirely reliably which for me is more important than looks as an operator. Motive Power (MP) is a different matter and I do think the LGB hook does detract from their looks which is why all my stock has hooks each end with the MP having the hook dropped by 30thou by a bit of plasticard where the screw goes. Unwanted uncoupling a rarity with that small modification.

Oops sorry done it again with thread drift!
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I am just entertaining idea to use something better looking than standard hook and loop - i do have rolling stock that i always run as a set. This first wersion with O-rings works and looks great, but train assembly is just a joke. So i'll try with magnets - if it is a fail too - then i can rollback to standard any moment. Since i have 3d printer - the cost is neglegible
 
I did try magnetic, after a few folk on here gave good reviews, but they didn't work out for me, with R1 reverse curves, and so I've reverted to hooks. So, I'll be interested to see how you get on.
 
viaEstrecha said:
I did try magnetic, after a few folk on here gave good reviews, but they didn't work out for me, with R1 reverse curves, and so I've reverted to hooks. So, I'll be interested to see how you get on.
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I've just tested just one pair of magnetic (my own design) - seems to work well both direct and reverse. Even on R1 S (i have r1 points in S config).

I am now printing more and tomo will test how many vagons can i connect with magnetic couples.

If success - I'll share design.
 
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