Another problem, another 3d-printed solution

DGE-Railroad

DGE-Railroad

The Orchard Line
Country flag
I decided to have a go at printing some pocket couplers to replace the missing Accucraft ones on my log cars.

Ive got to say I'm pretty pleased with how they've come out on a first attempt.
20201213_151440.jpg
They can either be used with a drawbar or will accept a Bachmann metal knuckle coupler.

20201213_151410.jpg

Files shared on TinkerCAD as usual, in case they're of use to anyone else.
 

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They look like they have come off really well DGE. What orientation did you print them in and did you require any support material? I've been playing around printing buffers trying to find a good compromise
 
musket the dog said:
They look like they have come off really well DGE. What orientation did you print them in and did you require any support material? I've been playing around printing buffers trying to find a good compromise
Click to expand...
Hey Ricky,

I printed them on end, coupler-end up. My printing software is set to automatically add supports, so it prints with some support underneath the top of the coupler, to support it.

I don't know if it's right or not but I tend to orientate my prints with the detail on the top wherever I can. If I can see it will likely need support, I'll try and keep that on the side I'm least likely to see :)
 
DGE-Railroad said:
Hey Ricky,

I printed them on end, coupler-end up. My printing software is set to automatically add supports, so it prints with some support underneath the top of the coupler, to support it.

I don't know if it's right or not but I tend to orientate my prints with the detail on the top wherever I can. If I can see it will likely need support, I'll try and keep that on the side I'm least likely to see :)
Click to expand...
That all sounds quite sensible to me. I've been enabling ironing (I think that's the setting name) to really maximise the quality of the detail on the top layer. I've been pushing it I think as to what can be done without supports so far, like printing buffers as one piece facing up and letting the head print without support. I had been avoiding enabling support because I was worried about how it would effect the surface quality, but your part look spot on :)
 
musket the dog said:
That all sounds quite sensible to me. I've been enabling ironing (I think that's the setting name) to really maximise the quality of the detail on the top layer. I've been pushing it I think as to what can be done without supports so far, like printing buffers as one piece facing up and letting the head print without support. I had been avoiding enabling support because I was worried about how it would effect the surface quality, but your part look spot on :)
Click to expand...
I've been experimenting with ironing (in Cura) as well. I'm pleased with the results so far. Straight off the printer....IMG_1293.JPG

Still need to fix the stringing and slight pillowing, but ironing does improve the top layer(s)

Rik
 
Ooo. Ironing does make for a nice finish. I hadn't come across that before.

I tend to use SImplify3D and will look into it. It seems as though even if the software doesn't have the feature, the process is essentially a case of adding a very thin top layer (0.1 - 0.05mm), the smallest possible multiplier for the extrusion and a reduction in the speed. So it should be possible to achieve whatever software is used
 
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