Source wanted for small 3D printed items

[KeithT]

Over a period of time I have built up a list of small accessories I need to replace lost or broken parts, mainly whistles, safety valves etc and mainly LGB.
A couple of times I have forwarded a wish list to potential suppliers but both lost interest and nothing materialised,
Can anyone suggest a source/supplier who might be able to print them please?

 

[wandgrudd]

https://www.shapeways.com/

 

[Zerogee]

Keith, are you just wanting a print service for some stuff you've already got 3D design files of, or do you want a full design-and-print?
I can give you the details of a 3D print firm here in the UK that I use, who does superb work with ultra-fine detailing, which I then use as masters for metal casting, but that only works if you've already had the item designed.

Jon.

 

[stockers]

Keith, are you just wanting a print service for some stuff you've already got 3D design files of, or do you want a full design-and-print?
I can give you the details of a 3D print firm here in the UK that I use, who does superb work with ultra-fine detailing, which I then use as masters for metal casting, but that only works if you've already had the item designed.

Jon.

That is the killer with 3D printing, isn't it Jon. Printing is straightforward - creating the design is another matter!

 

[Zerogee]

That is the killer with 3D printing, isn't it Jon. Printing is straightforward - creating the design is another matter!

Yes, exactly... thankfully I have another chap who is cranking out some really superb design work for me, using the rough sketches and ideas that I send him - but he doesn't actually do it for a living, just as a hobby (which is good for me, I probably couldn't afford him if he was doing it professionally and costing out his hours!).

There are certainly some folks already on GSC who seem to do their own design and 3D printing, maybe one of them could do some designs for some commonly-needed but hard-to-get spares....? On one hand I realise that it could technically be copyright-infringing, but if it is a matter of replacements for out of production and unobtainable parts, it's a bit of a grey area.... a bit like repro spares for the classic car market, perhaps?

Jon.

 

[jimmytrains_0]

Southgate light railway models or SLR Models. I'm a very satisfied customer. Sent photo in first place of a door and asked if a copy could be made. Then sent original door with correct lugs which was causing a design issue. From their side the test print didn't work very well but they carried on and rotated the door in the wrong direction. The door was better than the original. They talked me through at each stage in terms I understood and their quote was as good as buying original parts which are expensive and don't have the right lugs.

 

[KeithT]

Thanks for all these suggestions.
Yes the stumbling block is the creation of the 3D model which could be used in the printer.
I have originals but it is not just a case of copying the physical object.

 

[KeithT]

Keith, are you just wanting a print service for some stuff you've already got 3D design files of, or do you want a full design-and-print?
I can give you the details of a 3D print firm here in the UK that I use, who does superb work with ultra-fine detailing, which I then use as masters for metal casting, but that only works if you've already had the item designed.

Jon.

Thanks. Unfortunately, I don’t have the design files.

 

[KeithT]

Southgate light railway models or SLR Models. I'm a very satisfied customer. Sent photo in first place of a door and asked if a copy could be made. Then sent original door with correct lugs which was causing a design issue. From their side the test print didn't work very well but they carried on and rotated the door in the wrong direction. The door was better than the original. They talked me through at each stage in terms I understood and their quote was as good as buying original parts which are expensive and don't have the right lugs.

Thanks, I have sent them an email.

 

[dunnyrail]

Quite possibly not the best place to mention this but Aldi are offering a Modest sized 3D printer for £299.99. Not the best of sizes 8x8x6 approx inches. But quite possibly ideal for small components. At this price it may be a good entry point to the tech unless you know of a better value option. They are also selling 3 x 1,75 PLA Fillament on 1kg Spoos for £12.99 to go with it.

Balco 3D Printer

Be interested to hear views and comments on this offer.

 

[KeithT]

I know absolutely nothing about 3D printers.
How do you set about getting it to print an object?
Does it need 3D graphics and software?
How would you go about for example printing a whistle from a sample?

 

[Zerogee]

Others with 3D experience may disagree (and I'm happy to be corrected) but I don't know that a low-cost filament printer would have sufficient definition for small detail parts?

I see from the specs that the maximum resolution is 0.1mm, which sounds quite good for that kind of printer - but I have my master work done on a stereolithography printer (the type with a liquid resin tank rather than a hot filament) at a resolution of around 0.016mm.....

Jon.

 

[dunnyrail]

I know absolutely nothing about 3D printers.
How do you set about getting it to print an object?
Does it need 3D graphics and software?
How would you go about for example printing a whistle from a sample?

There is a complete process around getting the 3d drawing done then I believe converting to a file that the printer can use to create objects. A bit of net research will fill younin with all you need to know if you are interested. As for what Jon. says I bow to his use of the tech. But I would imagine the costs for the greater specs would be quite high. Just look at the offerings from Shapeways.

 

[KeithT]

Hmm, from your post 7 you have the originals, have you thought about resin casting?, for these instead of 3D printing.

For 3D printing perhaps drop an email to Richard Clutterbuck his designs can be found here dagnall53's Thingiverse Profile, I have used several of these and had them printed using a local 3D printer found via the 3D Printing Hub, 3D Hubs: Online manufacturing

The country cousins down here in the Wild South West with some technical savvy have looked into this 3D printing lark, and for a mere £900.00 of the currency bearing the Queens Head now have a "gizmo", could be a few months of a learning curve before anything useful transpires!

Resin casting? Never thought of that. The bits are generally whistles etc which break or drop off. I think my largest part would be a small plough. Worth investigating.