Printing Project
Printing Project
A short thread on going from Idea to part in hand for those things you cannot find.
Or how to go from a sketch to a working part.
Earlier this year I attended Cabin Fever at York PA. There I met Steven Pontarelli of Dispatch Railroad Products. He was primarily displaying 1 inch scale castings in white metal.
Having taken His card I contacted him recently to see if he would be interested in doing a mold and producing a small order of 2.5 inch scale Journal Box Lids.
He agreed and this thread is on the results of the effort.
Before the rivet counters chime in, I will say that I am qualified to carry a candle for the late Barry Hague of Super Scale and that the J.B. Lids I am doing are not any particular scale item being stand off scale at best. I think they will look good rolling by from sixty feet away.
I started with various photos and drawings I found on the internet and from friends who were nice enough to mail to me.
These I put into a CAD model. Primary sizing was done to fit the Journal boxes I am working with.
The lettering is the first time I have tried this on a printed part. While there is substantially a lot more wording on the prototype lids, I did not know how it would print display on the printed part or the final white metal casting. For that reason I simply with the large lettering
Or how to go from a sketch to a working part.
Earlier this year I attended Cabin Fever at York PA. There I met Steven Pontarelli of Dispatch Railroad Products. He was primarily displaying 1 inch scale castings in white metal.
Having taken His card I contacted him recently to see if he would be interested in doing a mold and producing a small order of 2.5 inch scale Journal Box Lids.
He agreed and this thread is on the results of the effort.
Before the rivet counters chime in, I will say that I am qualified to carry a candle for the late Barry Hague of Super Scale and that the J.B. Lids I am doing are not any particular scale item being stand off scale at best. I think they will look good rolling by from sixty feet away.
I started with various photos and drawings I found on the internet and from friends who were nice enough to mail to me.
These I put into a CAD model. Primary sizing was done to fit the Journal boxes I am working with.
The lettering is the first time I have tried this on a printed part. While there is substantially a lot more wording on the prototype lids, I did not know how it would print display on the printed part or the final white metal casting. For that reason I simply with the large lettering
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Re: Printing Project
Having spoken to Stephen on the phone of the molding requirements on Spin Casting, I modified the drawing to meet his needs.
The primary change of path was that I had to have the original pattern printed in metal instead of plastic.
This is needed as the master is used to make a vulcanized rubber mold that is then used to produce white metal proofs (one at a time) that are used to make the round spin mold which may have around 8 to 10 cavities for casting. (Watch YouTube on how this is done)
I use the company Shapeways for my printing.
It is a simple mater of uploading your file, select your material and hit upload. In a few minutes you can place the item in a cart and order it. eleven days later the Master was at my door step.
The primary change of path was that I had to have the original pattern printed in metal instead of plastic.
This is needed as the master is used to make a vulcanized rubber mold that is then used to produce white metal proofs (one at a time) that are used to make the round spin mold which may have around 8 to 10 cavities for casting. (Watch YouTube on how this is done)
I use the company Shapeways for my printing.
It is a simple mater of uploading your file, select your material and hit upload. In a few minutes you can place the item in a cart and order it. eleven days later the Master was at my door step.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Re: Printing Project
Once I had this in hand I mailed it to Dispatch Railroad Products.
The first copies have been made and he will now be making the spin molds.
One place where I did make an error is in how thin the metal in the box area is.
While the print process can take the thin sections, the white metal casting process needs a little thicker area for the metal to flow in.
He is correcting this by trimming the rubber in the cavity area to make a thicker section.
The first copies have been made and he will now be making the spin molds.
One place where I did make an error is in how thin the metal in the box area is.
While the print process can take the thin sections, the white metal casting process needs a little thicker area for the metal to flow in.
He is correcting this by trimming the rubber in the cavity area to make a thicker section.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Re: Printing Project
The look I was going for.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Re: Printing Project
Charlie,
I happen to have a set of journal boxes that have no lids so I would be interested in a few of these. The journal boxes are 2 1/2" scale and the lids are similar to your photos - dimensions will be provided....
BC
I happen to have a set of journal boxes that have no lids so I would be interested in a few of these. The journal boxes are 2 1/2" scale and the lids are similar to your photos - dimensions will be provided....
BC
Re: Printing Project
You can find him on the internet.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Re: Printing Project
The proof arrived today.
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
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- Joined: Mon Nov 10, 2014 1:39 pm
- Location: Woodinville, Washington
Re: Printing Project
Charlie, how is the lid secured to the journal?
Glenn
Glenn
Moderator - Grand Scale Forum
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Motive power : 1902 A.S.Campbell 4-4-0 American - 12 5/8" gauge, 1955 Ottaway 4-4-0 American 12" gauge
Ahaha, Retirement: the good life - drifting endlessly on a Sea of projects....
Re: Printing Project
Hey Glenn
The plan is to drill each lid and then use them as a drill guide into the journal box (Lug for lack of knowing its proper name)
The plan is to drill each lid and then use them as a drill guide into the journal box (Lug for lack of knowing its proper name)
Charlie Pipes
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Mid-South Live Steamers
Current Projects:
Scratch Built 3 3/4 scale 0-4-4 Forney
Little Engines American
20 Ton Shay (Castings and Plans Purchased for future)
Re: Printing Project
Hi Charlie,
That is really a cool project, I appreciate you taking the time to document it and share it with us!
Semper Fi,
Bill C.
That is really a cool project, I appreciate you taking the time to document it and share it with us!
Semper Fi,
Bill C.