Another thought about rapid prototyping...

[wm3798]

Suppose someone wanted to make a large bank of steel frame windows, for say, a roundhouse...



Now, it's easy enough to get a good representation of the window panes by simply printing the image on an acetate transparency.  But there are heavier frames between the individual sashes...  The thought of using strip styrene to scratch it all out is rather daunting (in addition to the two large banks of windows that make up the outside walls, there's a big window at the back of each of the 20 stalls).



Is it possible to use a rapid prototyping printer to run the larger mulls between the frames, and "print" that material directly onto the acetate material?

Or am I cuckoo?

Lee

[Sokramiketes]

You want the Archer decal process like their rivet decals... not rapid prototype.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I'm thinking .005" brass on each side of printed acetate. That would give the right dimensions and interior and exterior detail.

[bbussey]

I would go the etched brass route also.

[up1950s]

Somethin' tells me Lee is sittin' on the bank waiting for the float to go south . Hope the fishin' is fruitful cause the idea of laminated roundhouse panes sounds good . Maybe generic factory over-sized  sashes in plastic or etch that we could cut to fit custom window frames .   

[sizemore]

I would go the etched brass route also.

Thirds.

The S.

[wm3798]

So, I should email the file to Chris, is that what you're saying?

Lee

[AlkemScaleModels]

So, I should email the file to Chris, is that what you're saying?

Lee

Lee,

If you'd like, send me the file and I'll see what the laser does with them. Can you send me an Illustrator or Corel draw are my preferred formats?
I'll probably have to redo the drawing anyway to format it for the laser.

BCK

 

[wm3798]

I can send you a .dwg or .dxf file.  I can also send you a .pdf that's 100% N scale (and also fits the openings I've built)

Are you thinking styrene?  A guy on the A-board suggested vinyl, such as one would put on a real estate sign etc.

Lee

[sizemore]

So, I should email the file to Chris, is that what you're saying?

Lee

If it were me, I'd make it a three layer peice. First layer is a pane layer, second being main beams, third being the outer sill (more like a ring). But to answer your question. Yes!

 ;D
The S.

[wm3798]

I don't think it's necessary to do the "pane layer" in brass.  the printed lines on the acetate look pretty good to my eye. It's the full sashes and frames that I'm after.

Good idea about the trim line around the perimeter of the whole mess, too...

Lee

[wazzou]

Probably laserboard.

[Iain]

You gonna build all that other stuff in there?  If you're going to make windows that big, you'll need to do an interior.

[sizemore]

I don't think it's necessary to do the "pane layer" in brass.  the printed lines on the acetate look pretty good to my eye. It's the full sashes and frames that I'm after.

Good idea about the trim line around the perimeter of the whole mess, too...

Lee

I like that idea for things like houses, but to me larger windows need something more substantial. Just my Canadien .02, since you've got me thinking about making that monster out of all those round-house kits I've got stored up.

The S.

[DKS]

I've seen some pretty fine laser work lately. How about lasering some thin self-adhesive material to laminate onto the clear acetate?

Maybe take the concept a little further... make the walls out of thin Plexi. Apply the windows, then lasered brick laminate.