Printing From A Known Object

[BCR751]

Is it possible to produce a 3D print using a known object?  I know virtually nothing about the process, hence my question.  I have an N-Scale structure (small water tank, just the tank, not the tower) that is really crappy.  I would like to have it re-manufactured into something I can use and 3D printing seems like it would do the trick.  Please let me know if this is possible.  I could supply a photo of the tank if that would help.

Doug

[nickelplate759]

Are you talking about scanning an object and turning that into a 3D print?  The answer is yes but it's non-trivial.  At an extreme level, Rapido did a 3D scan of a real GM New Look bus to help design their models.

[peteski]

It would be easier, and quicker to just take the original crappy tank's dimensions, and in CAD program design a 3D version similar to the original, then print that.

[BCR751]

It would be easier, and quicker to just take the original crappy tank's dimensions, and in CAD program design a 3D version similar to the original, then print that.

That's kinda what I had in mind.  The tank is only a couple of inches in diameter.  As far as re-designing it in CAD, that's way above my paygrade.  I'd happily send it to someone who is willing, and able, to do both the design work and the printing.

Doug

[John]

Post a picture and the dimensions of what this thing looks like please!!

[BCR751]

Here are some photos of the N-Scale water tank.  The squares are 1"x1".  It's made of some sort of really soft plastic and it's almost impossible to sand out the imperfections.  I would like to get this 3D printed because it's useless the way it is now.  If anyone would like to take a crack at this, I'll send along the part and you can fly at it.


This a view of the top.  This part comes off the rest of the body, for some reason.  The 3D print should be all one piece.  Notice how out-of-round the body is.


This is the bottom view.


This is the side view.


Please let me know if you're willing to give this a try.

Doug

[wazzou]

That’d be a lot of Resin.

[CNscale]

That’d be a lot of Resin.

You don't have to print it as a solid.

I've been learning Sketchup and I don't think that would be difficult to design (in fact I think I'll give it a try just as a personal challenge). But I don't have a 3D printer, and know there are others here with printers and far more experience than me who would be in a better position to help you out. 

[John]

Some quick tinkercad work ..   I couldn't figure out how to add the bracing .. but someone with more skills should be able to do that ..   the 3d file was hollowed  out ..

[John]

Ok .. a little more tinkering    -- if anyone wants the file ..  here .. https://www.tinkercad.com/things/0ydbCfbLyTh-tank/edit

[Sumner]

I took a crack at it also ....



I'm not interested in printing it but if someone is I could put the file up on my thingiverse.com account.  I might like the looks of something looking at the CAD file but usually find I want to tweak it some before I'm happy and that takes more than one print and the time and materials to do that  .

Also for CAD software if you are doing much of this I'd really look into downloading Fusion 360.  It is free to use if you are not using it in a commercial application.  I've used SketchUp for some years but find Fusion 360 a lot more powerful and easier to use (after a learning curve) than SketchUp.

Sumner

[BCR751]

Ok .. a little more tinkering    -- if anyone wants the file ..  here .. https://www.tinkercad.com/things/0ydbCfbLyTh-tank/edit

I think you hit it on the head, John.  Here is a photo of the prototype.  I should have included this from the start but I wasn't sure a 3D print could be made from a photo.  The part that I have is a fair representation but John's rendering is spot on.  Maybe a bit "squattyer" in the middle section but I don't want to pick nits.  I sure hope someone is willing to print this.  And yes, the print should be hollow, not solid.
Thanks to both John and Sumner for doing this.


Doug

[CNscale]

Also for CAD software if you are doing much of this I'd really look into downloading Fusion 360.  It is free to use if you are not using it in a commercial application.  I've used SketchUp for some years but find Fusion 360 a lot more powerful and easier to use (after a learning curve) than SketchUp.

Isn't Fusion360 cloud-based though? (Meaning all your drawings belong to them, and can be made inaccessible to you on a whim, à la Photobucket).

[John]

I took a crack at it also ....



I'm not interested in printing it but if someone is I could put the file up on my thingiverse.com account.  I might like the looks of something looking at the CAD file but usually find I want to tweak it some before I'm happy and that takes more than one print and the time and materials to do that  .

Also for CAD software if you are doing much of this I'd really look into downloading Fusion 360.  It is free to use if you are not using it in a commercial application.  I've used SketchUp for some years but find Fusion 360 a lot more powerful and easier to use (after a learning curve) than SketchUp.

Sumner

That looks really good .. did you do that in fusion?  I've just started to tinker around with it .. It has a definite learning curve

[John]

Take a look at this ..  see if this shape is more to your liking?  Is this in HO?


https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2800974/files