3D printed Code 40 Wood Ties Strips - Quick Pics

[ednadolski]

One of the things I thought would be interesting to try with my new 8k printer is tie strips for code 40 rail, only this time with wood ties instead of concrete.   Mostly I was interested to see how well the printer could print the scale tieplates and scale spike heads. As such the "wood" ties themselves do not have any wood grain texturing, but I figure if the spikes/tieplates look ok then the texturing can some as a later enhancement.

This first sample has the rail glued into place with some tire CA, plus an extremely quick painting/weathering/ballasting job (the paint is barely dried, I didn't even have time to glue down the ballast, so that is loose).  As such, the colors aren't quite what I would hope for, but still I think the initial results are encouraging.

(Note in the initial test strip, some of the webbing between the ties was not supported well enough, and did not print properly, but that should be easy enough to fix.)















Cheers,
Ed

[wazzou]

How’s the gauge?

[PJPickard]

I think that looks excellent! I have been planning on doing the same but haven't gotten around to much printing as of latel
Any thoughts on how to add some subtle wood grain?

[Cajonpassfan]

Dang, that looks nice...
Otto K.

[ednadolski]

How’s the gauge?

Quick check with the NMRA gauge looks to be right on.

Any thoughts on how to add some subtle wood grain?

I'm open to suggestions     The "brute force" way would be to scrape it with some sharp tools, but I'd rather have something printed right into the .stl.

Ed

[wazzou]

I think wood grain on ties is overrated to be honest.
Really, the only time there is much evident is on pretty old and worn out ties anyway.
A couple of swipes with a NWSL sanding stick should provide all you need.

[nickelplate759]

Looking at your pictures of painted ties, I don't think you need to add woodgrain unless you want to model really old ties.

[peteski]

I think wood grain on N scale ties is overrated to be honest.

I agree 100%

[Maletrain]

That really looks good as is.  The important thing is that the tie ends are nice and flat, not rounded.  I agree that trying to print wood grain is not worth the effort.  If you made it so that people would notice it, then they would probably notice a repetitive pattern, too, unless you really made a lot of different tie strips.

I am wondering how robust these sections would be in routine use.   CA is not so good in shear.  Others have used PlioBond.

And what ever became of Narrowminded's efforts when you started that similar thread ( https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=48446.0 ) in 2019? Last I remember,  he was working on milling parts for N scale turnouts to use with 3D printed turnout tie sets of various numbers.

[Chris333]

If you printed flat it would take like 5 min to finish.

[MegaBlackJoe]

Do spikes actually hold the rail in place?

[RAILCAT]

That is nice work.
Are you of an inclination to share the STL file with those of us without the skills
to make our own CAD drawings.

[dem34]

If you printed flat it would take like 5 min to finish.

Though mass printing will be easier like that, fit a lot more without stacking. And a lot less supports to clip off per strip.

[ednadolski]

Do spikes actually hold the rail in place?

They help to gauge it but the rail needs to be glued.  The tire glue is supposed to be better than standard CA but ultimately something like Pliobond would probably hold up best.  To be candid, even just on a short section of rail I find it tricky to apply any kind of glue to the underside of the rail, neatly and in just the right amount, and get it down onto the ties without making a mess.  (Pliobond would probably have to be thinned with MEK or such, since it tends to get globby/stringy straight out of the tube.)

Are you of an inclination to share the STL file with those of us without the skills
to make our own CAD drawings.

This was just a quick test and needs work before it would be ready for "prime time".  Making a CAD drawing is a good skill to develop. It isn't intrinsically difficult, esp. something like Sketchup or TinkerCad.

Though mass printing will be easier like that, fit a lot more without stacking. And a lot less supports to clip off per strip.

Depending on the density and on the printer, printing on the ends would probably yield enough strips for 2 or 3 yards of track in one print, perhaps more.

Ed

[Chris333]

I put Pliobond on the bottom of the rail by using a pin point tip on the tube of glue. Actually now it looks like Fasttracks sells it with the tip:
https://www.handlaidtrack.com/sp-0001

I take the tip off when I'm done. Next time I need the tip I stick a pin inside and spin it. All the dried up glue sticks to itself and pulls right out, brand new tip again.