Wind Turbine Blade, Mount, and Sling - CG N Scale

[Mark W]

Nope, they're being extra picky with them.  Trying to keep the cost down as much as I can.  One would think that a hollow cylinderish blade would allow for a little thinner walls yet maintain strength than just a plain unsupported wall.  Apparently not to Shapeways.  We're talking just hundredths of a millimeter too thin here.   

[pnolan48]

What are the tolerances of the design software? I suspect they are finer than the Illustrator 2D's thousandths of a mm.  The best my cutter can do is probably .01 mm. What's the best for Shapeways?

[Mark W]

For the Blades, I believe its .15mm.  FUD is .025mm


Alright!  I sat down and completely re-worked the blades.  We're now green across the board! 

If we get a rejection this time, it'll be time to push back and make them triple check.

Here's the updated URLs.  Still at Beta pricing, but time is running out. 

Mounts
http://shpws.me/rT1p

Blades
http://shpws.me/rWXU

[basementcalling]

So what do we need to buy to get a complete set? I am confused. The pictures for part 1 and part 2 are the same.

[Bendtracker1]

Look at the thumbnails below the main picture.
One are mounts , the other is the blades.

[basementcalling]

Look at the thumbnails below the main picture.
One are mounts , the other is the blades.

I did. Both showed as blades.

[Bendtracker1]

Under the main pic you'll see three thumbs, try clicking on the one to the right.

[peteski]

Mark, is there any way I could get the blades printed in Frosted Detail Plastic (instead of the White Nylon)?  In my experience Nylon is hard to work with, and doesn't take paint well.  I would like to smooth out (sand) the blades as much as I can, then prime and paint them.  Plus the bare white plastic just doesn't look right to me.

[Mark W]

FD comes out to twice the cost of WSF.   FUD is almost 3x.  Is WSF really that hard to work with?  I'm under the impression that after smoothing with some fine grit, all you'd need is a gloss enamel.  All the photos of WSF items appear to have a nice clean white. 

I suppose I can always make them available if you're willing to go that much.  But I definitely won't until I receive my own prints to ensure the design is perfect.  I wouldn't want anyone putting that much down on an untested model.  Also, if you do want them in FD or FUD, let me know how many and I can bundle the total into a single file so you're only paying the flat fee once.

[peteski]

FD comes out to twice the cost of WSF.   FUD is almost 3x.  Is WSF really that hard to work with?  I'm under the impression that after smoothing with some fine grit, all you'd need is a gloss enamel.  All the photos of WSF items appear to have a nice clean white. 

I suppose I can always make them available if you're willing to go that much.  But I definitely won't until I receive my own prints to ensure the design is perfect.  I wouldn't want anyone putting that much down on an untested model.  Also, if you do want them in FD or FUD, let me know how many and I can bundle the total into a single file so you're only paying the flat fee once.

I have never worked for Shapeways Nylon, but I have worked with Nylon in general.  In my experience, Nylon is a slippery plastic, somehhat similar to Delrin.  It is slippery, glues and paints do not adhere to it well. When sanded, it becomes "fuzzy".

I would be willing to pay double for FD, under the Beta prices. But if it will only become available when regular prices are introduced, then that will be probably too rich for me.

I don't think that there is a need for making the blades in FUD - FD IMO is the best workable solution.  No problems with the supporting pieces - I think the current FUD solution is perfect.

[Mark W]

I found this.  Guess we'll have to see what happens on the test models.

https://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/painting3dprintedsls

[peteski]

I found this.  Guess we'll have to see what happens on the test models.

https://www.shapeways.com/tutorials/painting3dprintedsls

I would have still liked to have the blades made in FD.  The Nylon is just wrong to me on several levels.  Oh well...  I don't really need yet another project (no matter how tempting). 

[basementcalling]

Got it working. Placed a trial order. Interesting to see how they look in person. Looking forward to trying to get them to work as a live load.

Anyone with any shots of a typical unloading location for these things? Would the railroad run a temporary spur to the wind farm, or would they unload in a yard and final transport be by road?

[Mark W]

Pete Nolan
http://www.nscaleships.com

Here ya go Pete:

[Mark W]

Got it working. Placed a trial order. Interesting to see how they look in person. Looking forward to trying to get them to work as a live load.

Anyone with any shots of a typical unloading location for these things? Would the railroad run a temporary spur to the wind farm, or would they unload in a yard and final transport be by road?

Looks like they're typically loaded from any team track or intermodal facility. 













Now THIS is friggin cool!