3D Printed Freight Car Trucks

[Super_G]

Has anyone tried 3D printing N scale freight car trucks?

[nickelplate759]

Has anyone tried 3D printing N scale freight car trucks?

Goodness yes.  @Lemosteam  has a bunch of nice ones available via Shapeways.  Information here: http://www.keystonedetails.com/.

There are others as well. Look for Panamint on Shapeways for old-timey trucks.

[wvgca]

not in n scale, but in ho, did a bunch of archbar , regular not the heavy duty ones ...
turned out pretty good with a filament printer, for n scale i suppose you should use a resin printer to get the extra detail in that size  ...
also did a shorty flatcar for circa 1890, that ones on thingiverse  ..

[timwatson]

Many many many hon30 trucks in resin.

[Erock482]

I've had success with Hon3 Trucks, however material can be an issue as most general issue resin's are fairly brittle once cured.
Mixing them with a more durable resin helps maintain the detail and get some extra flex

[Lemosteam]

Yep,

I devised a new support design that prevents most of the issues I had using normal supports, the result is a cookie cutter grouping of many trucks in 45 minutes or so:

[JeffB]

Many many many hon30 trucks in resin.

Same here and for Sn2 (HOn3 track gauge) as well.  I generally print them in three parts.  Two outer frames and a bolster.  The parts are held together with screws.  I do this so that I can clean out the axle journal with a countersink to create a cleaner running surface.

Of course that might not be necessary...  Plenty of guys that have printed trucks in one piece and not have an issue.  But the coned bearing surface in the truck frames always sags on the trucks I've printed.  I suppose it's possible I need better print settings.

Jeff
 

[Super_G]

Thanks for all of the replies. Reason for asking is that no one makes a ACF swing-motion truck, like the ones on autoracks with 28" wheels, in N scale that would go along with the low deck autoracks I've been messing around with. And trucks can be costly too...

[SkipGear]

Yes, they work quite well. It takes a little trial and error at first to get the axle pockets just right but beyond that, no issues with rolling resistance at all..

[wvgca]

in my case [HO Archbar trucks], i used a truck pin reamer [does one side at a time] on these to guarantee roundness on the wheel holes. For wheels i used intermountain smooth back in 100 packs [not correct for period, but close, lol]...  the supplier that had best price for bags off 100 just had them in smooth back ..
i used the trucks and wheels mostly on home made flat cars [wood construction]