3D Printed Turnout Assembly Jigs?

[Maletrain]

I am wondering if anybody has tried making 3D printed assembly jigs for assembling hand-laid turnouts. 

The cost of the machined aluminum Fast Tracks jigs is a barrier to getting into that part of the hobby, due to their cost.  I recognize that tools for shaping points and stock rails need to be very hard material to resist wear from filing.  But the assembly jigs only need to withstand the heat of soldering, which seems doable with resins, especially if there is a bit of relief volume around the actual solder locations.

Being able to just print a jig for whatever turnout number you want would be game changer, as would being able to buy such jigs at much reduced prices.

So, does anybody have experience doing that?

[JeffB]

I am wondering if anybody has tried making 3D printed assembly jigs for assembling hand-laid turnouts. 

The cost of the machined aluminum Fast Tracks jigs is a barrier to getting into that part of the hobby, due to their cost.  I recognize that tools for shaping points and stock rails need to be very hard material to resist wear from filing.  But the assembly jigs only need to withstand the heat of soldering, which seems doable with resins, especially if there is a bit of relief volume around the actual solder locations.

Being able to just print a jig for whatever turnout number you want would be game changer, as would being able to buy such jigs at much reduced prices.

So, does anybody have experience doing that?

Haven't done it, but I have given it some thought...  I think there's a bunch of things you'll have to work out, but it should be doable.  The orientation it's printed in will make or break it, but you'll have to sort out how accurate the gauging of the rails can be, and how much adjustment you'll need to make in the solid model for that, as well as the width of the slots for the rails.

But I think it can be done.  The problem I see with it, is that the resins I've been using at least, aren't super durable.  Brittle and not very abrasion resistant.  Even if you could get all the dimensions such that it would work, it'd be a limited use product (in that it would wear out fairly quickly).

It's not something I'll need to do though...  I've purchased several of the Fast Tracks assembly and filing jigs over they years, so barring switching scales or gauge in the future, I have pretty much everything I'd need.

Another avenue you could pursue though...  They're making kits for CNC routers pretty cheap these days.  I don't know how well they'd work for aluminum, but they will machine non-metallic materials pretty readily, so that's an option if you want to make your own turnout fixtures.

Jeff

[ednadolski]

I'm not sure that 3D can be accurate enough over an extended length (considering the properties of resins), but how about photo-etch?   It's accurate to the point that you hardly need a gauge (just to check flangeways) , and it can certainly handle the heat from soldering ....



More here:  https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=51920.msg707646#msg707646

Being able to just print a jig for whatever turnout number you want would be game changer

That's presuming you have a printer large enough to print the size jig that you want, but larger resin printers can get pricey.


Ed

[CR4100]

It is definitely doable. This guy has a few printable jigs. https://www.thingiverse.com/handlaidtracks-3dprintedtrains/designs

[Cajonpassfan]

That's quite a system, but what the heck is a "tangential turnout"?
Otto K.

[timwatson]

I am wondering if anybody has tried making 3D printed assembly jigs for assembling hand-laid turnouts. 

So, does anybody have experience doing that?

Yes and it will take a few iterations to get the jig correct.

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[ednadolski]

what the heck is a "tangential turnout"?

Straight.

Ed

[peteski]

Straight.

Ed

Ok I'll bite.  So whee is a turnout not a turnout?  When it is tangential?   

Seriously, in 1:1 world, as I understand the diverging route is usually tangent already. 

[ednadolski]

When it is tangential?   

They just mean it's not curved thru both routes.   At least AFAICT from the usage, tho it's not really a commonplace way to say it.

Most turnouts (both model and prototype) are straight thru the frog on both the main and diverging routes, hence the numeric value as a simple way to denote the angle.  Of course, you can custom-build your own turnouts however you wish.

(Sorry for the dullard of an explanation...  the question did seem like a good tangential line straight line, but I was too tired to come up with a more creative answer ... )

Ed

[peteski]

They just mean it's not curved thru both routes.   At least AFAICT from the usage, tho it's not really a commonplace way to say it.

Well, when put that way it makes sense.

[robert3985]

Assembly jigs???  We don't need no assembly jigs! 

In the time you'll spend doing the design, the 3D model, the slicing, the supporting, working out the problems...then printing...and I doubt you'll get it right the first time....you could already have made a dozen or more turnouts using a paper template taped to your workbench.

On the other hand, if you're doing it to SELL assembly jigs to customers who are intimidated by the thought of making their own turnouts without jigs, then by all means more power to you!

Photo (1) Monolithic 3-turnout assembly using paper templates and blue masking tape:


Where I think 3D printing...UV Resin Printing...would really aid N-scale track work is to print highly detailed tie strips for both Code 40 and Code 55 rails.  For turnouts, equally highly detailed tie strips could be designed to act as both an assembly jig AND the finished ties after the rails are stuck to it...maybe with a small extra assembly jig for filing and holding the frog.

That would be much like Ed's etched tie plate fret, but with the ties attached already, and using glue instead of solder to hold the rails in place...with no need for any track gauges since the tie plates & spikehead details would automatically gauge everything.

Also, tie strips could be printed up representing the different tie lengths, tie spacing, different tie plates, and different spike patterns that differentiates highly trafficked track, medium trafficked track, and lightly trafficked track on real railroads. 

HMMMmmmmm....seems I remember somebody already working on that....???? (Mark...where are ya buddy??)

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[dem34]

I know its still maybe a decade or two out, but what I'm really waiting for is SLA quality metal printing. Just think about  how cool it would be to have Proto 48 level frog and tie plate detail but in N.