BrushType4 Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 (edited) Well after much procrastinating I've finally bought myself a Laser Cutter. I've been interested in the architectural side of model railways for a long time. The run down nature of the network in the seventies is my inspiration. The last couple of weeks I have been working on a very old laser cutter that I had intended to purchase from a local business due to an upgrade they were doing. However it has been a bit temperamental and after some soul searching I've justified to myself the expense of a brand new machine. I've managed to pick up a few little commissions for a couple of 7mm model railways. Windows for Heyside HeyWindows.tiff I've also drawn an Arch that may be used as a back scene. Arch.tiff More soon.... Edited October 16, 2014 by BrushType4 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hayfield2 Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Sounds very interesting, in what sizes and type of material are you making them please Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 Sounds very interesting, in what sizes and type of material are you making them please I'm using 1mm Rowmark for the 7mm windows. Its a laserable plasticard like material. For the brickwork I'm using 2mm MDF. Arched Window 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 Just getting to grips with the CAD software. Here I've drawn up an arch and window detail for a signal box window. The window is 3 layers; Glass/Window/Frame 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Nth Degree Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 How does it do 'engraving' rather than cutting – do you just reduce the power of the laser? Also, how thick can you cut metal? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 How does it do 'engraving' rather than cutting – do you just reduce the power of the laser? Also, how thick can you cut metal? Steve, Yes, the brick courses are essentially less powerful cuts. There are two settings, power and speed. Manipulating these correctly for each substrate is the secret for clean cuts and engraving. I'm happy with cut and engraving bricks in MDF but still have some work to do with light engraving for letters etc. Unfortunately I can't cut metal. Yet.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 (edited) Plans for the weighbridge office for Love Lane. 7mm S7 gauge layout. Based on Chelmsford, Plans can be downloaded from GERS for just 30p if you're not a member Edited August 20, 2014 by BrushType4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Can I ask what machine you bought? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 Can I ask what machine you bought? Yes, this one; http://hpclaser.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=38 I've upgraded to a 60watt and have a chiller unit to keep the water cold. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Spent some time on the laser this morning. The window is a tight fit in the frame so I need to adjust the tolerance I allow for the kerf. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Dodgy iPhone picture, but model and the actual I'm trying to emulate. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beatty 139 Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 If your not aware Trotec now do there Troply in 0.5mm thick which is there 'own brand' version of Rowmark it's handy as the 0.75 is a bit clunky, all us modellers could do with convincing them that they have a market for something a bit thinner still say .25mm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 (edited) I've can source many thicknesses of material and can cut anything up to 9mm MDF on 1200x2400 sheet. I can do bigger and thicker but PM first as I'll need to CNC it rather than laser. Edited August 20, 2014 by BrushType4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Some painted brickwork to give you an idea of how the finish can look. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) I've been asked if I can do a traditional railway era warehouse so having had a look on the net I found one that I like the look of and whose features are mainly coloured brick and pattern. This is ideal for the laser cutter. This particular building lends itself quite well to be built in modular sections. The vertical joins can be hidden with drain pipe detail and the horizontal join should be near invisible. So that in mind I've drawn up the section to see how it looked. The brickwork is quite complicated and I'm not sure I've quite got all the course detail right. I'll print this out to see how it looks and adjust it. I won't be able to laser it until next week. For the 7mm version this will be a triple layer of 2mm MDF front face, 2mm MDF middle layer to hold window detail and lastly a third layer of 2mm MDF/ 2mm PLY for the building structure. Edited August 25, 2014 by BrushType4 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted August 25, 2014 Author Share Posted August 25, 2014 (edited) I need to practice painting the brickwork, but here is the arch with a wash of tinted filler. In the right hands, this would look quite good Edited August 25, 2014 by BrushType4 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Fen End Pit Posted August 26, 2014 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2014 Hi BrushType4 I've been using the laser cutter in Makespace in Cambridge for about a year now and been pleased with the results see. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/186/entry-14569-1865-great-eastern-station-chimneys-and-more-windows/# That is one of the larger HPC machines. Where are you sourcing your Rowmark from? I've had a real trouble getting a thin plastic and I wasn't too impressed by the .7mm acrylic/perspex mix that HPC sold as a Rowmark alternative. thanks David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gt.Shefford Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Rowmark is available from Trotec Jonathan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Printed off the Chelmsford Goods Office building today. Needs a tweak or two before it's realised to the market. It can be built so the roof can lift off if required. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 For version two I had a go a finger joint instead of a butt joint. I will try a mitre but I'm quite happy with this. The camera is harsh as the shadow one can see on the joint is not visible normally. I will glue together and paint up later. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share Posted September 18, 2014 I cut some slates on the cutter and my mum started to fix them to the roof. I'll create a ridge tile today to finish the top. I also put a bit of paint on to see how the corners looked. 12 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted September 18, 2014 Author Share Posted September 18, 2014 Ridge tiles added now. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrushType4 Posted September 21, 2014 Author Share Posted September 21, 2014 A few things on my workbench this morning that came off the laser yesterday evening. 8 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Holliday Posted September 21, 2014 Share Posted September 21, 2014 Just a small point, but, as you are in control of the artwork you could achieve what many kit / scratch builders miss. Tilers and roofers do not like to make the end of a row using anything smaller than a half tile. To achieve this the slate makers produced slates that were roughly 1 1/2 times the width of the regular slate. This allowed the roofer to trim this larger slate, to eliminate the joint that would run close to the eaves line. As you have prepared bespoke patterns to suit each building you can easily get these detail correct, as you are not just cutting the correct size out of a sheet of standard tiles or slates, which always creates the wrong, half-tile effect. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now