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rue_d_etropal

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Everything posted by rue_d_etropal

  1. I have asked experienced 3d printers about this and they say it is a problem. I would have expected the industry to have come up with a some way to fix the problem. I wonder I the really want to do so. And yes, I do keep on suggesting similar ideas. That is because noone is actually listening.
  2. Sticking my head out again. After discussing some of the problems with printing using downloaded files, I think that it is time for the industry to either come up with standards so printers wil print file passing suitability tests like Shapeways ye, or for them to provide software that converts STL files to suit their particular printer. We take it for granted that when we are online that usually we can access most types of files, and if not there is something we can download for our particular computer. I am not particularly interested in doing the actual 3d printing, and like when I was in IT I only got involved in creating the programs and I was not expected to be able to operate or maintain the actual computer it was running on. So I do the design work and carry out various checks(and experience) and then pass on the STL file to someone who can then take it onto printing.
  3. This is one issue I have Ben thinking about for a few years. As I now do not have a car I have to use public transport, and I have even transported small exhibition layouts by bus or train. Charging an eco tax will bring out all the regiments currently being spout that it is not fair on the less well off. Better to look at it from opposite angle and try to get as many exhibitions in venues easily accessible by public transport. In particular by train as we are railway enthusiasts and should try to use it ourselves. I seem to remember reading a long time ago that some larger layouts were even transported by train . Would have required a lot of planning though. Another issue might be our insistence on exhibitions nearly always being held at weekends. Not everyone works Monday to Friday.
  4. Tom Which software package are you using now? I am still using the one( updated) you originally recommended to me.
  5. It does sound complex, but in essence very similar to the software I use. Big advantage for one I use is that it is more like program writing, and has a start and end. There are tools to push and pull but I still prefer to edit the code. I say code, but it is more like a set of sub routines with me setting the parameters. It suits me down to the ground, but can sometime throw up problems which are difficult to fix, especially when resizing. For simple resizing it is just a case of adding one extra line of code. I have now even built in code which calculates minimum thicknesses required for a specified scale.
  6. I know that one feature of STL files IDs that resizing can be done at the post design phase, ie not necessarily as part of the original Cad Design . Now there are obvious limitation such as walk and rod thickness. Reducing scale can result in breakages, and increasing scale can result in over thick walls and clumsy detail. The CAD software I have used for 20 years makes it relatively easy to resizes designs and make adjustments a required. It does mean my designs have several versions mapping different scale ranges, but it doe mean that when asked I can usually resize any of my designs relatively easily. Now there are others out the who offe some fantastic designs but possibly not in scales some would want. A few years ago I asked one designer if they could up the scale on some of the model vehicles and they said no. A pity as I think there was a potential market lost. It does worry me that some designers are not fully making use of 3d print design. Is it the CAD software they are using that prevents them resizing or something else? Just wondering how many of the CAD packages out there can resize designs, and if they can not , then maybe they should. One thing you can always predict is that when you design a model in one scale someone will always ask if you can do it in a different scale.
  7. I have no interest in writing an article myself which is why I suggested someone with experience writes one. When it come to printing large models I know of at least 2 people who have printed gauge one models. One was a few year ago and I think they modified their printer to print a coach end to end. The other is more recent and I assume is printer bought. Have seen photos of one loco( not my design) printed and it was impressive. It should also be noted that som of my deigned models have featured in magazines, sometimes with references to me. I can usually pot them before I read articles. It should also be noted that 4mmscale is not the only scale I design for, and N scale models are more popular, and may be even more popular for downloading. Just waiting to see how the Pay for Download trial goes for Shapeways.
  8. Positioning probably makes a difference. If you have to print on a diagonal then it probably worst case . When it comes to expecting evidence of printability, then I wonder how someone can print on every type of printer in every material available . Just not going to happen.
  9. I have been designing for 10 years and over that time there has been so much hype about how 3d printing can do anything. I started this thread as there still seemed to be questions needing answering, and still feel the message is not getting out there. From a quick search online I found that there re options within slicing software to add supports and this is also dependant on printer being used. The hype may be partly correct but only if you follow the instructions properly. I don't have a printer myself and am not particularly interested in having one, but that does not stop me being interested in helping people print some of my designs. I think that is the future, especially as Shapeways are trialling a pay for download option, so this is a good time to publish all the facts, and show modellers how they can print virtually anything on their home printer.I find it odd that magazines have not had articles about this, and when they do they skate over some of the issues.
  10. This is how I would expect modellers to make use of downloaded STL files. If they decide to alter designs themselves then that is not a problem, as long as they respect copyright etc. I think the hobby is ready now for more use of 3d printing, but there needs to be more in the magazines, which explains the various issues with 3d printing, as most modellers would not expect to have to look to forums for that help. Just an idea, but maybe someone here with experience in 3d printing could write a article for one of the magazines in particular examining how to work with STL files and getting them to print successfully.
  11. Some interesting comments above. Supports(no pun intended) my idea that it is up to those doing printing to solve potential problems of bridging gaps such as windows, lodges and other openings. Shapeways will sort out some problems, but only if you ask them. My designs all pass initial design testing, but Shapeways still manually check designs, in particular for thin rods and weighty protrusions attached only by thin extensions. They have become more critical requiring some walls and rods to be made stronger to come with post print processing, something home printers my not need to worry about as much. I have bought some 3d printed items online and have been amazed how fine some can be printed such as window bas in n gauge. Hopefully this discussion will help as I was starting to wonde if selling STL files was worth the potential trouble of some saying designs could not be printed.
  12. Bridging gaps is what it is about. Lack of skills also a problem. I am also waiting to see how some prints in gauge one turn out , apparently using abs copolymer liquid resin.
  13. I am asking this as I have been asked by BRM about working with someone who is doing something for the magazine. There is far too much hype about 3d printing and little about limits in magazines. Having read so much criticism about Shapeways here, and requests for STL files, I have now offered to help and this problem has arisen. I am not going to be able to modify designs just for home printing. It needs someone to quite literally bridge the gap between commercial and home printing. I have already put lot of work into this, and it is no up to those wanting more designs for one printing to make that possible.
  14. One of the issues with home based 3d printing has been difficulty printing some objects where there is either a big gap which needs bridging or ledge requiring extra support. Some discussion on this would be useful, especially as more people want to download STL files to print themselves. Are there ways to sort this or should people be buying printers that can do this better.
  15. I used to work in IT,and we were using SQL type code back in the 80s. I remember a conversation with one of the team pushing through expansion of this into other areas to replace traditional programming. It was sold on the basis that it would not fall over, but the problem was known then that you would not necessarily get the results you wanted, and they could be wrong. Now we are stuck with that approach, and it is not surprising we struggle to get the results we want. The internet is too big, even with more powerful computers, and that is not taking into account the money paid to make some items easier to find than others. It is one reason I created my own website with all my designs in a more logical structure. No code generation just simple, but clunky code. One analogy I have come up with is , imagine you visit the supermarket every week, but every time you visit they have moved everything around so you have to search for everything, and not surprisingly it takes a lot longer to shop, so you shop elsewhere. If most of the information stays the same or rarely changes you should have to search to find it.
  16. As with many of these discussions and main reason I tend not to get involved thes day is that everyone wants something but they want someone else to do the work, and then don't want to pay for it. Having run a model railway shop myself I have sen that same discussion with respect to real shops disappearing. As it happens developments in Shapeways is going on for a pay for download service. My only fear with that is that some will think it ok to pay for one download then pass it onto their friends to share. But when Shapeways have implemented this then I will probably have a go for some of my designs initially. For that reason I have not formally announced my ideas for collections of designs.
  17. What on person does should not be used as a justification for others being expected to do the same. I would love to just be doin this for pleasure. I started out because I wanted to produce a particular model for myself. Rather than then in effect giving it away , I used the services provided to let other buy the sam model. As I have then said over the year, one thing you can guarantee is someone asking or that same model in noher scale. Then you get requests for copies of STL files. I have liked at this issue for a few years, and it has to be handled very carefully, which is one reason I would prefer to offer complete collections, but only if enough people are interested . Unlike some schemes out there I would then put no restrictions on use, apart from making it clear I am the designer and noone else tries to take ownership of those designs.
  18. I think file sharing is more likely to happen with groups of lie minded people such as model railway groups. Even if it is just a case of one person with a printer hho is obis asked to do prints for friends. That is still one less sale for the company who did the design to sell their own prints. I don't think that can be stopped so price for STL files has to reflect this. Trouble is if price is too high then it is more likely STL files will be shared.Too low and the designer doesn't get a good return, so less designs out there. If the Shapeways option does take off, but for me only if they allow selective setting of options as I don't want every design being offered for down load, then their lowish price of 10 dollars split between designer and themselves is possibly a good compromise. As it's for private use only, I would probably create special versions for anyone who wants to sell complete models, or sell them alongside something else they produce. Still a lot of trust required but it would be more under control.
  19. Might be useful poking into this part of forum, as I assume you have looked at problem of STL files getting out and being passed around without the designer knowing. I know that someone did ask you few years ago about printing one of my larger scale designs but you said It was not possible then. I am not suggesting you would print someone else's design without permission, but it is something to consider as printers are now available and Shapeways do appear to be moving in direction of offering paid for downloads.
  20. Just had confirmation from Shapeways that thi is a genuine option, so had a look at details. As mentioned it does restrict use to personal use only, making it difficult for anyone to use a third party to print. I think this might be a mistake as not everyone has a printer who wants to print, and even then would not be able to print larger models without cutting down into components. Also it seems this option will apply to all designs not just one selected for downloading, so is a bigger risk for designers. I would have preferred to have seen it added to the current free download option, which I would have thought was easier to add. I am waiting for more info from Shapeways. I do wonder who would pursue people who do break the rules, and copy distribute etc.
  21. I quite often buy odd bits of 3d printing, mainly figures, online. Suspect most of the operations are small outfits, maybe one person working from shed,so do wonder how long they will carry on. Prices in some cases are ridiculously low, so I work on principle that I should buy while they are still around. I have seen far too many model suppliers go to the wall, just because they can not deal with problems, some of which are not their fault. I have been told of someone who can print large scale models, again working from shed, and not a single income. Those prints can take 48hours to do, so for most companies that would no be sustainable. This actually gives me hope for home printing, but somehow those designs have to be paid for. As it is weekend I don't expect a quick reply from Shapeways, but do wonder if anyone else here has heard anything. There are a lot I issues concerning selling copies of STL files( as there are selling actual prints), which are all too easy to ignore until there is a problem.
  22. I would like to share, but best way to see is to see actual models, not just photos. When I did a few exhibitions awhile back I found people very positive, the only problem being that I could not offer actual models and people would have to go online. I am contacting Shapeways as I have had an email about a new option for selling STL files online. Just want to check it is genuine and my legal questions, such as copyright and liability.
  23. Just because people here don't have CD/DVD drives does not mean there are not a lot out there with them. Films on DVD still seem to sell well, otherwise Amazon and supermarkets would not be selling them. Downloading might be an easier option for some, but files can still get corrupted and lost, and can be damaged by stray magnetic fields . I think to his was one reason for development of CDs in the first place. Relatively easy to copy , and then use this. Easy enough to copy whole lot to computer. Better than having all eggs in one basket. There also seem to be quite a few companies offering cd and dvd copying, obviously not one with any copying features. I only posted to this thread because someone asked for sources of STL files. Luckily despite some of the comments I have a lot of happy modellers who have used my prints., Some have featured to hem in magazines, although I have not noticed anything in BRM! I am hoping to be able to talk to some people at York over Easter, so probably won't be saying anything till then. Almost forgot. I am happy to demonstrate some of my ideas on how to use my designs, at exhibitions, such as paints and glues , but no one has asked. Although it is nice to see those who do demonstrations at exhibitions, it would be nice to see something other than advanced scratch and kit building, something for the average modeller.
  24. I think one of the problems faced is that many designers don't put enough designs out there. I have been going through my catalogue, and after cross checking estimate there are over 600 individual coach/railcar designs, just for British standard gauge in each scale. Most of my designs are done in at least 6 different scales, with adjustments made to handle minimum and reasonable wall and rod thicknesses. I have not started looking through my locos, narrow gauge and non British prototypes yet. By covering such a wide range I have found that interest to buy my models comes from various directions, and it has certainly been worth a lot more than pocket money over past few years. Now as I have mentioned I want to make those designs available to others, so they can choose where to get their printing done. Initially I thought a group could take over, but I have a feeling many in the hobby are either not prepared to take that on or not capable of doing so and want someone else to do the hard work. So I looked at another way.Remember I want some financial renumeration . One feature of Shapeways allows for downloads, but ther is no option to have a payment required, but I have started downloading files myself, mainly because they are then zipped. It would then be possible to group the files into categories and save them to DVD or CD. Copies could then be made by one of the many companies offering that service, and packaged. I would limit number of copies to 1000, with no more issued, strictly limited edition. Depending on number of designs in category I would set a price, and only when I have enough confirmed orders via something like Kickstarter, would I have discs produced and sent out. As for what people did with those designs, I am not bothered but I would take no responsibility.All my designs have passed initial checking on Shapeways, so there should not be any big problems Talking of big. Obviously size of some larger scale designs might be an issue, although I do know of someone who has a modified printer which can print Gauge 2 bogie coaches. Not sure which designs I would release first, but my London Met/District ones would make a good set. There are over 100 designs, mostly in the 6 scales, and if I could get the 1000 interests then I would only be looking at about £15 per disc. For a variety of reasons, I would only post to UK, but obviously I could not stop anyone then sending on to anyone outside the UK. So for that much cost per design would be less than 15 pence, assuming only interesting in one scale.
  25. All my designs pas initial checking on Shapeways, and That is one feature that is useful. Any one who just does designs then tried to sell them is someone I would avoid. What I have noticed here is that there are quite a few people who want to get into 3d printing but have not got the design skills, and there are a few who do their own designs and do a few prints. Another question, how many people buy or subscribe to digital magazines, without knowing what is going to be in them.? You can not see everything before buying , although sometimes there might be a summary or sample. When it comes to accuracy, then you are opening up a big can of worms, given how much adjustment has to be made to cope with some scale/gauges. For standard gauge that is something we often overlook, but it is even worse for narrow gauge. I started out doing some WDLR designs for a WW1 project. I opted to model in 1/35 th scale as that meant 16.5mm was pretty close to scale, but when I then got asked to resize models, wagon chassis widths had to be increased to cater for out of scale track gauges of OO,9 and O16.5. Even O14 could be a bit tight. So making compromises is very much part of our hobby, and I have found that most people are more interested in having something even if it is not quite accurate rather than nothing. It is that market I have aimed at, but I do try to get designs as close as physically possible. If I spent even longer on designs and had even better scale drawings to work from then I might be able to get closer, but would that extra effort pay off. When it comes to having models in different scales, then adjustment have to be made, such as wall and rod thicknesses. I have managed to now build in some automation in code for designs, so that I can just alter scale, but still sometimes get errors when they are system checked. I had a quick through my catalogue of designs and found that I have over 700 individual designs for coaches and railcars and that is just for British standard gauge, and that is then duplicated across several different scales. Now by my calculation that is not much per design for what I would want for collection. Another idea I had was to put all STL files on CD/DVD disc, but even when zipped they would require quite a few discs. I would still want committment to buy from enough to bring in same amount, but it is an option, and would require a lot of work on my part. I would not want to do it piecemeal, unless I divided up the collection into groups.
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