3D printing a brass-forming jig / roof substructure?

[BusDriverMan]

Hey folks,

 

I have a basic 3D printer, and a desire to spend my money buying coaches and DMUs from Worsley Works, and not on buying donor vehicles for inflated prices on ebay...

 

I have in mind to 3D print a jig matching the vehicle's roof profile, and use it to accurately and consistently shape a piece of brass sheet into the correct profile to form the roof. The roof could then be reinforced and further held in place with a 3D-printed ribs and spine glued underneath. Since no 3D printed part is visible on the finished model, the surface quality of the print should be less critical.

 

Has anyone experimented with this approach before? The only thing I could find about 3D printed jigs was an American modeller printing a jig for hand-built turnouts.

[Guy Rixon]

Etched Pixels sell N-gauge kits for coaches with printed armatures.

 

I don't know if a printed forming-jig would work; I doubt that it would be strong enough. A printed template might help.

[Noggy100]

I've had great success with printing formers to press 0.7mm mild steel for car body panels. Two halves of the tooling were printed in PLA at 25% infill then either used in a vice or press to compress the sheet steel. The parts are about 300mm long where the pressed shape exists.

[DGO]

Will absolutely work, however if using with thin materials you will want to get a smooth finish on the print or the texture (print layers) will emboss into the thin metal

[Noggy100]

Further to my earlier message, I should say that I support the 3d printed forms between 1/2" to 3/4" timber to spread the load.