3D printing

[paddy]

Firstly i have no idea what i am talking about but here goes....
What sort of definition/detail/accuracy with a home 3D printer print too ?
I have several MFH chains to make and they are pretty near impossible in the soft castings and PE set MFH supply
I have some parts left over from the Crocker build and today i started looking at ways round the problem
The soft alloy castings dont help as they are in need of a lot of cleaning up and it hard to do with the naked eye, this is 100x magnification

the problem is you can see some of the pins are damaged bottom left, they should be hemispherical so the PE side plate just clips over

If the metal is damaged like this then they is not enough to to fill the hole in the side plate when squashed down

Dia is 1mm centre section 1mm length 3mm with the end pins overall ?

 

[moon puppy]

CAn't answer about the 3d printing but I could see having a rod and pipe solution for this although I'm unsure how I would secure the link on the rod once assembled. Maybe a skillfully place of solder? That would be tedious!

 

[paddy]

Yea i was thinking a nickel silver pin with a brass tube roller but how would i make 200 brass tube rollers 1 mm long...

 

[jknaus]

You can get some very fine detail on modern 3D printers. I have been able to model mesh on my Saturn 3 with 12K resolution. I have a new printer coming next week and look forward to even better prints as it is 16K definition. The tracks I have are joined by fine pins. Here is an example of the tacks and pins in 1/35 scale by Tankbrusher.

I searched for 1/12 Motorcycle chain stl files and found this, but I cant figure out what the guy is saying in the description. It may be 1/1 scale .

https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/jewelry/heavy-motorcycle-link-chain-3d-print-model.

I also found this company. Maybe it would be easier ? https://www.falconscalemodels.com/main-strona-główna
Their website is kind of sucky but looking through the catalogue, it looks interesting.
James

 

[paddy]

The problem is with MFH bikes is they are 1/9 like the old Italeri
Tamiya do a nice one in 1/12 and 1/.6 but no one does after market in 1/9 :-(

 

[jknaus]

SpotModel | Model Factory Hiro P1099: Chain set 1/9 scale - Chain (ref. MFH-P1099)

Hyper realistic chain to be assembled one link at a time. Your 1/9 motorbike scale models will look MUCH more realistic once you equip them with this beauty. Additional details for the Chain chain set: Manufactured by Model Factory Hiro in 1/9 scale with reference MFH-P1099 (also listed as...

www.spotmodel.com

 

[paddy]

Thanks James, thats what's in the first pictures on this thread ...not up to much but i think i will have to persevere with them as there is little alternative.

 

[paddy]

I spent a few hours today looking at ways to assemble a MFH 1/9 motorcycle chain following on from yesterdays post.
I opened or should i say cleaned up the holes in the jig and made sure the parts fitted perfectly and tried again. I did end up with a small section complete but i need 5 sections .
I can see the problem now having experienced a few failures.
1/ The force required to squash a pin to larger than the hole in the side plate is enough to squash the roller between the plates at the same time...
2/ If you use pliers which i did because its the only way of being able to regulate the force needed to swell the pins the pins will likely bend as the jaws are working in a scisor action so not coming down square to the pin. Any sort of out of square pressure like that will cause the roller to take on a rhombus shape.
3/ because the pins are not a uniform shape or size due to poor quality castings the amount of pressure needed to squash the pin varies from pin to pin
4/ The chain is made in 35 roller sections. If just one side plate drops off after removing from the jig tou have a serious problem for the complete length as repair once cut from the jig is the stuff of watchmakers.
5/ although i did finish a section pictured and its holding together the accuracy, quality and satisfaction with the part is so bad that i wouldn't want to go ahead and build a model round these parts...
finally the black chain parts are from a Tamiya snap together chain with working separate rollers...perfect but unfortunately only available in 1/12 and 1/6
For the time being i will have to shelve these kits until something better comes along, annoying given the four models represent a £1800 investment.

 

[paddy]

I spoke to the guy that did the 3d printed spoke wheels on my recent Alfa build and he said its a non starter for the chain, 3D would be too brittle and weak in this scale.

 

[moon puppy]

how about dissimilar, white metal for the pin and have something stronger for the roller. When you compress the pin to hold the link in place the stronger roller metal will help keep the pin shaped and in place?
Does this make sense?

 

[paddy]

Perfectly Bob, i did wonder if i could make the pin centre from Brass tube.
I just had an email from the 3D printer guy saying the problem is me not the chain and he has built several MFH bikes with the chains without problem. and he enclosed pictures

Basically told me to get a grip ,stop being a women and do the job

so above is his effort.... now i feel 2inches tall....

Crucially he uses a 1oz jewellers hammer not plies so thats my next line of attack.

 

[moon puppy]

It's all in the technique huh. Well, get with it!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Yeah it looks like he peens them instead of trying to press them. I might suggest you look around and see if you can find an old Seitz jeweling set, or an old watchmaker staking set. You would find them very helpful with doing something like this. Unfortunately the prices on evilbay have gone nuts on this stuff so you might need to watch for a while. Even a partial set could be a huge help with something like this.

 

[Rhino]

Well, if you have a 3D print machine, Check out Airfix' April Fool's day Joke!