Bill, Sounds like you've written off Shapeways and that's fine. But there are some things I'd like to know about this experience you've relayed:
1. What material did the guy specify? Shapeways will print in several different materials, each of which has a different strength and level of detail. The parts may have shattered on account material selected. 2. How thin did the guy design the part to be? Was this thickness reasonable given the material selected? Scale thickness is achievable on some things, but on larger surfaces you've got to thicken things up to take the stress of shipping. Particularly on something long like a roof...the thickness won't be noticed anyway, but you do have to pay for the additional material to beef it up. I'm not an expert on these things, but I have used Shapeways to make a few jigs for making N scale trestle bents (about $3 each, IIRC). Like you say, there seems to be a little sanding to do to remove the ridges on the curved parts. Figuring out how thin is too thin might take a little trial-and-error, but that seems like a small price to pay to get a unique model. Rene Gourley's made it work in HO scale: http://www.proto87.org/d/?q=blog/1&page=2 Oh yeah, and Jim King uses a similar process to make masters for his cast resin model kits, so you can get a printing that will work for S scale models. Just maybe not from Shapeways...yet. IIRC, the printings Jim uses would put the cost of the model on the order of that of an imported brass model. My 2 cents, Rhett Graves (happy Shapeways customer) --- In [email protected], "Bill Lane" <bill@...> wrote: > > Much has been said at times on Yahoo groups suggesting Shapeways as a viable > source of low production or 1 off model railroad items for a reasonable > price. Since starting my own part designing with Solidworks about 5 years > ago I have long been skeptical of what you would get for your purchase. I > have mostly thought (without seeing first hand) they are not there yet. The > best I had ever heard was from N Scalers saying their purchased items were > "acceptable". > > > > That changed about an hour ago. A fellow S Scaler sent me an S Scale roof he > purchased. The material is rather fragile. It arrived to him broken - which > is why he graciously sent it to me just to see. In some ways it is a little > better than I expected but mostly it is **much worse** than I expected. The > material is a bit waxy but the layering is just awful! These is no chance > anyone would find it to be acceptable right out of the box. It was built > across the width so the roof was made vertically. It probably would have > been a worse finish if the roof was built as if you would see it on that > car. This just more than confirms my thoughts about Shapeways - you get what > you pay for and they are by far NOT there yet! > > > > The material is too thin to mold it and try and use the casting as a master > which you would have to sand the cast part extensively. That is too much > like work! To get this roof made where I get my stuff printed would cost a > TON of money and possibly not that much better in finish but the material is > stronger so there are more possibilities - but nothing is easy for sure. > > > > Thank You, > Bill Lane > > Modeling the Mighty Pennsy & PRSL in 1957 in S Scale since 1988 > > See my finished models at: > <http://www.lanestrains.com/> http://www.lanestrains.com > Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! > > > > See my layout progess at: > > <http://www.lanestrains.com/My_Layout.htm> > http://www.lanestrains.com/My_Layout.htm > > Custom Train Parts Design > <http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm> > http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm > > PRR Builders Photos Bought, Sold & Traded > (Trading is MUCH preferred) > <http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls> > http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls > > ***Join the PRR T&HS*** > The other members are not ALL like me! > <http://www.prrths.com/> http://www.prrths.com > <http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf> > http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf > > Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society > It's FREE to join! <http://www.prslhs.com/> http://www.prslhs.com > Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL > ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/S-Scale/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
