Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

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Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by 3 minutes of fame » Thu May 25, 2023 11:11 am

This week's project has been getting this little rake of 3D printed and laser cut Ffestiniog coaches ready to run. They are based on the Thingiverse design, but with more laser cut elements, including sides and ends. Couplings are magnetic choppers, based upon the supplied couplers, but with a smaller buffer and embedded 6mm magnet. They work very well, holding the train together, but being easy to split when required.

You will notice the headless train in the videos. This is my dynamic control van for MSS and other uncontrolled steam locos, but it has enough power by itself to drag some stock around. Perhaps it's a runaway train...




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Last edited by 3 minutes of fame on Thu May 25, 2023 12:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by philipy » Thu May 25, 2023 11:41 am

Interesting, thanks for sharing.
Those couplings look very neat.

BTW, there is a better way of posting Youtube video's to the forum. Take a look at the "How to" section and specifically, https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=9208
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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by 3 minutes of fame » Thu May 25, 2023 12:50 pm

Thanks for the heads up on the video.

I had not used the Share link. Corrected now.

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by philipy » Thu May 25, 2023 1:09 pm

:thumbright:
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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by drewzero1 » Tue May 30, 2023 5:10 am

Wow, some really sharp models! :salute: I've been doing a lot of 3d printing lately but I'm starting to think I really could use a laser cutter. I usually end up batching up the flat stuff and running out to the bandsaw to cut it out.

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by 3 minutes of fame » Tue May 30, 2023 6:26 am

It's certainly quicker using the laser cutter, but you do need suitable space to run it. They produce a lot of smoke and burnt particles, so good ventilation is a must. They need to be watched while cutting, in case they set fire to the work piece and finding the right materials at the right price is a never ending challenge.

All that being said, I would estimate 30% of my model making is now done on the laser cutter, with the resin and fdm printers seeing about an equal share. I've just started to play with cutting out chassis from aluminium using a mini CNC cutter, and the first attempts are promising.

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by Phil.P » Tue May 30, 2023 11:34 am

What mini CNC are you using?

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by ge_rik » Tue May 30, 2023 1:13 pm

drewzero1 wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 5:10 am Wow, some really sharp models! :salute: I've been doing a lot of 3d printing lately but I'm starting to think I really could use a laser cutter. I usually end up batching up the flat stuff and running out to the bandsaw to cut it out.
https://all3dp.com/2/convert-3d-printer ... raver-mod/

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by Old Man Aaron » Tue Jun 20, 2023 12:15 am

Tidy work, love the couplings. :salute:
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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by FWLR » Thu Jun 22, 2023 6:50 am

I love the headless train.. :lol and the Alien in the first photo is also scary.. :lol
Seriously I think you have done a brilliant job with your builds, although for me a laser cutter would be out of the question, far too much technical stuff like rewiring and stuff.

I too like the couplers, I have some magnets somewhere in our house or shed :dontknow: but trying to find them is just a nightmare :lol: :lol:

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by 3 minutes of fame » Thu Jun 22, 2023 7:32 am

Thank you.
The laser cutter is a standalone unit, so no rewiring or anything. Main issues are safety - not setting anything on fire, fume extraction and exposure to the laser beam itself.

I use a floor tile underneath the laser to give a heat proof, non reflective base, wear glasses that reduce the danger of exposure to the beam, and run the thing in my summer house, with fans, extraction and the doors open. I only cut wood and card, as plastics can be dangerous if you get the wrong stuff.

I get the magnets for my couplings from an old science construction toy the kids used to play with. Each component contains 2 magnets, so perfect for a pair of couplings. You can also buy about 50 magnets from Amazon for less than Β£10 delivered, so they are a very cheap method of creating robust, good looking couplings.

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by philipy » Thu Jun 22, 2023 7:47 am

What size are your magnets - thickness and diam? I have some small round magnets so I might give this a try, but I'm wondering whether what I have are too small and therefore not strong enough. Presumably you just glue them in?
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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by 3 minutes of fame » Thu Jun 22, 2023 8:03 am

Mine are 6mm x 2mm. If you have smaller ones, they could be mounted side by side, one north, one south, so that the coupler becomes omnidirectional.

And yes, an interference fit and dab of super glue.

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by philipy » Thu Jun 22, 2023 9:11 am

Thanks. I'll have to have a play, I think. The ones I have are 9x3 and 3x2. I suspect that the bigger ones are too fierce and I'm sure the smaller ones are too weak!
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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by philipy » Thu Jun 22, 2023 1:44 pm

Cheers. That should save an hour or two of drawing. :D
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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by FWLR » Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:53 am

philipy wrote: ↑Thu Jun 22, 2023 1:44 pm Cheers. That should save an hour or two of drawing. :D
More like 5-6 hrs for me Philip .. :lol :lol

Just printing some off now to see how they go .. :thumbright:

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by 3 minutes of fame » Fri Jun 23, 2023 8:00 am

If there's enough interest, I'll redraw them to take a pair of 3mm magnets, so that they become bidirectional.

Strength wise, I can pick up the 4 coach train and dangle it from the couplings. That's about 1Kg, so more holding force than I'll ever need on my little railway.

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by Phil.P » Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:08 am

I like the concept of magnetic couplings. - I did try something similar for power connections between vehicles.

For actual couplings, I have not found a way to uncouple automatically, without an enormous electromagnet. - I may be looking at the problem from the wrong angle (as it were)?

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Re: Ffestiniog Bug Boxes and Flying Benches - first run around the garden

Post by 3 minutes of fame » Fri Jun 23, 2023 1:34 pm

To release the magnets, a bending force works better than directly pulling them apart. Perhaps that's a better starting point for an uncoupler - a device to rotate the coupler 45 degrees or so?

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