Customizable alphabet train 3D for print
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See here for video: https://youtu.be/EO4HTPzR4yo
See here for stable download: https://thangs.com/mythangs/file/27771
Due to small parts and potential for breakage, this toy is not suitable for young children.
Print your own
Each train car is 20mm in length, and you will need an “Engine” for the front and a “Caboose” for the back. Consider the size of your build plate as you are planning the length of your message! Remember that the train can be oriented diagonally to buy you a bit more space.
Import the letters you need into your favourite STL editing software. Meshmixer is my favourite, but there are many others that will work fine. Unsure that all files import into the exact same position. Leave the “Engine” at the origin, then shift the first letter exactly 20mm to the right (positive x direction). Shift the next letter 40mm and so on finishing with the “Caboose.” Combine the objects together, export, and print.
I also recommend checking out this OpenSCAD file by OutwardB that imports and positions the cars automatically: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4883497
A short "Test Train" file has been included for calibrating your settings ahead of time if needed.
The inner spheres print on top of tiny supports within the cavity of the neighbouring car. Once printed, a light twist of each car frees the ball within the cavity and the train can turn and bend. Be sure to let your print fully cool first! If the plastic is still soft, the connector may break when you try to move it.
Letters C, E, F, G, P, S, T and Z come with or without customized supports.
Here are a few tips for safely removing the supports:
Let the print cool completely! I leave mine overnight before removing supports
Using pliers, pinch the supports in different places to break or weaken the connection between support and model. Don't twist and pry first!
GENTLY twist the supports out, being careful to minimize strain on nearby letters.
They break... oops! Glue it back together! No big deal!
If the linear length of your message is longer that your build plate can hold, you have a few options. A car can be rotated relative to it’s neighbour by a maximum of 12 degrees, the pivot point being the center of the ball. Any more than this and the cars will adhere to one another when printing. Using this technique, a train of 30 cars (including Engine and Caboose) occupies a circle with diameter 208mm. The “Full Alphabet” file is an example of this. This is tricky to do, so your other option is…
Request a custom train
I will do my best make you a custom train stl file in exchange for one (or more!) of the following:
Drop me a few bucks via the “Tip Designer” link here on Thingiverse, or…
Post a “Make” of your print here on Thingiverse, or…
Post a picture of your print on Instagram and tag me at @davemakesstuffbc, or…
Whatever other bartering arrangement you would like to suggest!
Message me with the following:
Your train message
Size of your build plate
Your preferred “payment” method
How to send the file to you.
For general messages that others may use (like “Happy Birthday”) I will post them here on Thingiverse. For private messages (that include a name, for instance), I can send via Dropbox.
EDIT: "Connector Male" and "Connector Female" have been added by request. This split car is designed to accommodate smaller buildplates by providing an option to connect smaller word trains together to form longer trains. The two connector pieces are positioned relative to other train cars as described above. They will likely require glue for a secure fit. As of September 23, 2021, these connector pieces have not be print tested. If anyone tries this out, please DM me and let me know how it goes!
Designer
DaveMakesStuff3d model description
These print-in-place alphabet train cars can be customized to write your own train message! Design and print your own or request a custom train messag...e.See here for video: https://youtu.be/EO4HTPzR4yo
See here for stable download: https://thangs.com/mythangs/file/27771
Due to small parts and potential for breakage, this toy is not suitable for young children.
Print your own
Each train car is 20mm in length, and you will need an “Engine” for the front and a “Caboose” for the back. Consider the size of your build plate as you are planning the length of your message! Remember that the train can be oriented diagonally to buy you a bit more space.
Import the letters you need into your favourite STL editing software. Meshmixer is my favourite, but there are many others that will work fine. Unsure that all files import into the exact same position. Leave the “Engine” at the origin, then shift the first letter exactly 20mm to the right (positive x direction). Shift the next letter 40mm and so on finishing with the “Caboose.” Combine the objects together, export, and print.
I also recommend checking out this OpenSCAD file by OutwardB that imports and positions the cars automatically: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4883497
A short "Test Train" file has been included for calibrating your settings ahead of time if needed.
The inner spheres print on top of tiny supports within the cavity of the neighbouring car. Once printed, a light twist of each car frees the ball within the cavity and the train can turn and bend. Be sure to let your print fully cool first! If the plastic is still soft, the connector may break when you try to move it.
Letters C, E, F, G, P, S, T and Z come with or without customized supports.
Here are a few tips for safely removing the supports:
Let the print cool completely! I leave mine overnight before removing supports
Using pliers, pinch the supports in different places to break or weaken the connection between support and model. Don't twist and pry first!
GENTLY twist the supports out, being careful to minimize strain on nearby letters.
They break... oops! Glue it back together! No big deal!
If the linear length of your message is longer that your build plate can hold, you have a few options. A car can be rotated relative to it’s neighbour by a maximum of 12 degrees, the pivot point being the center of the ball. Any more than this and the cars will adhere to one another when printing. Using this technique, a train of 30 cars (including Engine and Caboose) occupies a circle with diameter 208mm. The “Full Alphabet” file is an example of this. This is tricky to do, so your other option is…
Request a custom train
I will do my best make you a custom train stl file in exchange for one (or more!) of the following:
Drop me a few bucks via the “Tip Designer” link here on Thingiverse, or…
Post a “Make” of your print here on Thingiverse, or…
Post a picture of your print on Instagram and tag me at @davemakesstuffbc, or…
Whatever other bartering arrangement you would like to suggest!
Message me with the following:
Your train message
Size of your build plate
Your preferred “payment” method
How to send the file to you.
For general messages that others may use (like “Happy Birthday”) I will post them here on Thingiverse. For private messages (that include a name, for instance), I can send via Dropbox.
EDIT: "Connector Male" and "Connector Female" have been added by request. This split car is designed to accommodate smaller buildplates by providing an option to connect smaller word trains together to form longer trains. The two connector pieces are positioned relative to other train cars as described above. They will likely require glue for a secure fit. As of September 23, 2021, these connector pieces have not be print tested. If anyone tries this out, please DM me and let me know how it goes!
