Model building season again

[PHPaul]

Built the basic truck a couple of years ago.

Several months back I tried to build a knuckle boom crane and got close but couldn't get the articulation right so it would fold for storage.

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A month or so ago, Neighbor Dan had one parked by his shop for some repairs and I got some pictures that covered the knuckle linkage in detail and then went through several 3D printed iterations before I got all the pivot points and hydraulic cylinder geometry just right. Major advantage of 3D printing: Not quite right? Tweak it, hit print and go do something else. Rinse and repeat until it IS right. Lotsa fun!

[GeneMO]

That looks amazing. Looks like a bought model.

I dont know if 3D printing is over my head or not.


Gene

[PHPaul]

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Gene, 3D printing isn't difficult. There IS a learning curve, but getting started is easy and then you tweak as you go.

TinkerCAD is freeware 3D design software and I found it very easy to use. Like most things, it gets deeper the harder you look, but again, getting started is easy.

Once an object has been designed, it needs to be "sliced" which is geek-talk for converting the file to a language a 3D printer understands. Cura is also freeware, designed to work the TinkerCAD and once more, easy to get started, deeper than most hobby users will need if you care to dig into it.

3D printers are getting VERY reasonable. It has added a whole new dimension to model building for me. If I can draw it, I can print it and it's WAY easier than building from scratch and more accurate to boot.

[PHPaul]

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Here's a screen shot of the TinkerCAD design for the main tower of the crane. Place blocks in various orientations and dimensions to approximate the shape, then add "holes" to cut away parts you don't want, create angles and such.

[GeneMO]

Almost like Tinker toy for adults !

Gene

[PHPaul]

Almost like Tinker toy for adults !

Gene

Pretty much, yup. Or maybe Lincoln Logs...