N-Scale Drawbridge - Project in Progress

This is a project in process that needs a home.  I started thinking I would do a diorama but have neither the time nor the space.

It is loosely based on this prototype but I've taken creative liberties to make it easier to print as a 3D model. 

 not printed the second tower but obviously I would if somebody purchased the model.   I would provide the second tower is parts that would need to be assembled.

 The bridge is two tracks wide  but height is closer to scale then would  be necessary to accommodate some of the tallest rolling stock.

  My vision was that the counterweight will rise and fall with the bridge

 here you can see the attached points for cables. 

 My biggest regret is spending so much time on rivets and not making the line straight! 

 Girders are not through 
holed for Ease of printing purposes

Counter weight would rise and fall as did the prototype.

Top showing what I was thinking for lifting

Close up of what I intended for lifting

I would like to see this bridge in a layout and will give it to anyone that is actively working on a layout and that will commit to using it (and will post pictures).  In the ideal case I would like to see a donation to the MS Society for whatever amount a recipient of the bridge feels is worth while.

Using the NanoDLP Mask Generation Wizard

There doesn't seem to be a good document out there on how to use the NanoDLP mask generation wizard someone going to do a quick one that at least provides an overview.

The first thing you need is a meter that can read the UV light coming from the printer. There are number of options discussed elsewhere on this blog.  You can whip one up using a voltmeter, (with a battery, a resistor, and a photoresistor),  you could use one based on an Arduino microprocessor (with a resistor and a photoresistor), or you could use a commercial device.   As the readings are relative to each other it doesn't really matter what you use!

You also need to understand the screen orientation as represented by NanoDLP  relative to the actual printer.   This article should help.

 Of course you should also understand conceptually what you are trying to do! A mask is a grayscale image that evens out exposure from the less bright areas to the bright center. The mask will be clear at the edges where the light doesn't reach as well as the center where it will be dark. The wizard lets you measure points on the screen and adjust them so that they are all at the same level of brightness. It then generates a mask based on those readings.

As this is just an overview I'm not going to talk about the details of creating a mask as you should be able to figure that out by messing with the wizard. In general what you need to do is display the grid of cells  of the size that you will use. Find the one that is the dimmest, usually one of the corners.  Adjust all the other cells to the same reading as that dim cell. Generate the mask!

I believe the new is diversion of the wizard allows you to export a CSV file that represents the mask.  My D7  is currently in pieces being upgraded so I am not sure of this.  If indeed it does you should save one of these exports!   I would also recommend getting the image file that is generated by the wizard from the RPI and saving it on your workstation. You can then upload it at your leisure and use it only when it is needed as opposed to all the time with longer exposure that goes with it.

3D Printed Tiles for Terraforming Mars Game

This is an auction for a set of 3D Printed "enhancements" for the terraforming Mars game.    All proceeds from this auction will go to support my wife's run in the London Marathon on the MS Society team.   I am not using the eBay charities functionality so that the donation will be credited to the right place within the MS Society.

Link to the eBay Auction

The set consists of game tiles, the markers for Generation, Heat, and O2, a case for all of the afore mentioned bits and a direction coin for drafting.

The tiles are as follows:

• 9 ocean tiles
• 16 city tiles
• 25 green space tiles
• 11 special tiles

The special titles are as follows:

• Borer area
• Business district
• Capital city
• Industrial area
• Lava flows
• Natural Park
• Nature reserve
• Nuclear containment area
• Rights area
• Two mining areas

Complete Ready for Shipping

Complete Set

Close up of Greenery Tiles (Matt PLA)

Special Tiles

Closeup of City Tiles

Ocean Tiles

Direction Coin for Drafting as well as O2, Temperature, and Generation Markers (printed with CopperFill and then polished.

Note that this set of tiles is being sold with the full approval of the author given that the proceeds are going to the MS Society.

Link to the eBay Auction