Speaking from Experience: Building a train

WELCOME!

It is hard to believe that it was almost ten years ago I witnessed a CNC router in action for the very first time. I was fascinated and simply had to have one! Although I had been in the creative end of the three dimensional sign business for most of my life I didn't really know what I would do with one of these machines - but I just knew it could do fantastic stuff.

Along with the CNC router I discovered the wonderful material called Precision Board and the glues, primers and other companion products they offer. Since then we have gone through many tons of the material using it in most signs and projects we tackle. This journal will chronicle our many adventures both past, present and future. I'll talk from the perspective of someone who pushes these products to the creative limit on a daily basis. I'll be adding to the stories two or three times each week. -dan

Monday, January 14, 2013

Building a train - part four

Some of the truck components were built as separate components. they will be routed separately and them assembled to be part of the log car truck. These spring boxes were fun to build.

The vectors were created entirely in EnRoute.

I created the springs first using the dome tool.

I then modified these spring reliefs using the pill shaped vector and the dome tool.

I created the flat relief of the spring box and then added the rivets using the dome tool.

I created a shallow flat relief to form a back for the box. It was built separately.

Then I rendered the pieces the spring was too high and protruded from the box.

I would remedy this in the front view by nudging the spring downwards until it was within the box.

I also built a 'bowl around the whole works. Everything would be merged to this bowl.

Four of these boxes would be routed for the log car trucks.

These will be routed along with all of the other pieces for the trucks and then assembled with the wheels done previously. Here's a pic of the log car wheels, straight from the router.

Stay tuned for more progress...

-dan