FIRST TRY AT 3-D PRINTING...A SCALE BLOCK SIGNAL

Looks great Don!  I can't tell any difference.  How is the strength of the piece?

It seems to be strong. The only parts to worry about are the ladder and hand rails but they could be replaced as they are in parts glued together. These are going on a layout so they should hold up. I don't know how regular light bulbs would work as they get hot. I'm putting together some dwarf signals now. Don

Nice but how different are these signals and their cost compared to the one listed on Da bay from wehonest?

Those of the Bay are very simple with no detail. Not interested in them at all because my layout is HiRail scale. I guessing these are well under a buck to make. The brass ones are fine but not cheap plus we added much more detail to the battery doors such as hinges, bolts, latch and a more detailed rain guard. Don

Those look very nice. The printed one does look more detailed to me, but the background is a little out of focus.  I will be looking forward to the OGR article to learn more.

I have looked at 3D printers at Micro Center, pretty impressive. The demo items they print there are very strong. I was suprised at how sturdy they were. I don't yet know a lot about the printers, but they had some at very reasonable prices (less than a new O scale diesel engine).

Can O scale diesel shells be printed to replace older cracked Lionel/MTH ones?  Also useful for creating custom rail lines.  Good topic.

Those look great Don. I didn't care for the detail or style of the We Honest complete signals either. I did buy my targets from them (which are fine), knowing that I would need to provide my own masts, ladders, platforms and bases. The masts are easy, but it looks like you have the solution to the rest of the project.

Don,

There is  another company.  shapeways .com  

They print with all types of Material too.

That's where, I order my own NYC Transit Subway Signal for my layout and other Customer's. 

Please keep us posted and good luck , John 

Big Boy, I have to make a lot of signals for my new layout. I will be publishing the parts for the signals so you can make your own. I looked at those signal heads you mentioned and they look good. The LEDs are a plus. That would be one step that I wouldn't have to make. Don

Don, I sent you an email. Thanks.

I'm using the single targets with 5 mm bi-color LED's. Red and green are easy, just flip DC polarity. But, if you give them AC, they produce yellow!

In my opinion, the mechanical searchlight is the coolest signal the railroads ever used. They have been in the process of phasing them out for years, but there are still a few left on the stretch of railroad that I'm modelling, though most have been replaced. As much as I like modern, I'm hanging onto the past on this one. No three position "Darth Vaders" for me.

Interesting and timely thread!  I'd been toying with some of the 3d Freeware to try to model some signal boxes similar to those in the attached photo.  Needless to say that seems to have a very steep learning curve for both the software and the 3d printing process.  I was finally able to locate some resin castings that worked out well.  For those of us without the dollars, space or learning time of doing our own 3d printing I did find out that UPS has select printing centers with 3d capability (not associated with UPS in any way).  Not sure how cost effective as I didn't get that far.  But my understanding is you send them the file, they print it and ship it back to you.  Just thought I'd pass that info along.

Looking very forward to updates on this thread.

Barry

this web site lets you store your design and then others can use them.

https://www.onshape.com/

this site is pretty good also.

https://www.thingiverse.com/

The bi-level relay base would be perfect for block signals on my New York and Long Branch. They would have two heads, of course. I've been looking, have you got the info posted yet on how to print them?

Did the 3D files (plans)  for these signals ever get posted somewhere.... My son purchased a 3D printer and we'd love to print some of these.   Thanks.  

Very Cool will enjoy the OGR article.

The Lionel Mainline scale size signals are used on my layout.  You might try copying those.  They are realistic, looking, and detailed but Lionel discontinued the scale size  block, banjo and target signals quite a few years ago.  Feel fortunate that I purchased a large lot when they were available.

This is really a good step forward, I like the way the signals looked (me, I think it would look better weathered, but then again, has nothing to do with them being 3D printed or not, just me). I that with 3D printing we are going to be able to do more and more, with finer and finer detail, the state of the art is advancing, I just hope that someone figures out a way to make the CAD portion of it easy, given I have trouble with RR track software, let alone laying out something in 3D cad for printing *lol*.