Modeling Season is almost upon us

Downeaster

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I've been thinking about the oncoming Modeling Season (aka "Winter") and what I could do to occupy my time.

I took my usual nappy-poo a little early today as it was raining and everything I particularly wanted to do was outside stuff. As often happens, just as I was in that gray zone between waking and sleeping, it occurred to me that I should have a 40's-50's style gas pump for my farm diorama.

I dusted off my TinkerCAD skills (and my 3D printer, it was disgusting) and downloaded the newest version of the Cura slicer and whipped up a model of the pump.

Decided since the printer hadn't been fired up since sometime around last March, I should do a test print of something a little smaller so as not to waste a bunch of filament if things went wrong. Cleaned, leveled and pre-heated the bed and danged if it didn't print a perfect object right out of the gate!

Pump is printing now.

Guy on one of the tractor boards wants a 1:64 model of a John Deere 7700 combine and is supposed to be sending me pictures and measurements. That should be fun! I had a ball doing the Allis Chalmers All Crop.
 
Just started my modelling reviews.
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Thanks Downeaster grateful for any tips. I have a Creality Ender 3 V2. I bought that one as there is a lot of info on YouTube about it.

Exact machine I have!

The procedure in the book is tedious and time consuming. I found a better method on YouTube.

You can move the bed (forward and backward) and the print head (left and right) manually without hurting anything, even with the power on. Make a gauge (The cover of the book is the perfect thickness).

1. Manually move the bed and print head so it's positioned directly over the adjusting knob on the LEFT FRONT corner of the bed. Slip the "gauge" under the print head and adjust the knob up or down as needed until you feel a slight drag on the gauge. I like to feel the gauge "vibrate" a little as it follows the texture of the print plate.

2. Slide the print head over until its directly above the RIGHT FRONT adjusting knob, and do the gauge and knob thing.

3. Slide the table forward until the print head is over the RIGHT REAR adjuster, and adjust

4. Slide the print head left until it is over the LEFT REAR adjuster and adjust

5. Slide the bed and print head so it's approximately over the CENTER of the bed and check.

Due to the "rocking" motion (if you move the right adjuster up, the left side will go down slightly, etc) you usually have to go through the drill twice. Unless I've REALLY screwed something up, I've rarely ever had to go through that procedure more than twice.

It goes quickly after a couple of times. Hardest thing to remember is which way is up or down on the adjusters.
 
Thank you for the full description DE. I am with you on the adjustment direction I keep saying to myself Clockwise Closer.
 
DE’er when are ya gonna do a working steam traction engine model? Good project for the new shop and big lathe.
 
Frankly, I don't see that happening. Neither my lathe, my skills, my level of attention to details nor my patience are up to it.
From what I have seen of your various projects I'm thinking you could.

I would be surprised if there are not programs you can get to use your 3-D printer to make the parts. I know years ago I was at a steam show where they had models that ran on air pressure instead of steam. I could see something like that being made in plastic as it would not need to handle the heat of steam.
 
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