Because I can (valve gear animation)

[Nick]

As a relief from coach painting, which is not my favourite modelling task, one to be done rather than enjoyed, I've been drawing my next loco project in F360. I intend to get quite a few parts done by laser cutting or 3D printing so they had to be drawn anyway, and I went the whole hog with the complete loco (more or less) because I've found that it's a good way to ensure that it all goes together properly, and helps me to figure out how to attach all the components. That way I can limit the number of times I discover part way through assembly some additional holes that should have been drilled in the frames, and have to dismantle everything to put the frames back on the drill. Things like that. I wish I could eliminate them all, but at least this helps.

So, having drawn out all the motion parts, I thought it would be fun (we all get our kicks in different ways) to explore the assembly features of F360. I went through the rods and the valve gear, putting in rotating or sliding joints where they are required. It took much longer than I expected because I made some mistakes and learned the hard way what F360 will and won't do. Actually F360 will do just about everything but, like a reluctant lover, sometimes it needs a bit of coaxing.

So, here's a challenge for the OpenSCADders on this forum - can you do the same? 

Thinking about it some more (not always a good idea), had this been a live steam loco I could have gone ahead and drawn the cylinders and valves and the animation would be a way to check the valve motion and events. Is this something that could be used in place of the more traditional valve design software that's been around a long time, and would there be any advantage in doing so? Any comments from the live steam guys?

Nick

[cabbage]

Please allow me to introduce myself...
I'm a man of Wealth and Taste.

I would say that it would be impossible as  OpenSCAD is primarily a public domain version of PICNIC which is a CNC language.

But as the saying goes - watch this space


Regards

Ralph

[753]

Nick

Out of interest what loco are you intending to build?

Mike

[Nick]

It's an LNWR Precedent.

Nick

[MikeWilliams]

Perfect for a train of about ten 6-wheelers     

Please don't paint the cab roof white, like the preserved engine.

Mike

[Nick]

Mike W,

As you know, the availability of your coach kits was one of the factors that sent me towards this loco. That there was a preserved example was another. I visited Shildon last year and took hundreds of photos to clarify what the drawings leave uncertain.

White roofs? Years ago I built in O gauge an LSWR "boat train" of coaches finished in pristine condition. One of my friends commented that the roofs may have been white in Waterloo but by the time they reached Clapham Junction they would be mucky grey.

Nick