3D Printing Cannons in Resin

[thibaultron]

After reading the NRG link, I see one error. This project would have never been possible without Allan Yedlinsky! He came up with the idea and supplied the original 2D drawings that were the basis of the final 3D drawings. He encouraged me, as the project continued, and acted as a sounding board and reference as I found additional historic details to add to and modify the details. This would never have been possible without his input, and help!

[thibaultron]

After I sent the files to the NRG, which they have added to the Resource section, I drew a set of Carronades. They have the files, but have not yet had a chance to add them. So, I'm adding them to the thread, in case someone needs them now. I'm also adding a new spreadsheet that has these added to the data. Here is a graphic of the 42 Pounder. The set includes 12, 18, 24, 32, and 42 Pounders. The STL files include a separate leveling screw. This allows you to adjust the cannon angle. The screws are over-long. They should be cut so a couple of inches sticks out when the cannon is horizontal on the carriage/slide. The screw top should be rounded.

 

This graphic shows a drawing of a similar type, with the length of the screw depicted.

 

Here is a photo of similar cannon. If you look at the right hand edge, you can just see the rounded top of the screw.

 

The next posts will be the files.

 

 

 

 

[thibaultron]

Carronade Files

 

Note: that they were Zipped using PeaZip, some other unzip programs give strange file extensions when used to unzipp the files.

 

Carronade 1796-1815 Graphics.zip

 

Carronade 1796-1815.zip

 

Length Chart Of Full Sized and Scaled Cannons_002 with Carronades.xlsx

[Tossedman]

Hi Ron,

I had the carronade with trunnions that you designed 3D printed by a fella with a resin printer.

Here's my first crack at mounting one on a carriage. Thanks again for providing the files.

Cheers,

 

Todd

 

[thibaultron]

When I drew the Carronade with trunnions, I showed a few posts back, I used a drawing from 1826 to make it from.

 

 

Well, I decided to try my hand at generating the carriage shown for it in the drawing. This drawing does not show the parts used to elevate the barrel. The Stool Bed, and the Quoin. I went through my library, and found drawings for a 32 Pounder in the Anatomy Of The Ship book on HMS Pandora. I rescaled the carriage drawings, and found the rescaled drawings to be quite close a match in length and height to fit the 9 Pounder (the carriage was wider rescaled, but a little math got me a scaled width for the parts). I used the drawings for the two parts as a basis for new ones. I also added eyes to the front and back of the carriage, as shown in the Pandora drawings.

 

Here are a graphics of the carriage with and without the 9 pounder barrel. I still have to add locating holes and pins to the 3D drawing, before I generate the final 3D print files. I'll post them in a few days. The letters refer to wire eyelets that the modeler will have to make, I'll include drawings for them too. 3D printing them would be a nightmare, and the resin parts would be quite fragile. The modeler would also have to make the brass rings that hold the trucks to the axles.

 

 

I'm going to have all the major parts as separate pieces, thus the need for locating pins. The Cap Squares (pieces that holds the cannon to the carriage have to be separate anyway to allow for the cannon to be installed). Should I, also, have an assembled (except for the cap squares, and truck rings) version? There is a through "bolt" that the front of the stool bed rests on that would be hard to print, in place, especially in smaller scales.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tossedman]

Looks great Ron! Are you designing with SketchUp? Your last image makes me think so. You're really making me think about getting a resin 3D printer with all of this great stuff you're designing. I think the through bolt should added afterwards along with all of the other wire eyelets, although you don't really see it when the barrel is mounted. I'm not experienced enough with resin printing to comment on whether to print as separate pieces or all as one. Looking forward to your finished design.

 

Cheers,

 

Todd

Edited December 26, 2024 by Tossedman
Cannot spell.

[thibaultron]

Yes, I'm using SketchUp. I have an old loaded on the computer version. Because it is so old, I have been locked out of being able to load any of the extensions. So I am being very careful to not mess up my system drive, as I can no longer reload what I have. I'm thinking of going to either the subscription versions of either SketchUp or Fusion. Hate to spend the money though.

[CDR_Ret]

48 minutes ago, thibaultron said:

I'm thinking of going to either the subscription versions of either SketchUp or Fusion. Hate to spend the money though.

Or you could move to the Dark Side for free and try 3D printing using the Blender extensions.🙂

[thibaultron]

15 hours ago, CDR_Ret said:

Or you could move to the Dark Side for free and try 3D printing using the Blender extensions.🙂

Will Blender create mechanical precision drawings? Like to 3 decimal positions? If so, I may check it out.

[thibaultron]

Got the locating pins in place. I now have to go through all the parts and validate the STL files. Then write up a PDF on assembling the carriage, and make the 2D drawings for the fabricated parts.

 

Here is the exploded diagram of the parts. There are two sets of caps. The first (left hand set) has the hinge eyelet as part of the part, this simplifies the building of the carriage. The second (right hand set) has just an opening to use when fabricating the hinge eyelet separately.

 

[CDR_Ret]

6 hours ago, thibaultron said:

Will Blender create mechanical precision drawings? Like to 3 decimal positions? If so, I may check it out.

Yessir, to virtually any number of decimal places you desire in either imperial or metric units. I use Blender mainly as a free 3D CAD  program after Sketchup was no longer free to hobbyists.

 

As others have mentioned, Blender has a steep learning curve, but there are helpful, experienced users in our community.

 

Terry

[thibaultron]

OK, thanks!

[thibaultron]

Spent some time today generating the graphics for the PDF on assembling the cannon and carriage today. I know most of you have built one or know how to do it, but someone just coming across the files might not.

 

I have not turned all the drawings into graphics yet, and I do not plan on coloring all the pictures, but I did color the assemble cannon and carriage. I did it mostly so that the letters designating the eyelets stand out, but it also looks cool!

 

Anyway here is one of the "Glamor Shots:.

 

[thibaultron]

Santa Fe's Boron Station

 

 

While not a cannon, I have been 3D CADing a small Santa Fe Railroad depot. This one serviced the 20 Mule Team Borax company spur. When I found the article with the plans, I thought to use spare parts from another kit to build it. After looking at the plans and the kit parts, though I found that the windows differed significantly, as well as the door.

 

So, I decided to 3D CAD the windows and doors, based on the plans, and some sectional detail drawings from other Santa Fe books I have. After I finished the CADing, I checked the available Board and Batten siding in both the kit and those presently available commercially. I don’t remember just where I found it (should have recorded it), but the SF used 12 inch spacing between the battens, and the spare and new wood sheets all have ~11 inch as the spacing. With a small building this becomes more critical for it to look right.

 

Board and batten siding is not all that complex to draw, so I did the walls too. I did make a couple of concessions. The wood sheets have square battens, and the Santa Fe use a rectangular batten with a molded face. Several of my other depot kits, use the standard sheets, so I decided to CAD the same. This gives continuity to all the depots. I’m not building this for a competition, just to add to the future display of various depots used on the SF. I do not want to CAD new walls for all of them! The second is that the walls and battens match the thickness of the wood sheets, though not the spacing, again in case the model is being built using just the detail parts.

 

The windows and door are drawn as close to prototype dimensions, as my info allowed. The sashes are drawn with glazing putty installed per my protype info. I drew the windows as shown in the older photos and the drawing of when the building was in use. The museum photos show later repairs.

 

Here are pictures of the station, as it appears today preserved in the 20 Mule Team Museum. The side walls have square battens, while the front seems to have a mix of both types, as well as variable spacing, I assume to seal cracks in the boards.

 

 

 

 

The station has a few unique features from a “Standard” station, other than its small size. Instead of two six pane sashes like the front bay window, and other windows, the side bay windows are basically 6 pane sashes cut down to 2 pane wide sashes. The door is similar to, but not the same as a “Standard” pattern one. The small window on the right side of the building, is, as far as I can find, a one-off design for the interior bathroom. I got this on as close as I can, as the plans I have do not show this wall, other than to say it is 24 inches square. The trim around the windows also narrower than that around the other windows and door. I can only correct so much for the perspective using my available graphics programs and skill.

 

Another difference is that it has wood shake shingles instead of the regular metal diamond pattern, or asphalt single used on other stations. This later makes it difficult to add as a CAD part, as I don’t want to draw several dozen different weathered shingles, and apply them one at a time, to a roof drawing. I looked up 3D printable files, but did not find any useful ones. I’ll just add them using a standard HO scale commercial product.

 

While in service, the depot had a giant Swamp Cooler, that took up a large space between the large window and the bathroom window, on that side. The cooler was supported by a stand made up from what looks like any spare boards they could find. Designing that will take some effort, as the B&W magazine photos do not show the white, or light gray boards very well against the “white” building.

 

At one time a laser cut kit was available for the depot, as well as the separate shed/baggage building, but has long been OOP. Even if I find one, I’ve done all the hard work already, so don’t need it.

 

 

Here are some pictures of my progress, so far. I have all four walls and the bay drawn, as well as the windows and door. The bay is complete with the interior trim, and desk, as they will be visible from the outside, if you get really close to the model. The pictures show the walls and bay “Assembled”. I will likely print the walls as one piece, set upright in the printer. The bay will be printed in three pieces, the walls, the subroof, and the trapezoidal desk top. This will help to reduce the number of internal supports needed, and thus dimples from their removal. When the subroof is finished it will also be a separate part. I still have to add the corner and under roof trim. I’ve been waiting on those parts until I finalize how I want to print all the pieces.

 

I will also be CADing the baggage shed. I do not have drawings for it, but do have pictures for 2 ½ sides. I have prototype photos of the two sides shown on the kit picture, and the lefthand side of the wall opposite the one with the window. That photo only shows the ½ with the window, but I think I can safely assume that those two windows and large sliding door are all the details present. I can get the dimensions by counting the battens, and using a SF shed sliding door.

 

 

This graphic shows the four walls and the three pieces that make up the bay. The line under the bay walls is the desk top. The interior of the bay walls have locating tabs for the desk, as does the underside of the subroof.

 

 

The next ones show the building from the front, showing the two side walls

 

 

 

Here is the back wall, and the interior of the bay. I have not added any interior trim on the side or back wall windows. I’m not going to detail the interior.

 

 

The window drawings have both the one-piece solid ones used here, and a version with the lower sash as a sperate part, this would allow it to be raised in a finished model, as well as one built using the wood sheets instead of the printed walls.

[Tossedman]

Looks great! I designed and laser cut an N scale engine shed. All of the parts such as window frames and mullions were separate so many more pieces than yours. It was fun to do. Learned a ton doing it.