Old Tiger, New Owner

[Mark Heaps]

Hi Patrik,
On mine the Hub Plates (CK0208) look as if the thread has been cut starting from the outside surface. This has resulted in material being extruded on the inside surface so that it is not completely flat.
If yours are the same, this extruded material may be touching the race of the Bearing (6000-2RS) preventing the outer wheel from being properly clamped between Hub Y (CE0254) and Hub Plate.
If removing any extruded material does not rectify the problem, the next step would be to machine some material off the face of the Hub Plate and /or Hub Y.

[Peter Silcock]

I had the same problem and did what Mark has suggested- machining the hub plate and hub so they seated correctly.

[Patrik Johansson]

Yes, the extruded thread material was there and was removed. Machining the back of the plates, I am pretty much limited to hand tools. Then again it is not much that needs to be removed, only the torsion bars are in fresh memory

Thank you

[Patrik Johansson]

I took my trusty file to the back of one of the hub plates and shaved it down maybe 0.15 mm. A bit tediuos but now it fits and only 17 to go.

[Patrik Johansson]

I haven't touched the wheel hubs or anything else since last update, busy elsewhere. A friend was over and had a look at it. I had to make him leave before he made me an offer for it. Might well be a future Armortek customer.

Anyway, had to finally make something. What is this?

The tabs go into the slots...

Aha!

The tabs could have been a little longer but as long as the model is sitting on a flat and level surface it should not be a problem. I have been worried about pushing it off the table and this should give me a second chance.

[Patrik Johansson]

Suddenly, taper locks!

These were missing when I recieved the model, now sourced from the mechanical specialist across town. Printed stand-in also shown.

[Patrik Johansson]

I came down with a cold (no, it's summer here) a few days ago but at least now it is vacation time. I aquired a new, slightly bigger, slightly better, vastly cheaper, 3D printer last weekend and has been struggling with it since. Slight progress, prototype through-hull shaft completed!

[Phil Woollard]

Hi Patrik, nice work. I am thinking that now I have to have a 3D printer, please tell us more about the units that you have and how they work and which level of 3D printer would be most practical for a Armortek modeller ? Regards Phil

[Patrik Johansson]

Thank you, Phil.

My first 3D printer is a Makerbot Mini. These are expensive for what they can and cannot do but in their favor, they are easy to get going. Expect to use up the included filament in getting to know it. Two years ago the Mini was the smallest Makerbot model at 100*100*125 mm build volume and can only print PLA which is corn based and will degrade over time. PLA can be a substitute to wax in lost wax casting.

This new one is a Malyan M180 which supposedly is a copy of some other printer. It has a heated build plate which opens up other possibilites, ABS, HDPE, PCL. Two printer heads (extruders), 240*150*150 mm build volume (online information varies on this but also it depends on if you are using both extruders or not.) Very much DIY and the-tool-is-the-hobby aura about it. I should say I got this one used from a friend who ran out of time for it.

Both printers print about 1% oversize in Y and Z axis, the Malyan which is more open source may be possible to calibrate in post processor but I have not looked into it yet. The Makerbot is all proprietary and wont let you glean much into the workings and settings. The Malyan software on the other hand has a rather austere GUI.

As for practical? How long is a string? Are you in any way comfortable with 3D CAD or other 3D modeling software? If not, up hill starts now =). I have dabbled for fun in 3D modeling on and off for 20 years and have been working with 3D CAD for 8 years so I have that but CAM, GCode, and that stuff is a new world to me. Do you have goals and requirements? Expectations? Metal printing? The Malyan is big enough to print out a heavy tank track link, sprocket or road wheel in 1/6 in one go, or print molds for casting wax masters of same parts even. It could probably print a turret if I section it. I am trying to come back to the practical part but this is turning into a rant =). I hate to make suggestions as I know too little about the alternatives but two years ago I suddenly felt I should know more about 3D printing and I got the Makerbot because it was, 1) available on shelf at local store, 2) as plug-and-play as it can probably get, and 3) I needed one now, now, now (see 1)). Yes it was €1500 for what is a toy compared to cheaper options but I did not need to learn about Python or GCode which is a thing with the Malyan, or spend a weekend assembling it. If all fails, mail order 3D printing is a thing.

We just recently, as in barely unboxed, took delivery of an industrial grade €100k printer at work and it will be very enlightening to see how that relates to what I have seen with these two, about ease of use and such.

Don't know where this went but maybe there was some usable input in there for someone?

[Phil Woollard]

It's all new to me, I remember CNC being the new thing when I was a craft apprentice many moons ago, those systems where about as complex as I could cope with then but would seem quite straight forward now I suppose.
I think I should learn to walk before I can run and maybe look for a small machine to practice with, making those awkward smaller parts which become tedeous to produce by hand, seeing those fan housings and fuel tanks for the Panthers and Tigers is amazing.
I must confess its my hands and keen eye and being artistic (and I did say artistic) that have been my savour, I am not very patient with tech but understand that it is our future.
So I will look for a small machine and dabble , it's tempting to jump in the deep end and go for something like a complex cad capable machine but as I said I must learn to walk before I can run. That 100k example at your work place will be fantastic and would do nicely!
Thanks for the info/advice Patrik and please continue sharing those 3d parts with us, as it's truly inspiring,
Regards Phil.

[John Heath]

Reminds me need to get my 3D printer out of storage where it's been sitting since I moved recently.

3D printing is a bit of a black art. You just have to experiment with settings and filaments. I've found that the brand of filament makes a real difference to the finished part. Some brands will just suit your printer better than others. I've had good results using the Jet brand.of ABS.

Single biggest factor in getting good results is the slicer software used though. Tried all the free ones and some were OK but none compare to proper professional software. I use Simplify3D which just transformed my printer's results and were so much cleaner and better finished. As the old saying goes you get what you pay for.

https://www.simplify3d.com/

John

[Patrik Johansson]

I may have to look into Simplify 3D. Somewhat suprisingly the Malyan specific port of ReplicatorG that shipped with the printer does not allow me to scale individual axis (axeses? axii?) while the much more walled garden Makerbot software do. Therefore the shaft and gear are not entirely round. Also the ReplicatorG installation has corrupted itself twice now and wont make new GCode.

[John Heath]

Simplify3D gives you so much control and flexibility over the process. Once you try it you won't want to go back to what you were using.

John

[Patrik Johansson]

I have been kind of quiet on here but things have been happening. I bought a house three weeks ago, downstairs is 60 square meters of parking space and workshop-ish spaces. The only downside now is that now there is an entire house of possibilities putting the Tiger a fair bit further down on the To Do list.

Can you spot it?

[Patrik Johansson]

Things are slowly starting to fall into place with the house, not to mention slowing down to normal after the holidays.

I am about to begin final fitting of the hull plates, some gaps and alignements need a looking into. The table is not suitable, I have been looking at a lift table for servicing motorcycles. It has a ramp and It is slightly wider than the model and a good bit longer which could prove useful.