[Klitgaard]

I´m thinking that it could be time to try a new track layout, but I don´t like most of the available trackplanner software.
So I have started to print the Scalextric track pieces in a small scale. These are in 1:7 scale and I made them with a puzzle piece like connector.
It works quite nice, so now I can try lots of different layouts on the dining room table. Just need now to print approx. 200 pieces

 

[John Aitken]

Looks interesting..could be a market for boxes of parts, although maybe not cost efficient

 

[MrFlippant]

Great idea!

If this is your design, change it so that there is a tab and socket on each end, just like the real thing, and turns can be turned around. Less variations to print. The way you have it, you need to mirror each turn piece to have the option of going left or right. Also, you could probably make them half as thick and they would still work well and save time and material.

 

[Mr.M]

Can't you just turn them over to go the other way?

 

[MrFlippant]

Can't you just turn them over to go the other way?

DERP! You're right! I was stuck in the mindset of not being able to flip over the pieces.
I'd still print them half as thick, though.

 

[MrFlippant]

@Klitgaard what is your designed in tolerance between the tabs and sockets?

 

[beardy56]

I was thinking the same as Greg as I assumed to save time and material the main part would be hollow just like the real thing.

 

[MrFlippant]

I was thinking the same as Greg as I assumed to save time and material the main part would be hollow just like the real thing.

Ooh, yeah, and then each of them could be printed in vase mode.

 

[Klitgaard]

@Klitgaard what is your designed in tolerance between the tabs and sockets?

The difference is 0.3 mm between the male and female. Yes they can be turned around for mirroring.
They are 5 mm thick because i planned to print them standing which would have reduced printing time significantly.
Had to give that up, but retained the thickness.

 

[MrFlippant]

Probably a good tolerance for most printers out there. Something like this can be printed mostly hollow to save on material, as well as thin walls.
I hope you decide to share the models for others to print.

 

[Klitgaard]

Sure -I will upload to printables.com ASAP

 

[Klitgaard]

Some print info:
They are printed with 4 toplayers and 4 bottomlayers, 20% infill (10% should be enough)
32 pcs R2 45 dg takes 6 hours and uses 90 grams filament.

 

[Klitgaard]

Files can be downloaded here:

Printables

www.printables.com

There are also a PDF with an overview.

 

[MrFlippant]

Awesome! Thanks!

I see you only have one extra short straight. Is that the 1/4 straight, or the "Short" straight? Based on the file names, I'm assuming it's the 1/4 straight. Whichever it is not, please add it. Some kind of indicator to differentiate it easily from the other piece of similar size is advised.

Adding the elevated crossover (three short straights in length) would also be helpful, especially if you also added the little "ears" for the support columns so that the piece is not easily confused with others.

 

[Klitgaard]

40 print hours later
Maybe i should build this layout 🤣

 

[MrFlippant]

1:7 is an odd scale. It just occurred to me that drawing a scale version of your track table/area would be tricky as compared to a 1:8 or 1:10 or other scale. What lead you to choose 1:7?

 

[Klitgaard]

My calculator are just as good for dividing by 7, as it is to dividing by 8 or 10 😋
Sorry- .... jokes aside.. Not so much thought in the scale decision, I think 1:10 would be too small.. 35 mm for a long straight...a little hard to work with. And even worse with R1 in 22,5 dgr.
Could have been in 1:8, but I liked that a long 350 mm long straight in 1:7 is the nice round number...50 mm. (Maybe it´s a metric thing.)

My post was primarily indented to pass on the idea of a "hands on" track planner, and it should be quite easy to re-scale if some should wish so.

 

[MrFlippant]

Yep. I figured it was more about the size of the pieces than anything else.
I'm currently printing a set that I rescaled to 1:10 and then set to 2mm thick. It looks like they will print ok. I'll post photos when it's done and I've played with the pieces. I almost did 1:8, which would have made drawing a scale 4x8 foot table easy with an imperial ruler, but I prefer metric as well, so went with 1:10.

 

[MrFlippant]

Printed ok and works ok. The tabs don't work as well as expected, but that's probably as much about the size as anything else. I'd probably reduce the tolerance a bit so that the pieces fit together more snugly.

 

[Klitgaard]

And now try to print some in the original scale and 5 mm thickness, and see how much better it feels