These print-in-place alphabet train cars can be customized to write your own train message! Design and print your own or request a custom train message. See here for video: https://youtu.be/EO4HTPzR4yo
Due to small parts, this toy is not suitable for young children.
Print your own
Each train car is 20mm in length, and you will need an “Engine” for the front and a “Caboose” for the back. Consider the size of your build plate as you are planning the length of your message! Remember that the train can be oriented diagonally to buy you a bit more space.
Import the letters you need into your favourite STL editing software. Meshmixer is my favourite, but there are many others that will work fine. Unsure that all files import into the exact same position. Leave the “Engine” at the origin, then shift the first letter exactly 20mm to the right (positive x direction). Shift the next letter 40mm and so on finishing with the “Caboose.” Combine the objects together, export, and print.
The inner spheres print on top of tiny supports within the cavity of the neighbouring car. Once printed, a light twist of each car frees the ball within the cavity and the train can turn and bend. Be sure to let your print fully cool first! If the plastic is still soft, the connector may break when you try to move it.
The letters come with customized supports. You will not need supports or brim. If the linear length of your message is longer that your build plate can hold, you have a few options. A car can be rotated relative to it’s neighbour by a maximum of 12 degrees, the pivot point being the center of the ball. Any more than this and the cars will adhere to one another when printing. Using this technique, a train of 30 cars (including Engine and Caboose) occupies a circle with diameter 208mm. The “Full Alphabet” file is an example of this. This is tricky to do, so your other option is…
Request a custom train
Message me here or on Instagram (link in bio), and I will do my best make you a custom train file for you to print!
This is an entry for the Print-in-Place Designs 3D Modelling Challenge #3Dprint #thangs3d #pdo #printinplace #customizable #alphabet #train