3D printing is becoming accessible to everyone but designing things to print still requires some skill with 3D graphics software. 3D Trestles helps model railroaders design trestles for 3D printers with minimum fuss. The primary output of this software are the STL files that 3D printers use. You control a variety of parameters but for the most part, the trestle is built automatically. HO and N gauge model railroad sizes are supported.
With point-click & drag, you can design the contour of the ravine that the trestle crosses and the trestle will re-build itself to follow your contour. With point-click & drag, you move bents (the primary supports of the trestle) and the trestle will re-build itself. Many specific parameters of the trestle, length, height, number of bents, and more, can be changed and the trestle will re-configure itself.
There are several options for exporting your designed trestle. Trestles can be designed that are much larger than today’s home 3D printers can print in a single operation so there are options for printing your design in easy to re-assemble components. The ravine contour, or its inverse (for plaster forms) can be exported for printing in order to help with assembly of the trestle or placement in the model railroad layout. There is a quick design window for extra building materials.
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Parameters that can be changed:
1) ravine contour
2) number and location of supports (bents)
3) width, height and length
4) choice and number of side and side angle stringers (the timber that connects bents)
5) arc angle of bents and the number of vertical timbers used for their construction
6) number of horizontal timbers used in bent construction
7) size of timber
8) number and size of top stringers (that the track lays on)
Type of Export Files:
1) STL file of the entire assembled trestle
2) STL file of assembled bents and separate side stringers
3) STL files of bents, side stringers, side angle braces, and top stringers separated
4) STL file of ravine contour, as is, or its inverse, with or without dilation
5) STL file of bent separation blocks to aid in assembly of component printed trestles
6) STL files of extra building materials
