3D printing strenght ? (drive setup)

[hawkeye3guns]

Hi
My next project is a 1/16 WW 1 Landship and as you can see in the photo's the drive system is a pain?
I have come up with a plan but the methods I've tried to fix the drive system keeps failing under load. My Question is .
If I can find someone to reproduce my drive method and 3D print it (Namely the drive Sprockets) would the material used/available these days by strong enough to take the force / load. Or would I need to find a machine shop to fabricate them.

Thanks for any help or advice.
Denzil

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Denzil, how do the components fail, is it link between the grey components and the green ones? If it is have you thought of drilling small holes through the two components and putting brass rod through the holes then epoxy the components together? if it's the grey cog items that fail then I can only suggest using nylon and cutting/machining them.

Hope that helps
Alwyn

[hawkeye3guns]

Hi Alwyn
Thanks for the reply, I tried cross drilling the components and then various glues and epoxy but the joint fails at the green gears not sure what material it is ( has an oily/ greasy feel) but nothing seems to stick to it with any strength.
My next experiment is to make a couple of Brass or Ally cones to go inside the M26 sprockets and gear and try to clamp them with M2 bolts.
The sprockets / Gears have to spin freely on a M4 shaft and bearings so not a lot of room in there to put much.
I picked M26 tracks and drive sprockets (although not correct appearance) they are the right width and the sprockets have the right diameter to fit, they also have flat pads that at a later date I can rivet/screw/glue on a more scale appearance track plate
Denzil

[jarndice]

If you go to "Other Builds" and search you will come to "Helen's" 1/6th scale WW1 build, yes I know it is not 1/16 but a lot of very useful information to be found.
Shaun.

[AlwynTurner]

Hi Denzil, have you thought about using Lego Technics cogs?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-selection-o ... Sw0fhXi2Ii
They are made of plastic which you can glue/weld to styrene or abs with acetone or pvcweld. I have used then successfully on some of my models and they are surprisingly strong and durable whilst maintaining some flex.
Alwyn

[hawkeye3guns]

Hi Shaun
I followed that build closely it was a superb piece of engineering. And coming from Grantham, Lincs where they were built at Both Ruston's Factorys in Lincoln and Grantham. I have always wanted to built one but needed to build my Skills up.
Denzil
by the way the universal gun carriers was also built/ repaired at the Grantham factory my mother in law use to work of them.