RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Alwyn when you print the turret is it done in sections?

Do you have to use special filament for the printer for such a large and irregular print? I know the JS-2 turret is quite large.

I'm assuming you would print in two halves and then assemble them?

Hi Carl, the turret is so large that I will have to split it into at least 4 or 5 parts as otherwise the risk of having a problem with a print and having to start again would be too high, plus it would take days to print. Also I need to be able to take off the turret roof, for example, for assembly and maintenance.

It is possible that it will simply be too large to print some of it and i may have to build parts in styrene and use milliput or body filler to sculpt to the correct shape or build in styrene and print parts to get the right shape.

It's going to be an interesting and challenging build!
Alwyn

Some progress achieved

Modified the gearbox shaft

and moved the gearboxes inboard


Test fitted the road wheels

I tried to find a JS2 Henntec track adjuster but couldn't find one so I've got Forgebear on the case. Having got such good parts I don't want to skimp by not fitting the right track adjuster.
In the meantime to keep the build going I designed a fixed track adjuster




While printing off parts I designed the return roller and mount but haven't done pics yet.

Anyway onward and upward
Alwyn

Can I ask what model of 3d printer are you using?

Hi Wyvern, I use a hictop reprap prusa i3 with self levelling, which at the moment is causing me some problems. This is normal as all 3d printers need maintenance and fixing when they are used as heavily as I use this one. It's a bit frustrating when they play up but usually it doesn't take long to diagnose and fix them. Given that the printer cost me less than £300 It has been incredible value for money.

Alwyn

Happily thanks to Wibbly's advice, encouragement and support I have got my printer back in working order. Now I can get on with my build.

Here's the return roller and mount



and here's the components


The KV1 return roller assembly is shown for comparison.

Alwyn

Lovely work as always Mr Alwyn Turner

You sure know how to bite off a chunk Mr Turner !!
That Turret is going to test you I reckon

Ahhh..the Maestro's back I've just scanned your thread through and up to press, Alwyn. As usual, you dismember a tank until it looks anatomically like something else, and then magically re-assemble into something far more interesting
than it began life as. I salute you and your unsurpassed skills, Dr Frankentank
Roy
I still have to paint my Cromwell and iron out a sticking track/ stalling motor issue ; but when i do, i shall complete the Cromwell thread, and hopefully top it off with a first video of the tank running trials. Meantime...I have two other projects to post...this is a crazy hobby.

Thanks everyone for the good words - much appreciated. I have already chopped the turret print file into manageable chunks but they will still run to about 11 hours printing. After some discussions with Wibbly about heated print beds I am about to convert from ABS filament to PLA as it will mean less problems with the printer (hopefully) so watch this space.

Alwyn