Time for another customizer, let’s make some standard tracks for trains.
The customizer mainly creates:
- Straight flat tracks
- Curved flat tracks
- Straight inclined tracks
- Curved inclined tracks

Dependicies
This customizer makes use of other tools:
- OpenSCAD library: dotSCAD library, functions:
- rotate_p
- polysections
- path_extrude
- The Building Block Generator.
Parameters
Track parameters:
- Either angled or straight: track_horz_angle [deg]
- If straight it needs a length: track_length [mm]
- If curved, it needs a radius: track_radius [mm]
- Tracks could ‘sleepers’ between front & end: nr_of_sleepers: [0-..].
(Standard sleepers are 2×4 brick, but small sleepers are also possible.)
Ramp parameters:
- It the track inclines, specify its height: ramp_height [mm]
(Height should be limited, because start & end of track will be sharp.) - Specify the end of the inclined track: ramp_extend_support [y/n]
Geometry parameters:
- Should the track be lifted from the ground: geo_use_offset [y/n]
(If so, the track needs some support benith the print.) - Does the track requires ribs, interfacing with locomotive wheels, improving climbing: geo_use_bigribs [y/n]
- Does the track requires small ribs: geo_use_smallribs [y/n]
- Since the standard track inside is relative thin for printing, this could be increased: geo_rim_thickness_increase [mm]
Here some pictures of the effect of those parameters:




Building tracks
The different parts are heavily used:

Issues inclined tracks:
Looking carefull to these curved inclined tracks, they are having a fundamental ‘issue’. Suppose a train has 4 wheels straight bolted wheels connected to the chassis. While moving over a curved inclined track, one of the wheels will be lifted from the track!

So that’s also the case with this train. Although the front wheels have a little tilting clearance, it’s not enough having all wheels on this track type.
These inclined tracks should not be too steap. Since the innitial & final tracks will be straight again, there is a tipping point between those interfaces.
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