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:

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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