Customizable Alphabet Train 3D Printer Model Free Download

Description Files (60)

Summary

These print-in-place alphabet train cars can be customized to write your own train message! Design and print your own or request a custom train message.

See here for video: https://youtu.be/EO4HTPzR4yo

See here for stable download: https://thangs.com/mythangs/file/27771

Due to small parts and potential for breakage, this toy is not suitable for young children.

Print your own

Each train car is 20mm in length, and you will need an “Engine” for the front and a “Caboose” for the back. Consider the size of your build plate as you are planning the length of your message! Remember that the train can be oriented diagonally to buy you a bit more space.

Import the letters you need into your favourite STL editing software. Meshmixer is my favourite, but there are many others that will work fine. Unsure that all files import into the exact same position. Leave the “Engine” at the origin, then shift the first letter exactly 20mm to the right (positive x direction). Shift the next letter 40mm and so on finishing with the “Caboose.” Combine the objects together, export, and print.

I also recommend checking out this OpenSCAD file by OutwardB that imports and positions the cars automatically: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4883497

A short "Test Train" file has been included for calibrating your settings ahead of time if needed.

The inner spheres print on top of tiny supports within the cavity of the neighbouring car. Once printed, a light twist of each car frees the ball within the cavity and the train can turn and bend. Be sure to let your print fully cool first! If the plastic is still soft, the connector may break when you try to move it.

Letters C, E, F, G, P, S, T and Z come with or without customized supports.

Here are a few tips for safely removing the supports:

Let the print cool completely! I leave mine overnight before removing supports
Using pliers, pinch the supports in different places to break or weaken the connection between support and model. Don't twist and pry first!
GENTLY twist the supports out, being careful to minimize strain on nearby letters.
They break... oops! Glue it back together! No big deal!

If the linear length of your message is longer that your build plate can hold, you have a few options. A car can be rotated relative to it’s neighbour by a maximum of 12 degrees, the pivot point being the center of the ball. Any more than this and the cars will adhere to one another when printing. Using this technique, a train of 30 cars (including Engine and Caboose) occupies a circle with diameter 208mm. The “Full Alphabet” file is an example of this. This is tricky to do, so your other option is…

Request a custom train

I will do my best make you a custom train stl file in exchange for one (or more!) of the following:

Drop me a few bucks via the “Tip Designer” link here on Thingiverse, or…
Post a “Make” of your print here on Thingiverse, or…
Post a picture of your print on Instagram and tag me at @davemakesstuffbc, or…
Whatever other bartering arrangement you would like to suggest!

Message me with the following:

Your train message
Size of your build plate
Your preferred “payment” method
How to send the file to you.

For general messages that others may use (like “Happy Birthday”) I will post them here on Thingiverse. For private messages (that include a name, for instance), I can send via Dropbox.

EDIT: "Connector Male" and "Connector Female" have been added by request. This split car is designed to accommodate smaller buildplates by providing an option to connect smaller word trains together to form longer trains. The two connector pieces are positioned relative to other train cars as described above. They will likely require glue for a secure fit. As of September 23, 2021, these connector pieces have not be print tested. If anyone tries this out, please DM me and let me know how it goes!

0.stl	1.1MB
1.stl	1008.4KB
1_Unsupported.stl	996.4KB
2.stl	1.1MB
2_Unsupported.stl	1.1MB
3.stl	1.2MB
3_Unsupported.stl	1.2MB
4.stl	1.0MB
4_Unsupported.stl	1.0MB
5.stl	1.1MB
5_Unsupported.stl	1.1MB
6.stl	1.2MB
6_Unsupported.stl	1.1MB
7.stl	1003.5KB
7_Unsupported.stl	997.0KB
8.stl	1.2MB
9.stl	1.2MB
9_Unsupported.stl	1.1MB
A.stl	1.0MB
B.stl	1.1MB
C.stl	1.1MB
Caboose.stl	639.8KB
Connector_Female.stl	656.6KB
Connector_Male.stl	318.5KB
C_Unsupported.stl	1.1MB
D.stl	1.0MB
DaveMakesStuff.stl	17.8MB
E.stl	1022.6KB
Empty.stl	948.2KB
Engine.stl	743.1KB
E_Unsupported.stl	1010.4KB
F.stl	1011.9KB
Full_Alphabet.stl	28.5MB
F_Unsupported.stl	1002.2KB
G_fixed.stl	1.1MB
G_Unsupported.stl	1.1MB
H.stl	1017.8KB
I.stl	977.6KB
J.stl	1.0MB
K.stl	1.0MB
L.stl	985.2KB
M.stl	1.0MB
N.stl	1.0MB
O.stl	1.1MB
P.stl	1.0MB
P_Unsupported.stl	1.0MB
Q.stl	1.1MB
R.stl	1.1MB
S.stl	1.2MB
S_Unsupported.stl	1.1MB
T.stl	1007.2KB
Test_Train.stl	2.3MB
T_Unsupported.stl	994.3KB
U.stl	1.1MB
V.stl	1011.3KB
W.stl	1.1MB
X.stl	1.0MB
Y.stl	1000.9KB
Z.stl	1005.8KB
Z_Unsupported.stl	1000.0KB

Customizable Alphabet Train 3D Printer Model

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