niart17 Posted September 13, 2018 Share Posted September 13, 2018 Oh Sorry Manfred, I didn't catch the question part of that post so didn't realize you were looking for an answer. As for the print it anyway, I have used it a few times to test out a part and it's a handy feature. BUT I believe it's only reserved to designers and can't be used by someone buying the part so it only helps for items printed for themselves. As for the printing it flat, that sounds logical to me from a cleanup point of view. I haven't really printed or uploaded anything since they started allowing designers to dictate the print orientation. I'm glad they added that feature. I agree it would be much easier to sand the bottom of the treads so wax build up etc... isn't even an issue. One could even maybe add a slight amount of material that is designed to be sanded away so it can settle into the correct thickness. That's how we design our steel dies for the company I work for, we always have grind stock on critical surfaces that can be smoothed out and polished later. I have to say, the work going on here, both in 3D computer land and of course Manfred scratch-build land is just incredible. I wish I could have the time, resources and talent to put this much into a build. I'm continually blown away. Keep it up! Bill Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 (edited) Thanks Bill for your comment. For about four weeks, I'm already haggling with them back and forth, whereby one can lose enthusiasm for this 3D matter. But that shows once again that they still consider themselves the greatest. That's why I can understand well when you print your stuff yourself. BTW, I think the roughness of the treads is not a problem, because the treads on the original crawler are also roughened by the gravel on the Crawler way and look slightly grainy. But let's see what the 52 Set-Flat Ori looks like, if it's okay, I can order the remaining seven sets. SW said: Only when a model was printed before, they skip the checking process. Edited September 14, 2018 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted September 14, 2018 Share Posted September 14, 2018 22 hours ago, niart17 said: I have to say, the work going on here, both in 3D computer land and of course Manfred scratch-build land is just incredible. I visit a few other forums here on ARC and nobody else is delving into 3D like you guys are ... I agree with you 100% Bill! ... INCREDIBLE is the word! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 (edited) I can also only pull off my hat to these 3D artists here. If I could program 3D models, I would also buy me a printer and print some parts. But it also works differently, only for special things, I would not want going without it, especially since Joe is such a gifted 3D modeler. Edited September 14, 2018 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 14, 2018 Author Share Posted September 14, 2018 Hello everybody, today, the 52 Set-Flat Ori (FUD) came as if there had never been any problems with printability. Unbelievable, but SW is really unpredictable ... And I must say, the set not only looks good, but even better than the previous two sets with the upright standing shoes. Here is the top side of the set, right next to it, the three connected shoes from the previous 20 FUD set. And here the bottom side with a view of the treads, which feel a bit rougher, but which is explainable, since they were touched by the support wax, but which is not a problem. But the top and side surfaces are smoother because they were not in contact with the wax. And if one looks carefully, one can even see the small holes (Ø 0,2 mm), although not on all shoes, but one could even drill out them, if it should be, although they later are hardly visible anyway. Here's a little closer view. And so I will seize the moment and order a further seven sets, wherewith I would then come on the required 456 Track shoes, but I will still order additionally a further Set of 20 to be on the safe side. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Hey thanks guys! Hi Manfred, I don't know how you managed to get them printed. I was quite certain Shapeways wouldn't print them until the walls were modified like Bill mentioned. I was ready to suggest joining the Photon club : ) The track shoes look great! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Hi Joe, and thanks once more for your fantastic 3D modeling job. As you see, nothing is impossible, sometimes one has to take full risks and to play vabanque, according to the motto: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This was an inner inspiration, what should already happen? In the worst case it could be rejected, so what? And luckily it worked, in the meantime the remaining seven Sets of 52-Flat Ori are In Production. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted September 16, 2018 Share Posted September 16, 2018 Those track shoes look ... Impressive ... most Impressive! crackerjazz, your 3D work is terrific and Manfred your patience with Shapeways is enviable! Your experience with them, displayed here, shows us all the unpredictability of the product. I guess they're learning the limitations and capabilities of their printers too. Looks like a WIN / WIN situation! Pete Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 16, 2018 Author Share Posted September 16, 2018 Thanks Pete, well, that was a great coup, with which I surprised SW. Hopefully the odyssey with the Intertank will also end well, so keep your fingers crossed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 (edited) Hello everybody, the Set of 20 is already on the way, and of the remaining seven Sets of 52 six are already printed, only the last one is missing, which is why the shipment will hopefully follow soon. And thus the Crawler would be almost finished already ... P.S.: Your Shapeways shipment is on its way! Edited September 19, 2018 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 19, 2018 Author Share Posted September 19, 2018 Hello friends, although I have already experienced some things, Shapeways still has some surprises in store. Today came the already announced Set of 20 Flat Ori (FXD). But after I unpacked it, I could not believe my eyes. Because that was not the Track Shoe-Set I ordered, Source: shapeways.com (Crackerjazz) but any other one with little mini parts, what of course I've immediately complained. Mitchell Jetten (SW) but immediately apologized in return: Oh no, I'm sorry to hear we shipped the wrong model to you. I have raised a complaint (CT-48214) ticket right away and asked our production team to reprint the correct model as soon as possible. There are also less beautiful wonders by SW ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
my favs are F`s Posted September 20, 2018 Share Posted September 20, 2018 It's a heavy tank this platform, aint it 🙂 Man, this build is going on so wonderfully! The "Tank Odyssay". 😜 I cannot imagine what would be the situation with the shuttle's white plates coverage on the top... drybrushing or decals or some sort of texturizing or... can't wait! Let's get it on! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 20, 2018 Author Share Posted September 20, 2018 Stay tuned, my friend, and you will see it ... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 21, 2018 Author Share Posted September 21, 2018 (edited) Hello everybody, today, Shapeways' big Track Shoe delivery arrived with the seven Sets of 52, which of course were immediately unpacked. And these are the total of 456 shoes for the Crawler. The new sets look well, though there are small differences in quality between the sets, as one can see on the two encircled sets, which should be due to different thorough after-treatment/cleaning. But that is no problem, because I will try anyway, to let the sets being cleaned professionally again in the Dental laboratory, as usual. And the replacement delivery with the Set of 20 (FXD), which had been interconverted, is already on the way. For the connecting bolts, I've also still found a suitable solution, for which I would use instead of the insect needles (Ø 0,3 mm) now Nickel silver rods (Ø 0,4 mm), which fit closely through the Pin lug holes. And with a length of 7 mm per bolt comes together a total length of more than 3 m , which would correspond to 11 rods à 30 cm, which I will still reorder soon. Edited September 21, 2018 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted September 26, 2018 Author Share Posted September 26, 2018 (edited) Hello everybody, today came the complained Set of 20-Flat Ori (FXD), Source: shapeways.com (Crackerjazz) which looks impeccable, and one can even see at all shoes the small holes in the treads. Only the sticker on the bag makes me perplex, which displays the upright set, Unlike the last Sets of 52-Flat Ori (FUD), which all had rough treads, the treads of this set are nicely smooth, as if they were not lying on the support wax, weird ... But I don't care at all. Edited September 26, 2018 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 Hello everybody, after the slowly tiring Track shoe story today again a little puzzle for relaxation. What do you think, what this could be? At least it's not a slice of crispbread. Well, is it dawning? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 A quiz ... I LOVE quizzes ... I have a few guesses ... it looks like ... 1. A Rice Cake 2. My Oatmeal Breakfast 3. A piece of your Plaster Ceiling ... or a long shot here ... 4. could it be a piece of foam from a Space Shuttle's External Tank? Am I close at least? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 (edited) Hi Pete, yeah, With No. 4 you've hit the nail on the head. It's indeed a piece of real SOFI foam, but not direct from an ET, but from testing out the spray guns, before starting with the actually spray process. And here's the evidence. Hard to believe, but it's actually a piece of the original Spray-on foam insulation (SOFI) from the ET-138 which was flown at the last mission of Atlantis (STS-135). But how I came to this rarity, I would have to tell you separately in an own thread, if you are interested. This is a great story connected to another contemporary witness from the glorious Shuttle era who has also written an amazing book, so to speak a "must read" for any space aficionado. Edited October 7, 2018 by spaceman Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 Hello everyone, after my contact to the two SOFI experts Craig Capdepon and Vincent Morales was unfortunately interrupted, I got a hint from Hotdog that I could also contact Scott "Shuttleman" Phillips. He was an Engineer at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and was working on all ETs during the Shuttle program. And the man with this telling nickname has written this great book together with his wife Dianne Phillips, which tells the story of his personal thirty-year Shuttle odyssey. Source: Scott G. Phillips And this book with this striking red Remove Before Flight Ribbon, that gave him the title at the same time has cast a spell over me after reading a about it and seeing this Book Trailer of his son Christian Phillips. During his time working in the program, he was also able to join his two passions - the Space shuttle and woodworking - by building one-of-a-kind handcrafted wooden tribute shuttle models in large numbers for many Shuttle crews and also for friends, here among others when handing over to the STS-1 crew with John W. Young and Bob Crippen, which also were signed by them. Source: Scott G. Phillips Realizing that each mission carried historic weight, Scott Phillips set forth to preserve each flight through his work as Master Carver, true to his motto: Long live the Shuttle's legacy. And in the meantime, I have contacted him and also ordered his book, which arrived yesterday along with a few surprises. It was next to his book with a personal dedication, as well as the red ribbon and some stickers, and as icing on the cake this piece of SOFI foam, which he had branched off in the production of the last External Tank ET-138, what I have asked him for, which I am especially proud of now. More about this, i.a. also to the explanation of this ribbon as a hanger for the book, then in my thread about the "Shuttleman" Scott Phillips, who can also be found on Facebook. So much for now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
K2Pete Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 I'm so-o-o glad you posted a brief history of the SOFI ... I'm also most envious of someone who has worked on the Space Shuttle. I may just have to buy his book. And I'm not on Facebook so once again Manfred, thanx for posting this story here! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 Thanks Pete, I'm glad that you enjoy this short introduction into the Shuttleman story. For me yesterday was already Christmas! And I like to repeat myself, it's an absolute "must read" for any space freak. Imagine, Scott has also built a shuttle stack of SOFI foam, which was used during spraying process of ET-138 for STS-135. Source: Scott G. Phillips The ET spraying process is similar to the Airbrush. Before spraying the respective model, one should first spray next to it and then pull the spray gun onto the model. And those foam remnants from testing the Spray guns Scott had cleverly put aside. Source: Scott G. Phillips Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crowe-t Posted October 7, 2018 Share Posted October 7, 2018 Manfred, Thanks for posting all of this! Mike. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 Thanks Mike, and here is the Master Carver at work, Source: Scott G. Phillips and here in front of Pad 39A, proudly awaiting Atlantis' last lauch for STS-135. Source: Scott G. Phillips Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spaceman Posted October 7, 2018 Author Share Posted October 7, 2018 Hi guys, and because it's just now about the SOFI foam, here's a little taster from Scott Phillips' book Remove Before Flight, what happened behind the scenes ... One task after finishing the SOFI spray process included overseeing the disposition of leftover SOFI components - known as Part A and Part B - that formulated the insulation foam. Surplus liquid foam components had to be poured back into their original containers to avoid causing a chemical reaction. One day, our team member, called Buzz, came back after a "liquid lunch" to clean the machine that mixed the foam. Inadvertently, he poured 10 gallons of Part A into a 55-gallon drum of Part B, tightened the bung cap, and walked away. Within minutes, the bung popped and the 55-gallon drum exploded, immediately filling the room with foam. Everything in the room was destroyed. We never saw Buzz again after that incident ... I love these stories, which reminds me of the stories of my friend James MacLaren from the NSF Forum, like A Techno-Redneck's Encounter With NASA's Satellite ... Enjoy! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
crackerjazz Posted October 14, 2018 Share Posted October 14, 2018 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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