Subject:
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Re: The Future of Trains
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.lego
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Date:
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Sun, 7 Oct 2007 15:19:26 GMT
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Viewed:
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22636 times
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Again I may be missing something, and perhaps the future of LEGO’s solution, as
yet unknown looms as a possible roadblock--but why for example could not the
various train clubs come up with a standard piece--get together--gurantee a
certain number of sales for the ties, and get them produced. If the track
specification was an existing one that the rest of the hobby supported, you are
pretty much guranteed that you will be safe for the forseeable future.
One could prototype the suggested part pretty easily. Heck even my little
engraving machine would be capable of stripping the studs and cleaning up the
bottom, if that is what I understand that needs to be done at a reasonable
price. Removing stuff from existing part is pretty darn easy. I strip studs all
the time from plates to make “smooth tiles” so I can veneer over them. Now
inserting those clips would be a different matter and would require a lot of
labor--unless of course there is a simple machine that could be modified to do
it automatically.
Of course an injection molded part would be the best solution--maybe--if the
numbers are there. But if one could use existing LEGO parts and simply machine
off some excess--that could be easily done, and would not necessitate the mold
process and the high dollar injection machine (or renting of one). And
understand, I am not trying to get into that business, as I have about all I can
do at the present, and have some pretty big plans that I am working on with my
brickengraving stuff, but I do know model railroaders who are machinists that
create all kinds of things for their hobby. And that is out of brass.
One solution would be to simply create the requisite file and send it to
http://www.emachineshop.com/ push the button and get a quote for injection
molding or 3d machining. That would at least give on a starting reference point
for figuring how much they would cost.Although Ben could probably do that also.
I will not ever believe that there is not a solution for something as simple as
this appears to be. Especially since metal track is already being produced. And
if anyone wants my help in say perhaps stripping some studs off some plates or
grooving some part--let me know and will try and help out. Creating a single
little plastic part cannot be that difficult--it might be at a price
point--maybe.
Tommy ARmstrong
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) Hi Ben, I do not see so much need for a full system: the biggest need is for straight track and possibly new curve radius. The aftermarket will offer used 9V switches for the next 20 years. Some people will switch to the new battery trains. (...) (17 years ago, 7-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego, FTX)
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