jmattingly13
Well-Known Member
I've been flying with printed ABS conformal rail guides for a few years now and haven't noticed the slightest indication of any damage. I haven't done above Mach, but I have gotten close.
3D Printing 3D Printed Rail Buttons and Guides
- Thread starter Jack Hydrazine
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I have designed a 1515 conformal standard rail button and posted it to Thingiverse.com that you can download for free and print on your 3D printer. They fit airframe tubes from 38mm to 195mm with two kinds - recessed and non-recessed.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3196366
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3196366
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I have designed a 1515 conformal standard rail button and posted it to Thingiverse.com that you can download for free and print on your 3D printer. They fit airframe tubes from 38mm to 195mm with two kinds - recessed and non-recessed.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3196366
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3196366
Thank you Jack for sharing! I ordered some 38mm 1010 rounded, recessed, conformal buttons and wonder if anyone knows what size screw I should use to mount. What do you all call the flanged/t-nuts that go on the inside? Thanks and blue skies! Craig
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This week I have another 1515 rail button that is both conformal and rounded that you can download from Thingiverse for free and 3d print. It will fit airframe tubes from 38mm to 195mm and has two versions - recessed and non-recessed.
If you print them and fly them on your rockets let me know how they worked. You can also follow me on Thingiverse if you have your own account with them. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3209484
Enjoy!
If you print them and fly them on your rockets let me know how they worked. You can also follow me on Thingiverse if you have your own account with them. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3209484
Enjoy!
- Joined
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This week I have another 1515 rail button that is both conformal and rounded that you can download from Thingiverse for free and 3d print. It will fit airframe tubes from 38mm to 195mm and has two versions - recessed and non-recessed.
If you print them and fly them on your rockets let me know how they worked. You can also follow me on Thingiverse if you have your own account with them. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3209484
Enjoy!
If you print them and fly them on your rockets let me know how they worked. You can also follow me on Thingiverse if you have your own account with them. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3209484
Enjoy!
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The screws you can use are M3 (3mm metric) or a non-metric size close to that (0.118"). You can use t-nuts to secure the bolt. I really need to develop a backing plate that you can mount a nut into that will secure it that will conform to the inside of the airframe tube and have a very low profile so it doesn't interfere with anything inside of it.
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I have designed my first 1010 rail guide and this one is conformal for 38mm airframe tubing. There are four versions that you can download for free from Thingiverse.com and 3d print. For right now these are meant to be glued to the airframe. Future versions will be able to be fastened down with machine screws. Any and all feedback on this design is greatly appreciated.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3212759
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3212759
- Joined
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- Messages
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- Reaction score
- 132
I have designed my first 1010 rail guide and this one is conformal for 38mm airframe tubing. There are four versions that you can download for free from Thingiverse.com and 3d print. For right now these are meant to be glued to the airframe. Future versions will be able to be fastened down with machine screws. Any and all feedback on this design is greatly appreciated.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3212759
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3212759
Nytrunner
Pop lugs, not drugs
That's a great plan for a backing plate unit (like a wider plastic weld nut). They can probably flex enough to account for the variability of inner diameters between tube brands/materials
I had some buttons of Jack's design printed and they are perfectly shaped, well designed. I had them printed online and the plastic is really bumpy and uneven - this is the first time I've had anything 3D printed and so I'm not sure how much is normal to see. It seems to sand okay, so with some work I can likely get them smooth. Just wondering if you all have any tips about this. The topic may need it's own post so disregard if it is seen as hijacking this thread.
I have designed my first 1010 rail guide and this one is conformal for 38mm airframe tubing. There are four versions that you can download for free from Thingiverse.com and 3d print. For right now these are meant to be glued to the airframe. Future versions will be able to be fastened down with machine screws. Any and all feedback on this design is greatly appreciated.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3212759
Is there any way that you could convert this 1010 rail guide to 3in and 4in tubes? I would print those in a heartbeat.
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I will be designing conformal rail guides from 38mm airframe tubing all the way to 7.5 inch. Stay posted.
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It sounds like the bumps are an artifact of printing. I don't know what printing process was used like FDM, SLA, DLP, et al or what kind of plastic was used.
Looks like bad FDM printing.
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Looking at those pics my printer could have printed them better! But they also could have removed the supports in a better fashion.
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I've taken the above rail guides (1010 conformal rail guides for 38mm airframe tubing) and created a version in which you can use machine screws (recessed or non-recessed) to attach them to your rockets instead of using adhesive. Download them for free, print them, and try them on your rockets. Enjoy!
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3225666
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3225666
- Joined
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I've taken the above rail guides (1010 conformal rail guides for 38mm airframe tubing) and created a version in which you can use machine screws (recessed or non-recessed) to attach them to your rockets instead of using adhesive. Download them for free, print them, and try them on your rockets. Enjoy!
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3225666
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3225666
zipstrip
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Thanks for posting these. I printed both the conformal rail adhesive and fastener medium "B" versions in PLA + with the Y axis at 180 (i.e. upside down). They were printed at .2 resolution, no supports, 100% in-fill. They turned out great and seem very sturdy. I have plans to attach to a cardboard MC Screech.
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Let me know how they work out for you at the launch.
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1515 Conformal Rail Guide 98mm (Adhesive Version)
By request I have designed this ACME-style conformal rail guide for mid-power rockets and high power rockets. It is conformal to 98mm airframe rocketry tubing and will fit the 1515 size of 8020 aluminum extrusion rail.
There are two basic versions (rounded and chamfered) with three different lengths that are designed to be glued on.
Short length is 38mm (1.5 inches) long.
Medium length is 50mm (2 inches) long.
Long length is 75mm (3 inches) long.
Recommended infill: 100%
Recommend filament:
E-F motors: PLA
G-H motors: PETG
I-J motors: ABS
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3251815
By request I have designed this ACME-style conformal rail guide for mid-power rockets and high power rockets. It is conformal to 98mm airframe rocketry tubing and will fit the 1515 size of 8020 aluminum extrusion rail.
There are two basic versions (rounded and chamfered) with three different lengths that are designed to be glued on.
Short length is 38mm (1.5 inches) long.
Medium length is 50mm (2 inches) long.
Long length is 75mm (3 inches) long.
Recommended infill: 100%
Recommend filament:
E-F motors: PLA
G-H motors: PETG
I-J motors: ABS
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3251815
- Joined
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1515 Conformal Rail Guide 98mm (Adhesive Version)
By request I have designed this ACME-style conformal rail guide for mid-power rockets and high power rockets. It is conformal to 98mm airframe rocketry tubing and will fit the 1515 size of 8020 aluminum extrusion rail.
There are two basic versions (rounded and chamfered) with three different lengths that are designed to be glued on.
Short length is 38mm (1.5 inches) long.
Medium length is 50mm (2 inches) long.
Long length is 75mm (3 inches) long.
Recommended infill: 100%
Recommend filament:
E-F motors: PLA
G-H motors: PETG
I-J motors: ABS
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3251815
By request I have designed this ACME-style conformal rail guide for mid-power rockets and high power rockets. It is conformal to 98mm airframe rocketry tubing and will fit the 1515 size of 8020 aluminum extrusion rail.
There are two basic versions (rounded and chamfered) with three different lengths that are designed to be glued on.
Short length is 38mm (1.5 inches) long.
Medium length is 50mm (2 inches) long.
Long length is 75mm (3 inches) long.
Recommended infill: 100%
Recommend filament:
E-F motors: PLA
G-H motors: PETG
I-J motors: ABS
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3251815
Bindairdundat
Member
seek and ye shall find... answered my own question 
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I've designed a new conformal standoff for 1010 standard rail buttons that will fit 38mm airframe tubing. The heights of the standoffs are 3/16" (4.76mm), 1/4" (6.35mm), 3/8" (9.53mm), and 1/2" (12.7mm). These standoffs are posted at Thingiverse for you to download and use for free. Enjoy!
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3464928
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3464928
- Joined
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- 333
- Reaction score
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I've designed a new conformal standoff for 1010 standard rail buttons that will fit 38mm airframe tubing. The heights of the standoffs are 3/16" (4.76mm), 1/4" (6.35mm), 3/8" (9.53mm), and 1/2" (12.7mm). These standoffs are posted at Thingiverse for you to download and use for free. Enjoy!
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3464928
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3464928
This is terrific work, thanks. I have just a few comments/suggestions.
1) For all the buttons with flat and countersunk top surface options, could you add a counterbored option?
2) If and when you get to thequick's suggested form, doing that in conformal versions would give the ultimate in slick. Also, I don't see why this would add drag; can you explain?
3) On the rounded conformal rail guides, where the quarter rounds (at the tube face) meet at the corners they meet sharply; how hard would it be to round those over in the second dimension? Perhaps the same comment for the other surface, but I can't really tell in the pictures.
1) For all the buttons with flat and countersunk top surface options, could you add a counterbored option?
2) If and when you get to thequick's suggested form, doing that in conformal versions would give the ultimate in slick. Also, I don't see why this would add drag; can you explain?
3) On the rounded conformal rail guides, where the quarter rounds (at the tube face) meet at the corners they meet sharply; how hard would it be to round those over in the second dimension? Perhaps the same comment for the other surface, but I can't really tell in the pictures.
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Continuing my series of standard rail button standoffs above, here are the next set that are conformal to 54mm airframe tubes that are posted to Thingiverse for you to download for free and print. They will standoff rail buttons to the following heights - 4.76mm (0.1875 in.), 6.35mm (0.250 in.), 9.53mm (0.375 in.), 12.7mm (0.500 in.).
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3467526
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3467526
- Joined
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Continuing my series of standard rail button standoffs above, here are the next set that are conformal to 54mm airframe tubes that are posted to Thingiverse for you to download for free and print. They will standoff rail buttons to the following heights - 4.76mm (0.1875 in.), 6.35mm (0.250 in.), 9.53mm (0.375 in.), 12.7mm (0.500 in.).
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3467526
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3467526
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1) I'll put that on my list for counterbored.
2) What is thequick's suggested form? I couldn't find it on this thread.
3) D'oh! I totally missed that detail. I'll have to go back and update those rounded conformal rail guides. I didn't realize I did that. My goal for those was for all of those points to be rounded.
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