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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2019 10:22:24 GMT -5
Yes, propane tanks are used in rural areas in France. And about the overpressure valve : it is too small in Z scale, the diameter would be 0.22 mm and the thickness 0.11 mm, a simple dot of paint. And for the "town" tanks, I will simply change the "scale" : 8 % more in height and width and 25 % more in length ... even if the shape of the "spheric" parts and the size of cover varies a little bit.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 13:46:59 GMT -5
To Mark : horror, the fuel tanks are made of WOOD, LASER CUT ! I imagine the assembling, with this size ... Why aren't they made of resin ? Maybe I will try to design them in 3D, too ...
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Post by markm on Oct 18, 2019 14:28:52 GMT -5
I suppose that's because they come from companies with "laser" in their names, and why I didn't mention them. I haven't built one, but if one were to try I'd suggest building a larger, simpler structure first (like a garage). I also didn't mention them because they're rather small, perhaps the size used for a garage workshop or a construction office. Generally oil tanks for homes and business were in excess of 500 gallons (2000 l ?) and buried with just exposed filler and vent pipes. Large buildings might have something like this: Mark
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2019 15:15:02 GMT -5
I hoped that "lasering" was not the only thing they made ... I was wrong ! So much for that : Maybe that all my houses will use propane ... or I will try to design such a tank in 3D.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2019 8:40:44 GMT -5
Now I tried to design such a tank, finally the volume is about 530 gallons, this could approximately fit. I ordered a test print at Sculpteo, together with my propane tanks, hope some details won't break, but I am sure that the "sprue" will : Superglue is good for You ... or I will separate them, but this needs a "dummy" sprue or plate, which could have a support for the outlet pipe : there is a minimum for the sum of dimensions at Sculpteo, 30 mm.
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Post by markm on Oct 19, 2019 11:20:31 GMT -5
These are some good looking tanks. While I doubt there is a large market for such tanks, it would be nice if someone could work with you to make a dozen or so of these tanks available in the U.S. market.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2019 13:36:21 GMT -5
I am afraid that the keywords would be "patent infringement" ...
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Post by markm on Oct 19, 2019 14:45:17 GMT -5
I can't speak for EU patent laws, but my professional dealings with patents here would say no infringement:
For the propane tank you've designed:
1. The tank you modelled from a prototype that was built in 1958. Any patent has expired. 2. Your tank is only an inexact model representation of the prototype and in particular it doesn't and can't hold gas. 3. There is sufficient "prior art" that a Z scale tank would not be patentable. At most it could only be copyrighted.
I would estimate the same is true for the oil tank.
I'm not suggesting that you go into the z scale fuel tank business, it wouldn't make economic sense. But someone who is in the Z scale retail business could work with you to print additional units for sale here.
Mark
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2019 15:06:52 GMT -5
Presently I modified the design, so I can make a double fuel tank (the price is the same at Sculpteo as for a single tank) and with a support for the outlet pipe (the critical problem), removable just before installing, the pipe is long enough to allow installation up to 1.5mm (about 1' in 1/1) from the house's wall ; and I added concrete foundations under the supports ... Let's first look at the results of test printings, and then only we can see further. Wait and see ... Maybe I get only a package full with "scrap" made of polyamide !
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2019 10:32:06 GMT -5
The last news : first I had issues to convert my models to STL, so I transferred them as SKP to Sculpteo ... which doesn't allow printing in fine detail plastic ! And with polyamide I got a warning, because some details are too small (sorry, it's scale ... ) and I had to choose the equivalent of "print it anyway" ; finally I succeeded in converting, and transferred my designs to Shapeways, the cost is 8.27€ for each pair in FUD ; I will first make a test and, if positive, make the designs available through Shapeways, at "0 cost" for the designer (myself).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2019 18:48:10 GMT -5
Finally I had issues with the outlet pipe : too thin for the length ... So the final project would look like this : It's always possible to simulate the pipe with a section of metallic wire, and this will be stronger. Unfortunately I am limited in memory size, so I can only put 2 tanks together for about 8.30 €, it's more than the laser-cut version but there is no assembly needed. Now I'll make a test print again ...
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Post by markm on Oct 28, 2019 19:00:19 GMT -5
It's probably best to eliminate the pipe. Every installation would be a little bit different. Maybe leave a slight reference indentation where the pipe would exit the tank.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2019 19:58:22 GMT -5
The indentation can be easily drilled by hand, in accordance with the wire's diameter ... Concerning the propane tanks I hope I can put 4 into a set, white polyamide polished for 6.6 €. The only things to do are removing the sprues and painting the hood green ...
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Post by markm on Oct 28, 2019 20:53:09 GMT -5
Actually the color on the hood of a propane tank depends on the owner of the tank. Most are rented from the gas supplier. For your era and region, the only supplier I know for certain is Suburban propane, which painted (and still paints) them red.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2019 9:01:24 GMT -5
The tanks came today. When they are painted I will show pictures and indicate the link to order them at Shapeways ...
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