15mm Stalingrad Factory

[ironmammoth]

A friend of mine asked if I could run up a couple of buildings for a Flames of War Stalingrad demo.

A factory was the first requested building...





See more photos on my blog:-

http://ironmammoth.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/laser-cut-stalingrad-factory.html

[Paddy649]

Awesome!

[john Hollyoak]

That really is very nice indeed. Will it be available for purchase. If so, how much?

John

[ironmammoth]

That really is very nice indeed. Will it be available for purchase. If so, how much?

John

Unfortunately all the brickwork took an age to engrave so it would be uneconomical to sell it as is.

I could possibly do it without the engraving?

[Paddy649]

Forgive my ignorance ironmammoth - but isn't the expense in the CAD.  Once that is done isn't it just a case of build to print.  i.e. set it up, press print and then leave for the night and pick up a fully printed Stalinggrad factory then next morning?

[Oliver]

Not really anyone with a bit of now how can design something in CAD, it's the running of the laser cutter/engraver that puts up the cost. Don't forget it uses a laser which uses a lot of power in the process and to do 15mm individual bricks takes a fair amount of time on a larger structure.

[ironmammoth]

Forgive my ignorance ironmammoth - but isn't the expense in the CAD.  Once that is done isn't it just a case of build to print.  i.e. set it up, press print and then leave for the night and pick up a fully printed Stalinggrad factory then next morning?

I do the CAD myself. As Oliver said, there are cost to running the laser cutter. The actual laser cartridge in the laser cutter has a finite life and when that needs to be refilled/replaced it costs £1000, that has to be factored into the cost. Also the filters in the extractor have to be replaced a couple of times a year and they cost around £400 a set. Then there is the support honeycomb, which deteriorates with use and needs to be replaced at least annually. There is also the service contract on the machine which is £300 a year.
There is also the initial outlay for the machine, which need to be factored into the cost - £18000.
Admitted the 2mm MDF is very cheap! However MDF is a dirty material to lasercut and it accelerates the wear and tear on the machine...