We use EnRoute in all kinds of ways to help us in our work. In doing so we create accurate scale renderings for presentations and at the same time create the vectors we need for our plasma cutting and CNC routing. This saves a whole to of time at the design stage of our projects. Currently we have a project going through the design stage that is a good example
Even though our shop has limited metal working tools there is little we can’t accomplish with a little head scratching and ingenuity. I had great fun figuring out how to design, cut and fit the many pieces together to craft the little passenger rail car. In this case I didn’t even need a sketch but instead designed as I went, imagining how it would all fit together. Once the vector drawings were done I sent the files to the MultiCam for cutting. The lower sections were cut from 1/4″ steel plate and the top seat riser was done from 1/10″ thick steel plate
With the little rail truck now substantially complete and running it is time to turn my attention to other pieces of the railroad. The truck has room for a driver and one small passenger but when we have company that is not nearly enough capacity. The truck needed to pull a vehicle that could carry more passengers. We had previously built an ore car which seated four passengers but this was long before we had our MultiCam CNC plasma cutter.
With the little rail truck now substantially complete and running it is time to turn my attention to other pieces of the railroad. The truck has room for a driver and one small passenger but when we have company that is not nearly enough capacity. The truck needed to pull a vehicle that could carry more passengers. We had previously built an ore car which seated four passengers but this was long before we had our MultiCam CNC plasma cutter
Today, it was time at last to pull Dayna’s tree from the shop and get a first look at it in natural light. We’ve taken great care in selecting the lights in the shop to properly paint but even so things always look different in the light of day. I was pleased with the result as everything reads as we planned. We know once it is set in it’s final home with landscaping tucked around it the tree will look even better
Back in the middle of April I hinted at a project our family was going to undertake – a little inn. Peter and Hailey (son and daughter in law) purchased the property next door to us and now are going through the zoning process to make the project possible. This means we have been busy doing up the concept plans.
Now that the little trail truck is running and the bulk of the big fabricating is behind us it is time to begin all of the fun small stuff. I’m currently working on the levers which will control the functions of the vehicle. The Johnson bar which is bolted to the running board controls the forward and reverse of the variable speed hydrostatic transmission. To operate it you pull the safety back and then move the lever forward and reverse.
This morning I cut the a last few pieces of steel on our MultiCam Plasma cutter, then welded them into place. Then I hooked up the throttle cable and took a link out of the chain. I welded up the bell mount as well.
Work continues on our trade show booth for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions EXPO in Orlando, Florida. As I posted previously we decided to rebuild our booth which we created last year. We first stripped down last year’s effort and cut off all of the structure we no longer needed. Since this year’s space is to be twenty feet wide instead of only ten we added two five foot wings to the sides of the booth.