Has anyone attempted to 3D print Cage Mast?

Ive made my fair share of cage masts over the years and it's not fun. Has anyone tried printing a cage mast? Not with every single element the original ships had but maybe with a reduced number of elements? Maybe the platforms every so often could help it hold its shape?

 

that looks like other than the connecting spars a simple thing to print. would have to count the number of threads but just make a gear and follow a pattern. fairly quick and easy. printing the super fine spars would be very very difficult. at least on an fdm machine.

 

McSpuds has a pretty easy way to make cage masts using wire. I think he show it on his Evstafi build thread

 

I think it could be done, it would be no harder than a smokestack screen that I printed. The cables should be at least 1mm in diameter. I also wouldn't expect it to be very strong.

 

These are 3d printed.

http://freetimehobbies.com/1-700-bl...-set-for-colorado-tennessee-class-battleship/

 

For the time and plastic used and the fragile result, I think printing them is a waste of time and money.
Much better off putting you're time into building one out of plywood and string.

 

not fdm printed either resin or laser from the texture.

as others have said plywood and string or print the bottom and top disks to avoid having to notch the plywood by hand and string it that way. rather simple and fast way or making a cage mast.

 

I made some a few different ways. With string with the elastic string that strikes use is about as durable as you can get one. I've soddered brass tubing to make a simpler one with less elements which worked okay, but was heavy.

 

The USN made most of their builders models with solid masts in the shape of the cage mast. At any rate having a printable one sounds a lot easier even if it needs replaced more often. I'm working on an American BB primarily for displays but having a sister ship set up for combat.

 

This thread was the wake up call I needed to finish designing the cage masts for our Mississippi's (BB-23.)
It's kind of pushing the edge of what a consumer grade FDM machine can do, at least the ones I own.
I also found that Slic3r was ignoring parts of the mesh and leaving holes in the structure : (
When I get some time, I may write a python script to generate the gcode directly.

Anyway, I have a test print of the top section running as I type.
It's looking pretty good so far. Definitely not Fine Scale Modeler quality but, good enough to shoot at.
Pictures to follow shortly.

PS. I love the smell of cage masts and coffee in the morning : )

 

Looking forward to seeing it.

 

Here's the Top part. A little stringy because I printed it too fast but, from a few feet away, it looks fine.
Working on the bottom part now.

 

Looks pretty good. How long did it take to print and how thick are the 'wires'?

 

That top part took 27 minutes. Slower would be better.
The verticals are 1mm in diameter so, it's not as delicate as it looks. It has survived being handled by my 3 kids, so far.

 

The base came out pretty well. I was not sure if it would break off the verticals in between the rings but, it didn't
It got a little skewed at the top where it was at the extreme edge of this printer's build volume, though.
I'm going to trim that part off, re-print that last bit, and super glue the 3 sections together.
In hindsight, I should have split it a bit lower... the next one will be better : )

 

I added the STL file to the resource section. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

 

Here it is after cutting and gluing the 3 sections together.

 

When I was working on my Kongo super, I was pleasantly surprised that I could print small details like handrails.
That made me want to try this mast again on a printer that can print it all in one shot. It looks much better in grey : )