"Any thoughts on 3d Printers and Hexon Tiles" Topic

With the recent pole TMP link ‘home printing of 3D terrain' is getting a good showing, which got me wondering if it would be usable to make non-standard hill slopes for a Hexon II table. I have been trying to make cliffs and a slope tile with 1 side fitting 0 to 1 level, next 1 to 2 level and next again 0 to 2, with little success (arthritic fingers not helping).

The prices of the cheaper 3d printers seem to be about what I used to spend on figures in a year so don't look horrifically expensive. I have not yet been able to cost out the consumables but maybe not too bad.

I'm not even sure I know the questions to ask so would appreciate any thoughts, Ideas, knowledge and questions to ask.

x42

It's probably worth asking Paul at Kallistra if there is anything like that in the pipeline or is he is aware of anyone who has provided a solution already.

He'll be at Claymore so will be in reach of you for a face to face chat.

Thank you Jim I'll be at Claymore and will ask. I cannot see it being economical to make all the possible bits I can now think of as I cannot see enough of them wanted for even batch production.

x42

Myself I use different 3D Printers. Also a cheaper FFF – Printer. For the boardgame command and colors I do not like the "bricks" for troops and the cardboard hexfields for the table. So I printed out the full equipment for troops, hills, woods and towns. Itīs really nice.

Here a gameplay with my friends, we do during our short trip to France. Good with this boardgame, you can take it to any trip. Over the day visiting historic places and in the evening a little game and BBQ ;-))

I guess itīs not profitable for a company (like me) to print out this things for clients. But maybe if you will find some buddys with same interest, it can be worth to buy such a printer. If problems with creating the 3D files for troops and hexes (for commands and colors), contact me, I can provide the files for free.

Thank you jensutkremp

That looks good I may give it a try a 3d printer might be worth it for that but I think my explanation of what I wish to do may not have come across clearly I'll try to do better below.
The term FFF-Printer was new to me (as is almost everything) and gave me a useful search term thank you.

A fuller explanation of what I hope is do-ably at reasonably cost.

The product I hope to fit with is kallistra.co.uk ‘s Hexon II terrain boards link particularly slope hexes. Hexes are 100mm across flats single tier 12mm double tier 24mm.

At present kallistra make various hexes with combinations of sloping edges but they all are either 1 tier or 2 tier no combination of 1 and 2 tier slopes. I wish to make hexes with a 0 to 1 side a 1to2 side and a 2to0 to make hills with a shallow slope on one side and a steeper one on the other also vertical surfaces to finish off cliffs rather than just a bare hex edge.

I hope that is clearer.

x42

I would try and make tiles to fit in with existing Hexon II tiles.

Start with a flat plain Hexon II tile. Make a plasticard edge to your desired height. Turn the whole assembly 60 degrees. Make another edge to your desired height and butt and glue the edges together. Do another turn and add another edge, repeat until finished. You may need to add some internal supports.

You should have a hex shaped shell with a hollow centre. Fill the centre with polyurethane foam shaped to fit both the hex sides and the top contour. Fill any gaps, paint and flock with an appropriate static grass.

Repeat the whole exercise as many times as required.

Achievable if you need a few, laborious if you want many.

As I said the arthritis is the problem with that I done similar to that in the past but loss of dexterity makes me desire to try the printer if it is viable.

x42

Sorry, my brain raced ahead and skipped the arthritis bit.

Why not make them out of pink board? Buy a cutter with a fence, cut the hexes, then shape them free hand?

This one's only $30 USD….

10 out of 10 on the cool factor!