Modular Base for a Toy Train

I am a Benicia High Student and this is a tutorial on how you can make your own toy train using Fusion 360, a 3D printer, some very inexpensive supplies! I designed and created a modular base that fits on very common wooden tracks used for things such as "Thomas the Train" toys. You can design and 3D print your own train to fit on top of this base so let your creativity decide what your toy will look like! I used the mobile game "Subway Surfers" as inspiration for the base and the train I designed to go on it.

Notes:

- Things such as the magnet hitch, the axles, the nuts and bolts, and the other various hardware used was not modeled in Fusion and will not appear in renders.

- These train hitches are at the same height as other popular toy trains so they will fit together, although they are larger than most production toys. This is to allow for more creative freedom in designing your own train.

- All of the supplies such as the bolts, nuts and spacers can be found at a local hardware store, bringing the 3D printing parts and asking a worker for help finding the right ones is recommended.

- For your train design you need to include a hole for the nut and the end of the bolt to sit into. It will vary for whatever hardware you use.

The Supplies you will need include:

- A computer with Fusion 360 installed and Access to a 3D Printed

- 2 Thumb tacks

- 2 Small magnets*

- 2 Bolts and Locknuts**

- 1 Thin Metal Rod**

- 2 Small Spacers for the bolts (Optional)

* These may not be able to be found at a local hardware store so her is a link to some that will work: https://www.amazon.com/Countersunk-Multi-use-Refri...

** The bolts should be at least 3 cm long and less than 4 mm thick. The nuts do not matter as long as they are locknuts. The rod needs to be around 2 mm thick and will act as the axle.

The 3MF files for the base parts are shown below, you can 3D print in your choice of color but I am using white and clear. You should also 3D print you own toy train design but I will also include my take on a Subway Surfers train:

Grab your trucks, base, nuts, bolts, and spacers and insert the bolt though the hole in the trucks to where the head of the bolt in recessed in the hole. Then put the spacer on the other side where it attaches to the base and put the bolt through the hole in the base. Tighten the locknut until snug then back it off a quarter turn or until it moves freely without being loose. Repeat this step for both trucks.

Take the thumbtack and insert it through the hole in the magnet, this will work as the hitch. Use a small rubber hammer to tap the thumbtack into the hole in the trucks until the magnet is flush. Repeat this step for both sides.

Attach the wheel to one side of the metal rod and insert the other end into the axle hole in the trucks. Mark where to cut leaving 3mm on this end to attach the other wheel. Cut the rod and thread the finished axle into the trucks, attaching the other wheel on the opposite side. Repeat this step for all 4 axles.

You now have a finished base that you can design and 3D print whatever toy train you would like to put on top. Superglue may be required to keep your train on snuggly along with any previous step that may need it. You can now enjoy the toy train that you have created and also can continue to design/ print trains to interchange on the base. Thanks for using my design!