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[Pat Matthews]

I know that metallic stud link anchor chain is available in several model sizes, down to about 6 links per inch (LPI). But even this is too large for many applications... even a huge 1:96 battleship, such as an American Iowa class, requires something smaller.


So I have used 3D Printing to create chains as fine as 11 LPI. The attached images show ~8 LPI and 11 LPI samples.


Whaddya think?

[Arrow5]

Amazing, truly amazing.  Does the plastic medium come in colour, say grey or rust ?

[Rottweiler]

thats really good! are you going to market it?
Mick F

[Pat Matthews]

Yep. How many metres would you like?

[Rottweiler]

Just sent you a PM,
Mick F

[Pat Matthews]

Comments on chain:

The 3D printed plastic is a natural translucent/white color.
It is a urethane-acrylate, printed with a Multijet type process. Once cleaned, it takes paint quite well.
The multijet process lays down a soft support wax around the part during build. This is gently melted off, then the supplier uses an ultrasonic bath in VEGETABLE OIL to get the last of the wax off. But the oil is left on. So the user needs to gently brush the chain in luke-warm soapy water to get the chain ready for paint.
This plastic chain is NOT recommended for functioning installations, sorry! On-deck display only.


Chain is sized by “wire diameter” (D), even if actual wire is not used in forged or cast links.
Link length is 6x D. Pitch is 4x D.
USS Iowa uses 3.25 inch chain (D).
A modern USN DDG/CG uses about 2.2 inch (D).
WW2 DDs (e.g., Fletcher) uses 1.375 inch (D).

Your ship will vary! Choose wisely.

So far, I have produced chain at:
0.6mm D (about 11 links per inch, the smallest possible in this process);
0.75mm D (about 9.5 LPI);
0.9mm D (about 7.5 LPI);

Other sizes are possible.
I can produce lengths about 2 meters long (varies by link size).
Shipping is from the USA; a box is required to protect the chain, postage can be significant (www.usps.com)

Pricing is in development… the 0.75mm chain is US$4 per foot. Paypal works well!

[Pat Matthews]

Thanks for the interest!
I've decided not to market the chain myself, but instead it is offered through The Floating Drydock, a well known supplier of warship fittings and plans in the States:
http://www.floatingdrydock.com/more.htm#CHAIN


I've also blogged a bit about the stuff:
http://matthewsmodelmarine.wordpress.com/2013/09/01/pats-3d-printed-stud-link-anchor-chain/


and am proud that no less than John R. Haynes hisself has found satisfaction with the chain:
http://www.wmunderway.8m.com/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1366840224/26#26


See John's build and the chain at:
http://www.steelnavy.net/SanFrancisco128JohnHaynes.html







Pictured are all three available chain sizes, against inch and mm rules.

[Pat Matthews]

I can't edit my post above, so one update is needed:

Painting:
This acrylic plastic seems to be active enough that it interferes with the curing of oil based hobby enamels (including primers). But water based hobby acrylics work wonderfully, as does Vallejo's water based polyurethane primer. You'll do fine without priming for this chain.