Roller Coaster Track and Structure Model

This is a model of a roller coaster's track and support structure. A train could be designed to run along it separately, but these are instructions for the track and support structure only. The track is designed in CAD and 3D printed while the supports are made of popsicle/match sticks and hot glue.

Materials

1. 3D Printing Filament
2. Craft Match Sticks
3. Popsicle Sticks
4. Hot Glue
5. Super Glue
6. Baking Soda
7. PTFE Tubing

Tools

1. Computer with 3D Modeling Software
2. 3D Printer
3. Scissors/Model Clippers
4. Hot Glue Gun
5. Tubing Slicer (Link to 3dcoasters.net where you can find the file)
6. Razor Blades

To make the roller coaster as accurate as possible, start by designing the "heartline" of the track. This is what the track will rotate around as it tilts and/or rolls upside down. In your 3D modeling software, design a line that the part of your roller coaster will follow. The curves do not have to be connected, but they do have to intersect to create one smooth path.

Next, design a piece that will connect the track spine to the track rails. Make copies of this piece and orient them along the heartline in the path that the coaster will travel. This includes angling the connectors around the curves, tilting them relative to the hills, and flipping them upside down.

With all of the connectors in the correct positions, design pieces of the spine around them. One way to do this is to create a series of surfaces along each connector and join them together.

Separate each piece of spine into its own file and print all of them using a 3D printer. Print as many connectors as you need as well.

Clean off your 3D printed pieces with the model clippers. Take your spine pieces which should have small notches and slots where the connectors should go and slide the connectors in.

Using craft match sticks, popsicle sticks, and hot glue, build a structure around the pieces of tract to line them up together. Use super glue to connect the end of the individual pieces of track together. Use baking soda as necessary to speed up the process of the super glue hardening. Do this until you have the entire track looped back together.

Print the rail slicer file and insert razor blades. You may need to push the blades with a lot of force to get them all of the way through. Once the entire rail slicer is assembled, pull the PTFE tubing through the hole to slice a section out of it.

Snap the tubing into place along the slice in the tubing. Follow along the track with the tubing being careful not to break the connectors if they are small. Place as many tubes along the track as you need until you loop back to the beginning.

You should now have a complete model of a roller coaster's track and structure!