I'd like something 3D printed, BUT.......

[seadude]

Hopefully in the near future, I'd like to start building another 1/350 scale TAMIYA USS New Jersey battleship into a what if 21st Century battleship. Part of my plan involves removing the three 16" gun turrets and replacing them with newer electromagnetic railgun turrets.
I don't plan to scratchbuild the new turrets because my eyesight isn't that good and it might be difficult to get all 3 turrets exactly the same as far as dimensions and so forth. I've tried looking on Shapeways for any type of railgun or other gun turret to buy and use as a replacement. But every design I see, I do not like and it won't work. I came upon by chance the following:
http://fongsaunder.deviantart.com/art/Mk-XI-Small-Caliber-Railgun-144089231

Only problem is that the design is copyrighted by the artist. I tried contacting him long ago to ask if I could use his design, but never heard back.   So.........I'm at a loss as to what to do now? I really like the design and want to use it.

[steelpillow]

It is available for free download, which means that you are welcome to use it for yourself and to modify the file as you wish.

If you wanted to print off more and sell them, or upload a modified file, you would have to check the license under which Deviant Art publishes its content.

Hope this helps.

[seadude]

Yeah, I just noticed the "Download" option in the upper right hand corner.  But after downloading the file, I noticed it had a .skp extension which meant that in order to open, view, modify, etc. the file, I also had to download the Sketchup 3D software program as well.      And if I send the file to anybody to 3D print the turrets for me, they'll also need the Sketchup program to open/view the file as well.

[jcf]

That model is cool, however the text makes it clear that it's some sort of 'space cruiser' cannon,
the real USN/BAE Systems prototype looks like this:


This is General Atomics:


Much simpler than the 'sci-fi' space war concepts.

[PR19_Kit]

Things have moved on since the 80s-90s somewhat.

I used to have a customer, RARDE, at Fort Halstead in Kent and they were working on what they called 'The Electric Gun' in the late 80s. It looked very like a huge single barrelled version of the 3D model that Seadude linked, but totally surrounded with coils of heavy duty wire.

Apparently it dimmed the lights in nearby Sevenoaks every time they tested it. 

[steelpillow]

if I send the file to anybody to 3D print the turrets for me, they'll also need the Sketchup program to open/view the file as well.

According to the documentation, Sketchup can export the file in .dxf and .dwg formats. You just need to check with the print house which file formats they can accept. If there is still a problem, there is a Sketchup forum where more knowledgeable users than I will be able to advise: https://forums.sketchup.com/

[Hobbes]

I'd expect a print shop to want an .stl file, which you can't export from the free version of SketchUp (although you may be able to install a free export filter, haven't looked into that).

[Hobbes]

There is a free STL export filter for Sketchup:
https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/sketchup-stl

When you have an STL, you need to check it for printability using e.g. Netfabb Studio (the free Basic version works well enough). I can help with this/do the check for you if you want.

Shapeways wants files to be supplied in one of these file formats:
DAE, OBJ, STL, X3D, X3DB, X3DV, WRL

[seadude]

Shapeways wants files to be supplied in one of these file formats:
DAE, OBJ, STL, X3D, X3DB, X3DV, WRL

I don't want the turrets to be printed/sold/etc. on Shapeways.

If you wanted to print off more and sell them, or upload a modified file, you would have to check the license under which Deviant Art publishes its content.

I'm trying to find somebody near me that has a 3D printer at home and can make them from home.