DonCarlos

New Member
This is the ongoing project to recreate various TNG-era tools and devices for easy 3D printing.

While rewatching the remastered TNG, I fell in love with some of the lesser-known devices from the early seasons.
One of my favorites are the modular engineering tools clearly seen in the Season 2 episode Penpals—one of them was even repurposed as a medical device by Dr. Pulaski in Unnatural Selection.
Geordi used to carry these devices in his engineering case.
The “fork” tool is sometimes referred to as an isolinear actuator and was repainted for later seasons.
penpals_hd_061.jpg
unnaturalselection_hd_177.jpg

Screencaps by TrekCore.

I decided to create my own versions of these tools, designed for user-friendly 3D printing. The original devices were modular—you could attach various instruments to a single handle, depending on the task.

I based my design on Rick Sternbach's original sketch:
Star-Trek-The-Next-Generation-Isolinear-Actuator-3 6x1x075inch.jpg

But I found that the handle is a bit too short compared to the screen-used props. So I extended it slightly to better match the proportions seen in the episodes.

I plan to continue this as a small series of TNG-era tools.

Here’s the first model: the variant used by Dr. Pulaski. (Note the engineering version lacks the gap in the dark grey sections.)

modul1 v2.png

It's currently printing—can't wait to share the finished version!

EDIT:
Fresh off the printer – this is the raw prototype. You can leave it as-is, but I plan to sand it down and paint it in screen-accurate colors.
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STL files on Printables.com
 
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Isolinear actuator
This is the second modular device seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation, primarily used to analyze or repair isolinear chips, although Dr. Crusher also uses this device in Season 3 episode "The Bonding". Various versions of this tool appeared throughout the series, with slight design differences.
One known screen-used prop (featured on YourProps) has a different paint scheme from a later production. However, I haven't yet tracked down the exact episode where this customized version appeared.

Here is my interpretation and finished 3D print:
modul2 (isolinear actuator) v4.png
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Fresh off the printer! Right after printing, I noticed a few proportion issues, so I’ll be tweaking the model before uploading the STL files.
 

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After some extra digging, I spotted the first device (the “stick” version) in Season 1, episode "We’ll Always Have Paris".
wellalwayshaveparis_hd_272.jpg
wellalwayshaveparis_hd_316.jpg


Also found a third modular type (same handle) in Season 1 "Lonely Among Us" in Dr. Crusher’s medical case, right next to the isolinear actuator.
lonelyamongus_hd_065 (1).jpg


Screencaps by TrekCore.
 
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