Can we start a forum about 3D printed car parts for A-bodies?
3D printed car parts
- Thread starter Claydart
- Start date
-
dano
Evil Handy Man
I'd be game. I have printed many parts for my GTS. Just finished a dash insert for my Holley Digital Dash.
4spdragtop
Well-Known Member
@4spdragtop thanks for the props, but I have no idea on how it’s done. For that I’m dumb as a box of rocks!
I would be interested in such a forum. I don’t have a 3D printer but I would be interested in being able to acquire 3D reproduced parts or services.
Last edited:
jeff alder
Well-Known Member
Ditto
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2008
- Messages
- 1,146
- Reaction score
- 841
I just recently made the STL files available as free downloads for dash vents and the '63-'66 10 inch armrest pads: Restoration parts
It's a great thing for the unobtainium parts that bigger companies don't make or won't bother with. Part of the issue (here) is private/free 3d design and printing vs commercial endeavors. You can't list/post commercial items without Mod/Joey approval and that won't happen without paying a yearly fee (me and another member checked months ago and the price makes it untenable for a hobbyist/small business), so I won't post my business info out of respect. I understand and respect the decision, but I think that it does hurt the community by limiting Parts availability.
Currently I make '69-'74 fender tags, I'm also experimenting with the earlier versions. I'm working on '64-'65 a-body rocker molding clips (unobtainium). I've created '70-'71 Rallye wheel center caps for my own e-body, time/materials isn't worth doing those commercially though unless someone wants to shave over 1lb per wheel. I also have a bracket for the '67-71 disc-drum proportioning valve. Working on a couple other things, but I'm currently distracted by trying to finish up my e-body before I have to move next month while also packing an entire house.
Currently I make '69-'74 fender tags, I'm also experimenting with the earlier versions. I'm working on '64-'65 a-body rocker molding clips (unobtainium). I've created '70-'71 Rallye wheel center caps for my own e-body, time/materials isn't worth doing those commercially though unless someone wants to shave over 1lb per wheel. I also have a bracket for the '67-71 disc-drum proportioning valve. Working on a couple other things, but I'm currently distracted by trying to finish up my e-body before I have to move next month while also packing an entire house.
dano
Evil Handy Man
What material? I have a X1C and have found with ABS and PC the outer ends of the plate are too cold for those materials and ones that require a higher bed temp. PETG and PLA print fine.
dano
Evil Handy Man
For those that missed it, the "BRAKE" lens was also 3d printed in PETG, transparent gray and the lettering is black. Red color is provided by a red LED bulb.
Not the person you asked, but you need the right printer for the material you are using. When I bought mine, I knew I was going to be printing high temp materials and chose the Qidi Q1 as it has a heated enclosed chamber with a fully heated bed. I print almost exclusively in ASA now and don't have any issues at all
dano
Evil Handy Man
It will run PC, ABS, ASA, Nylons etc. no problem. But very large prints out on the edge of the build plate can have some lifting issue. Sometimes its the design, sometimes its the variation in bed heat, sometimes it multiple parts and they get cold while sitting. All situations that can and have been overcame.
I also made some dash vents, they are a two piece design and if you print them so that they fit together tightly, you can angle the vents any way you want.
I have some stuff I designed also. 70-76 Cluster, Interior door badge for a Duster, mating connector for the 70-76 cluster harness, some tools as well. A spot for 3d printed stuff would be great.
swisswill
Well-Known Member
Any photos of the cluster? I’m working on mine now
Sure. Here's the post I made a post here with a couple of photos, along with an album showing it being wired and installed.
The last two photos show a gap. I initially thought I got an angle wrong, but after looking at it for a while, I think I was off on the dimensions for the screw holes/standoffs. I haven't gone back to fix it yet, but I believe it only needs to have a couple of dims tweaked.
3D Printed 70-76 Cluster
Duster - Cluster/Tach
Last edited:
I have 2 concerns...
First, would it be busy enough?
Second, I wouldn't want it to turn into a FS forum
First question is hard to be certain about. I think that 3d printing is becoming more common, especially for hard to source/reproduce parts for older cars. Currently projects shared on here are located in the specific forum for the part type, and are easily lost in the noise of regular forum discussion.
Having a spot specific to share might help bring these projects to peoples attention, and in turn motivate others to share their own parts/projects.
Second question, I think people need to abide by the normal forum rules and stick with posts in the FS section if appropriate. Personally I have less than zero interest in the work that comes along with selling parts, and I have the items I've created shared for public use.
I 100% agree.
1) It would help consolidate the information about parts available or being worked on. It would help others collaborate better - I'll use the '64-'65 molding clips as an example - another member spent a lot of time developing these, going back and forth with other users to get the fitment correct (unfortunately he still hasn't finished this yet, but it shows collaboration can help in the design phase). 3D printing *is* the future for reproduction parts, so getting ahead of the game with a dedicated section is warranted IMO
2) just have the same rules in place, no business advertising and sales unless approved and it would still have to be in the regular FS section. I've always respected and abided by the rules, I don't see why anyone else wouldn't either unless they want consequences.
3) if implemented, please do so across the for*bodies sites as every *-body has its 3d community and parts needs
At the end of the day we just want to make hard to find, unobtainium or lower cost items accessible to the community. Isn't that part of the reason for these sites? To help each other out?
1) It would help consolidate the information about parts available or being worked on. It would help others collaborate better - I'll use the '64-'65 molding clips as an example - another member spent a lot of time developing these, going back and forth with other users to get the fitment correct (unfortunately he still hasn't finished this yet, but it shows collaboration can help in the design phase). 3D printing *is* the future for reproduction parts, so getting ahead of the game with a dedicated section is warranted IMO
2) just have the same rules in place, no business advertising and sales unless approved and it would still have to be in the regular FS section. I've always respected and abided by the rules, I don't see why anyone else wouldn't either unless they want consequences.
3) if implemented, please do so across the for*bodies sites as every *-body has its 3d community and parts needs
At the end of the day we just want to make hard to find, unobtainium or lower cost items accessible to the community. Isn't that part of the reason for these sites? To help each other out?
Last edited:
My concern with this is, whenever people offer to make a product for our A bodies, it's always for the 67-76 and usually for a fewer select years than that, say 70-72. Usually it's "whatever" the person has that's doing it......and that's cool. You're still offering a service that's not currently offered and I'm behind that 100%. But as usual, the early A guys are forgotten about. And what about the poor souls that own something from 60-62? LOL
This is where the dedicated forum can help. Put out a request - people come together to make it happen. Now there is another unobtainium part available. Keep at it and we can build a library of parts.
Of course the most common stuff is being done right now because that's what people have, and like you said occasionally somebody has something else and they work for parts for that. But having a dedicated forum people without printers or design experience can collaborate with others that do and make it happen.
Of course the most common stuff is being done right now because that's what people have, and like you said occasionally somebody has something else and they work for parts for that. But having a dedicated forum people without printers or design experience can collaborate with others that do and make it happen.
I agree that it should not be a FS forum, what I was looking for was a forum where members can help other members with the hard to find or even the impossible to find parts and/or the files for them to print their own parts. The reason I bought my first 3D printer was to make those hard to find parts for my 64 Dart. And since then I have been helping people with those same parts. Most of the parts that I make, I only ask for the shipping to mail them out. You can ask around FABO and you will see that. I am 100 percent positive that it could be very busy indeed.
thing is - those kind of conversations can get out of hand fast. Then when we delete a post because of that, we get the "I'm just trying to help another member, your being a tyrant" stuff.
-
Similar threads
