3D Printer...Any plastic needs still out there that aren't already reproduced.

[eagleone1983]

Hey Guys,

A buddy of mine has a pretty extensive 3D printer set up and was talking about it at work. I was trying to think of things he could reproduce on our cars that isn't already being done. Can you think of anything? It would have to be a type of plastic, he can do all kinds and different colors. I was thinking the H clips for the front felt weather strip on the door window. I know these are reproduced but I've never seen them for sale by themselves only with the weatherstrip. Although I guess if you need the H clips the weatherstip is probably gone too.

 

[Bruzilla]

Number one thing on his list should be windshield wiper knobs for 71-74 rallye clusters! Number two would be a 71 Road Runner grill head that's made to be installed on the 73-74 grills.

 

[Lowhound]

I dont think anyone repops the 70 Coronet/Superbee grills. You could make some serious $$$$ if you could repop those. All the originals I have come accross are either cracked or missing pieces.

 

[rocky61201]

71 Charger standard cluster windshield and wiper knobs, interior trim for back window, interior door roof rail trim, interior upper windshield trim.

 

[Bruzilla]

The problem with 3D printing is it's great for prototyping but usually too expensive for production of pieces, especially large ones. Knobs and small items might be doable, but big things like trim strips and rails might be too expensive.

 

[eagleone1983]

I don't think he'd go into full scale production but I'm sure for cost of material/time he'd be able to hook some of us up. Size is also an issue I think a grill would be entirely too large. I'd also need an OEM piece from someone so he can measure it out and input it onto his system.

He has a lot of time on his hands and is actually wasting material making little figures and stuff for his nieces and nephews. I figured I could help some of you, help him to utilize his time.

 

[Bruzilla]

I thought about having a 3D modeler make the 71-74 wiper knobs, but it took me about 10 months of looking for one, and $50, to get one and I wasn't about to let it out of my sight.

 

[Budnicks]

cool stuff

Just spit ballen' here, Maybe some of the little bit bigger stuff could be done in a couple pieces, Cup holders to replce the console tops, How about dash gauge cluster panels, like the rally package on 68-70 Charger's or Super Bee's or 70 Road Runners/GTX/Belvedere {they are price as hell to buy or find a good/excellent original one}, radio surrounds are always missing or hacked for most any Mopars mid 60's-mid 70's, rocker switch covers too maybe, shift knobs/Buttons, window crank knobs, door lock trim pieces, heater control switch knobs the little kinda' square/rectangular knobs on the late 60's cars, E-Brake & Vent Pull Handels... I wonder how much heat/vacuum or pressure the stuff/plastic can handle, or if you could do some minor small plastic parts under hood maybe.. Or maybe even like the N96 or others fresh air intake/air box for a few different years or Six Pack/6bbl air cleaner pan for an A12 package, they maybe would maybe need to be done in 2 pieces or something... Ask the guy how big can he make height-width-length dimensions ??, If I had one, I know I could make some money or at least a bunch of reproduction pieces/little parts, for myself & friends, with it....

 

[99ss]

Give it a year, they say they will be as common as the printer in your house now and for less than $500

 

[Budnicks]

68-69 RR/GTX/Belvedere/Satellite front turn indicator light housings left & right sides, nobody reproduces them... I wonder if he can make stuff translucent {see-thru} or if he can get translucent plastics, for stuff like marker lites, blinker, tail lights lenses etc., maybe make custom emblems & custom numbered engine call outs, for hoods or fenders, for people..

 

[HT413]

just an FYI before you sell stuff to people. The 3D printer only creates stuff out of a specific type of material. that material is probably going to have very poor wear characteristics and poor strength, so just run a few things and check them before selling them. otherwise you might just have a bunch of pretty pissed off customers because their knobs fell off or broke the 1st time they used them. also, remember that the parts won't have the surface finish that most of our parts need.

i know it looks like i'm bashing your idea, but I'm really not. if it works I think this is awesome, just be careful.

 

[69a100]

I'm thinking tail light lens for 66-300's myself.

 

[rsd859]

Roadrunner Dash emblem for 73/74

 

[YY1]

I'm working on the 71-74 wiper knobs right now.

I found three at my last salvage yard run (heh, heh), and I was already working with a local vo-tech school that has just acquired a mid-line ABS "printer".

We're trying to calculate material costs and and a fair "donation" on my part.

The unit is big enough to run a batch of about 144.

I think I might have the CAD students try to correct the defect that causes them to crack, by making them solid....

Another issue is the translucent blue/green ring. I'm sure that will tripple the cost (or more), since it is a second part, and is a different material, also coupled with a tight tolerance fit.

I think the first batch will be all one color, and/or possiblly molded without the translucent part, for future accomidation.

If you can find one, I've seen them go for $25-$50.

I'm going to try to put them in the $10 range for the one color (hey it's better than nothing), and then see if the correct ones can be around $20 (not holding my breath).

Any interest from members?

- - - Updated - - -

...and I see the non-rallye knobs sell with the switches for $10 a lot.

it sems to be just the rallye knobs that are missing from 85% of the clusters I see.

 

[Bruzilla]

otherwise you might just have a bunch of pretty pissed off customers because their knobs fell off or broke the 1st time they used them.

So you're saying the new parts will be about the same durability as the OEM ones.

 

[99ss]

just an FYI before you sell stuff to people. The 3D printer only creates stuff out of a specific type of material. that material is probably going to have very poor wear characteristics and poor strength, so just run a few things and check them before selling them. otherwise you might just have a bunch of pretty pissed off customers because their knobs fell off or broke the 1st time they used them. also, remember that the parts won't have the surface finish that most of our parts need.

i know it looks like i'm bashing your idea, but I'm really not. if it works I think this is awesome, just be careful.

The print working guns with them already.. its a whole new ball game

 

[Bruzilla]

I think I might have the CAD students try to correct the defect that causes them to crack, by making them solid....

I was thinking the same thing a while back. It's that damn inner sleeve that fails and a solid part might not be OEM spec, but it should sure last a lot longer. Now, if those students could also make a T-handle shifter for the slap sticks that's made out of some bullet-proof material that won't crack and break off near the screw hole within six months, that would be awesome too!

 

[jessipup]

Bumper filler end pieces for 73/74 RR & chargers also.
I have been looking for a good set for 2 years now

 

[YY1]

Interestingly, my workplace has a fleet of mid 90's chevy astro/gmc safari vans.
Almost all of them are missing at least one if not all three heater control knobs.
Same problem.

There is an ebay listing for a slapstick T handle that specifically says "just like original- except it won't crack near the base...".

Wonder if they really fixed the design.

- - - Updated - - -

...and ABS plastic should be fine for wiper knobs...perhaps even the ideal material, if not the OEM material.

 

[jessipup]

HEY BRUZILLA
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-72-73-...t=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr
and now they are falling out of the sky
http://www.ebay.com/itm/71-72-73-74...lly-Dash-Wiper-Switch-Knob-RARE-/170991780829