3D Printer Mods

[ronclark]

So I came across this on reddit.

https://www.reddit.com/r/3dprintedcarparts/comments/1lfkeof

It would be cool if we could do something like this for the different years of Rangers, especially the ones where you can no longer get fender flares.

 

[SenorNoob]

I like the idea. Unfortunately I have neither the skills nor the tools to help with this...

If anyone makes it happen I'd be will to spend up to a couple hundred depending on the quality tho.

 

[Blmpkn]

All the seams... Not real aesthetic IMO. A big ass printer that could spit em out in one piece would be cool though.

 

[Snatchsquatch]

I never thought about fender flairs. I printed a tpu shift boot Imuna try and install on my truck today.

 

[SenorNoob]

If the parts fit together well enough, seams could be removed by finishing in place. Thinking sanding and epoxy. It would be more work for sure...

 

[Snatchsquatch]

If the parts fit together well enough, seams could be removed by finishing in place. Thinking sanding and epoxy. It would be more work for sure...

I printed a multi piece steering wheel cover for my old ford tractor. It's got some small gaps but doesn't look too bad, I thought about using some black rtv or caulk to fill them one of these days.

 

[Blmpkn]

If the parts fit together well enough, seams could be removed by finishing in place. Thinking sanding and epoxy. It would be more work for sure...

True.

I actually recently saw online somewhere where this kid 3d printed a hardtop for his 1st or 2nd gen miata.. pictures showed it installed with alllllll sorts of seams but IIRC he was gonna glass over the whole thing so..

Pretty neat and super ingenuitive. Hardtops for those cars are hard to find and pretty damned expensive when/if you do find one from what I understand so.. a little creativity and elbow grease can go a long way.

 

[JoshT]

pictures showed it installed with alllllll sorts of seams but IIRC he was gonna glass over the whole thing so..

That is where 3D printing comes in good for making parts like those flares. Making prototypes, not finished products. Create a multi piece prototype using a 3D printer, test and tweak. Once satisfied with the product, assemble and smooth the prints, then use the prints to create forms for fiberglass. Heck for that matter you could use them to make molds for that flexible stuff that they use for making GFX or body kits.

While you could use the prints directly, I probably wouldn't recommend it unless you had a printer large enough to make them one piece like @Blmpkn said. Even then, I'd only try it with a filament that is somewhat flexable, heat resistant, and UV stable. Even stuff that claims to be flexible is still going to be succeptable to layer separation under the right conditions. Adding seams from printing multiple smaller pieces is only going ot make it worse.

 

[ronclark]

I like the idea. Unfortunately I have neither the skills nor the tools to help with this...

If anyone makes it happen I'd be will to spend up to a couple hundred depending on the quality tho.

Same here, I have not figured out CAD yet

 

[JoshT]

Same here, I have not figured out CAD yet

My problem too. I've got a 3D printer. I've got the parts to make it into a better 3D printer because I wasn't that happy with the print quality. I've hardly ever used it because I can't do the CAD to make the parts I want.

One of the top on my list to design is an OEM style DIN radio bezel for my F-100. Want to prototype it and print one that I can use temporarily. Then figure out how to use that prototype for a lost-wax casting using aluminum.

Someday I'll get far enough along in other projects that I want to spend the time and money on learning a proper CAD program.

 

[Snatchsquatch]

My problem too. I've got a 3D printer. I've got the parts to make it into a better 3D printer because I wasn't that happy with the print quality. I've hardly ever used it because I can't do the CAD to make the parts I want.

One of the top on my list to design is an OEM style DIN radio bezel for my F-100. Want to prototype it and print one that I can use temporarily. Then figure out how to use that prototype for a lost-wax casting using aluminum.

Someday I'll get far enough along in other projects that I want to spend the time and money on learning a proper CAD program.

I do all of my designing on FreeCad. The learning curve is a little steep but there's plenty of youtube videos that'll get you going. It's a free software as well.

 

[SenorNoob]

I had a class on AutoCAD LT in high school. 17 years ago. I did years 1 and 2 with a couple months left in a single school year. It didn't seem hard at the time. I'd probably be completely lost now. My problem would be measuring anything that isn't square accurately enough to reproduce it in CAD. My class was entirely taking sketches from a book and making isometric drawings on the computer.

 

[ronclark]

My problem too. I've got a 3D printer. I've got the parts to make it into a better 3D printer because I wasn't that happy with the print quality. I've hardly ever used it because I can't do the CAD to make the parts I want.

One of the top on my list to design is an OEM style DIN radio bezel for my F-100. Want to prototype it and print one that I can use temporarily. Then figure out how to use that prototype for a lost-wax casting using aluminum.

Someday I'll get far enough along in other projects that I want to spend the time and money on learning a proper CAD program.

I've been using an Ender 5 Pro for a few years now, after some tinkering, a few upgrades, it has been a great printer. One key i have learned is the filament needs to be dry for nice prints. So far I print most PETG, and PLA. I would like to try more technical filaments, but I need an enclosure for the printer.