3d printed Armrest?
 

I was looking at these 3d printers online and they seem to make very complicated shapes and this seems like it would work. How hard is it to use one to come up with something like this armrest cover?
Even if it's not prefect, some leather looking material to cover it would blend it right in to the OEM texture. Getting hinges and maybe a magnetic latch would be easy enough.

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1361070984
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/attac...1&d=1361070984
http://www.japanesesportcars.com/wor...011113-004.jpg

3D printing it is easy, the 3D CAD model will take someone that can use the software.

Size will be a limiting factor in the 3D printer too, many have small build areas.

It's gonna cost a ton. I suggest getting one that is already on the market

You said you paid $45 for that ignition cover you had done on http://www.shapeways.com/marketplace...alGroupId%5D=1. There are a lot of more intricate designs than a cover like this on that site that were cheaper $45.
This just has to be a flat shape with rounded ends that fits into that hole snug. I'm thinking of just making it out of wood and covering it in the fabric.
Are you saying it would be expensive with the latch and hinges designed into it? The ones out right now are close to $160 and honestly I'd pay that and more just to have it look like this one above.
I just like the flat look of this one above. It's not really an armrest but more just a OEM looking cover.

I doubt believe it's the intricacy that costs but the volume of the product (takes longer to print). An arm rest is pretty large. If you can make a model you can use their website to quote it instantly without for free. I designed a cupholder insert(see "cup holder insert"thread) that was essentially 2 rings and 2 posts, all about .19 thick to hood a cup and it was quoted at 35$ my 4 post version was 55$. It wouldn't be THAT hard to design, just costly based on size. If you made it hollow it would save a fortune. I use Onshape(free) to design my stuff. Only way to find out how much it'll cost is to design it first. Good luck. If you have any more questions in happy to try to answer them

Ummm… there is one possible problem with printing a 3d armrest for the Twins; where, ;) ‘size counts’.

The armrest you pictured is approximately 381mm in length & 133.5mm in width (15”x5 1/4”).

I did not include height because that (imo) would be user defined.

At this site, www.3ders.org listed under Assembled Build envelope (W x D x H mm), are sizes of most hobby 3d printers, where only a handful meet your specifications.

(otoh) One could design a 2 part armrest which could work and be (imo) more cost effective.

There are some user forums which list printing services that may be able to help with a more cost effective price: 3D Printing & Reprap Forum

I have thought about printing a few things for the Twins, but they would (imo) not be cost effective without making them 'for sale' and personally :) I prefer playing with hobbies rather than marketing.

(otoh) There are 2 (non-3d printed) armrests and 1 with an upgrade I have been looking at: TOM'S Armrest / OEM Armrest / Alcantara upgrades / OEM Armrest

To get a printer big enough, it would cost thousands. Then you'd have to have the skills to model items in 3d. Google Sketchup is free but its not very handy with surfaces and curves without a bunch of plugins. Blender 3d is by far the best modeler you cant buy because it is free because its all open source and will give any commercial modeler a run for its money. But its a hard to use at first.

You can get a small dremel pritner for around 400 at homedepot

Bingo. Costs with 3D printing comes from how much material is used. More material to print = higher cost of materials used and more time needed to print it.

Intricacy of a design has no effect on time or material costs.

For a big simple shape like that, you're better off getting a few sheets of acrylic, layering them and then sculpting it yourself. Much cheaper and probably easy if you know how to use a dremel.

Yes and no. Yes there is more material, but you wouldn't print it solid anyway. Standard infill is only like 25%. You could even go lower, like 10% and it would probably be fine. Correct that size doesn't matter for the design.

I have a guy that will print for me for the low, he is a design student at ISU and helped me on some projects before I got my own printer (mine is just too small for this). I could probably get it printed for $50 or so. A kilo of ABS is about $30 and as long as it prints right the first time, it won't be more than that.

I would even be willing to help with the design aspect if you can do the measurements and sketch what you want out on some grid paper. The measuring and drawing is what takes forever, building a simple part like that in Autodesk is an easy hour or 2 of work.

Keep in mind that this is assuming that you are planning to cover it with something. A raw print isn't going to look like the picture you posted.

(source: I design medical equipment for a side business)

Oh ya - the maker hubs are great. That's how I got linked up with my guy in the first place. I emailed him a sketch and he put in the hours and sent me an invoice. I paid him like $17 an hour for design work, and the parts (150mmx40mmx40mm) were like $10 each.

Sounds like a deal

I'm kind of lost here on all the lingo going on. Is this something that can be carved from wood or any material for that matter to make a one off and then have it reproduced by scanning it?
If that's the case, I will get on making that happen. If something can be made to look like that cover in the picture, I think it would sell much better than the current offerings.
It really seems that making a prototype would be easier than taking measurements and trying to create it off that.
My thinking is something plastic and hollow but sturdy enough to feel like it came with the car that could be wrapped easily with that leathery looking material. It would fit flush and fairly tight
and a small notch molded in to grab with your finger to open. The hinge could be just like a regular door hinge with one side molded to that cover and the other side bolting to the inside of the cubby
hole and a slim metal rod holding it together. The latch would be just a simple magnet like on a medicine cabinet.
Pretty sure that's what the one pictured is except for the texture on the lid. I can't make out what's going on with the hinge.

I really wasn't sure on how complicated the 3d priting would be and worse case I think getting 1/2 thick piece of ABS, carving to that shape, covering it with the same soft leather-like material used on the door armrests, and coming up with the latch and hinge.
If this is something that can be replicated easily if a prototype is made and anybody wants to take that and copy with the 3d scan software and run with it, I say go for it. The OEM armrest is ok but it just seems a little out of place compared to the sleek look of this one above.

Found another pic of it: http://www.modellista.co.jp/event/as..._gallery08.jpg

Designing it properly the first time will be easier. 3d scanners are hard to come by

If you’re looking for a printer with a huge build size check out my vid on the Ender 3

https://youtu.be/6zX17SpzSDs