3D printing parts
 

Had this idea this morning and wanted to put it into the FRS universe.

3...2...1... DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES!!!

Stupid plastic clips that always break after the second or third time installing them.

But the cost of materials makes it a wash with just buying them oem (they're damn cheap as it is) it would be a convenience thing to just print one in the garage so you can finish the install same day. Will be incredibly useful 20+ years from now when there are no new ones.

Print me a carbon fibre unibody

already been in discussion with my friend who works at 3d systems..

Will the plastics of 3d printing hold up to interior and under body heat?

Self printed body kits for me. A lot of people around here have great ideas on what the car should look like, only to not have the resources or skill to produce it. We shouldn't be limited to what the vendors are selling.

There are already a couple of threads for this. Just search for "3D Printer"

It depends on the type of plastic used.

-PLA will warp in a hot car

-ABS Can probably hold up in the interior but may not make it in the engine bay

-UV cure resins like that used Form 1 from Form Labs will probably do just fine but you would want to check the specs for the resin they are using.

3D printed body kits are probably a pipe dream for now. It's just too large for the the existing technology (unless price is no object).

A better possibility for this would be making fiberglass forms out of styrofoam on a CNC router. It would still require a lot of finish work, but it's closer to being able to DIY.

I think I saw some a-pillar pods on ebay done with a 3-d, unless it was in a thread here.

Printing broken OEM clips is definitely a useful function for vehicles with out-of-production parts, not sure it's cost effective for us right now. I see members using it on the Jeep forum I'm on for older vehicle plastic parts and speaker baffles/pods.

The armest issue and other storage options might be solvable using a 3-d printer. There's always custom pieces like a skull in the passenger dash (without needing to fiberglass) or making a shorter 3rd brake light housing.

I actually already played around with making my own cupholder insert so I have nice CAD model that fits perfect and could be modified for an armrest design or anything else someone wanted to make.

I'm happy to share if anyone is interested just let me know.

SLS is the best option, strength, heat deflection and flexibly. It's pricy and the finish isn't great. Very grainy.

FDM- even when printing in .005 layer in the z it's not a smooth part. Basic geometric shapes look great.

Polyjet- hi-resolution, accurate but it's more for looks like models. Not very strong.

SLA- Stronger than Polyjet but again the parts would require finishing and they wouldn't hold up to high heat.

you can test fit parts and prove out ideas with all of these technologies.

If anyone has a 3D file they want printed let me know.

What format?

I haven't been able to find some time lately to do now printing. I've only done a fuse cover box so far (check my journal) . My print size is 6x6x6 inches so that means no body panels :lol:

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

stp. sw xt iges. stl send me a PM if you have any questions.