Retro Z Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 I'm about to buy a 3d printer soon. When i get it, and if i can figure out how to use it, i will start producing the backings for turn-signals along with replica fender mirrors/ emblems etc for the Z community cheap..fingers crossed. Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted February 7, 2014 Administrators Posted February 7, 2014 I'm about to buy a 3d printer soon. When i get it, and if i can figure out how to use it, i will start producing the backings for these along with replica fender mirrors/ emblems etc for the Z community cheap..fingers crossed. I was actually thinking of doing the same thing, based on my experience hunting down some of the early Z-car parts like the center console trim, choke and throttle knobs etc.. The center console facia, the list is endless really. Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted February 7, 2014 Administrators Posted February 7, 2014 Worth a read. http://www.smh.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news/plastic-fantastic-3d-printer-power-20140205-31zwj.html Quote
cracker Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 I'm about to buy a 3d printer soon. When i get it, and if i can figure out how to use it, i will start producing the backings for these along with replica fender mirrors/ emblems etc for the Z community cheap..fingers crossed. Loving this idea! Quote
zedevan Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 ...I'd only buy an SLS type 3d printer, the parts most of the other ones produce probably wont withinstand the conditions cars go through. And until I can afford one that prints titanium I probably won't be bothering, as getting things machined in China is cheap enough Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted February 7, 2014 Administrators Posted February 7, 2014 I just came across this video. Recreate dashboards, air-boxes, the possibilities are endless! The backyard mechanic will be able to achieve almost anything really. Quote
Retro Z Posted February 7, 2014 Author Posted February 7, 2014 Yeah im looking at a desktop machine around the 5 grand mark with 3 extruders that does metal via steel spooled wire aswell as abs plastic. Apparently the abs won't withstand UV but onced painted it is ok. I've seen and held examples of abs products and it is very rigid and strong. As im purchasing it to do my dental work it will only be on the side that i make some Z parts, just to help some people out as long as i cover my costs im happy..there is a handheld scanner thats sold seperately to digitally scan products to reproduce which im also hoping to get. Quote
nizm0zed Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 So, when someone gets a 3D printer thats awesome, i want something made!!! Are there 3D printers that could print a plastic? nylon? component that could withstand high temperatures, fuels, oils and coolants? Eg, like the plastic intake manifolds of many modern cars these days. I could design it in CAD easy enough, but being able to get a manifold printed that would bolt straight onto at RB25DE head and take DCOE throttles (or carbies) would be awesome. Quote
Retro Z Posted February 7, 2014 Author Posted February 7, 2014 I've seen printers that can do silicone, abs, PVC, cold cure acrylic and some sort of carbon. Not sure about Nylon but i can't see why not. In the dental lab I'm working at they subject their 'colour injected cold cure acrylic' dentures made with the 3d printer to temperatures of 800 degree Celsius as we melt gold and chromoly teeth directly to the acrylic and apparently its medically sterile and impervious to acids and chemicals (acetone/monamar) etc as there is no porosity within the product, with a very high stretch and breaking pressure. So I'd say the acrylic would be the best 'cheap' material to use on car parts. Still alot of research to do before i part with my cash though. But will definitely be by years end. Quote
d3c0y Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 It's cool to make NLA parts etc, but if everyone has the cool mirrors and badges they wont be cool anymore... Quote
benny Posted February 7, 2014 Posted February 7, 2014 3d printer is on my list... just completed my 3 axis CNC machine with a work area of 1200 x 2400mm. Built it for our business aswell as to make the kit for my 260Z project. Quote
zedevan Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 3 axis CNC machine infinately more awesome than a 3d printer, just more challenging for the average person to use. I personally think they should master how 2d printers interact with computers before moving onto 3d Quote
luvemfast Posted March 3, 2014 Posted March 3, 2014 Proper 3D CNC machining is going to be more difficult to use at home. As you'll need CAD, then a CAM package. Then know how to use it! 3D printers are easy as! Just locate and orientate your parts on the software and print. Until something goes wrong. Temperatures, aligments, thermocouples etc etc, can reek havoc with your performance. The SLS with a hand held scanner sounds interesting....... But doubt you'll get anything good for $5k You'll also need a hot tank or ultra sonic to dissolve the support material. Don't forget that consumables will be expensive too. Quote
Retro Z Posted March 3, 2014 Author Posted March 3, 2014 You'll also need a hot tank or ultra sonic to dissolve the support material. I have access to these at work aswell as a Rowland 3d cadcam 5-axis milling machine with a handheld scanner that we use to make tooth crowns/bridges etc. so hopefully soon will be able to make most small parts in metal, acrylic etc. Quote
lightmaster240z Posted March 4, 2014 Posted March 4, 2014 Hay Tai you don't work in Fitzroy by any chance do you? Quote
Lukas Posted March 4, 2014 Posted March 4, 2014 I've used a friends 3D printer in the past to make a part for a car. A very small part mind you, just a clip that secured the blinker lense to the fender. It used the FFF (fused filament fabrication) technique, I think the material was ABS but it could have been PLA. I don't think hobby-level 3D printing hardware will be good enough to handle things like fender mirrors for awhile... Could certainly be done, but the layering effect that is present would still require a lot of time and effort to sand, fill and paint, and at the end of the day you'd have an inferior product. Still pretty handy for little things that don't necessarily need to look pretty. Care to link me to the $5000 printer that does metal, Retro Z??? That sounds like it could be pretty awesome. Quote
Retro Z Posted March 4, 2014 Author Posted March 4, 2014 Hay Tai you don't work in Fitzroy by any chance do you? Hi Bruce i work in a dental Laboratory on Burke rd Camberwell. Quote
lightmaster240z Posted March 4, 2014 Posted March 4, 2014 Cool my brother inlaw run a lab there you may know of them. (Kenyon-Smith) Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted October 10, 2014 Administrators Posted October 10, 2014 Just watched a documentary on Netflix called "Print the Legend" - it was more about the start up environment around 3D printing than actually useful from a 3D print -how to / pro's or con's perspective. However it did cover 2 companies. MakerBot - which have this cool Digitizer product for scanning in elements. http://store.makerbot.com/digitizer And FormLabs. http://formlabs.com/en/products/form-1-plus/ Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted October 10, 2014 Administrators Posted October 10, 2014 Interesting also as it discusses 3D printing around vehicle restoration. http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/news/vintage-speed/3d-printing-can-now-re-create-an-entire-classic-car-15566080 Quote
PeterAllen Posted October 10, 2014 Posted October 10, 2014 I was naturally interested the example they used, the 250 GTO and in the fact they can recreate the exact component with all its idiosyncrasies. However, I can tell you that you don't need a computer to do that. As all 250 GTO were hand build and had somewhat hard racing lives the body dimensions vary from car to car, and within each car. One even has the driver's door 10mm longer than the passenger's door, but, by simply relying on my natural inabilities have been able to recreate a similar disparity! Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted October 10, 2014 Administrators Posted October 10, 2014 Hey Peter, I thought of you and your project when reading that article. In some ways 3D printing such a vehicle would be cheating in a way. Quote
Administrators gav240z Posted July 25, 2015 Administrators Posted July 25, 2015 Not sure if I should merge the other 3D Printing Discussions into 1 big thread? http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php?topic=13500.0 http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php?topic=14893.0 http://www.viczcar.com/forum/index.php?topic=14185.0 But just found this Ted Talk showing a new method of 3D printing. Quote
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