3D Printed Fender Mirror Bases.

[MyEnquiringMind]

Hello All,

 

I have been a bit busy lately, but finally got around to doing 3D print of fender mirror bases. I had managed to pick up a second hand pair of fender mirrors through the forum without bases (thanks chino79), but couldn’t justify the $100 on yahoo japan for new ones, accordingly I couldn’t find them in good condition anywhere else. (and figured I probably wasn’t alone.)

 

Attached is an early prototype, but it is coming together well. I wondered if others would like these as well? Please post expressions of interest below, at this stage printing time is worth about $40/hour where I get it done that includes consumables and finishing, putting these at around $10-$12 each to print, (i.e. expect a much better finish than the one pictured) so expect a price of around $25/pair. Cost may come down for bulk purchases and accordingly if we can print left and right pairs as a couple (not tested yet.)

 

Also let me know if you have other ideas of things that we could/should 3D print.

 

Any enquiries/questions? let me know.

 

Cheers, Jarrod.

[theremm]

Very nice..just bought a complete fender mirror set myself so not interested at this point in time, however metal brackets for the fender mirrors (sit underneath the fender) are impossible to find when I looked and hence passed up on another pair of mirrors which don't have the brackets

[CroS13]

YES! Id defiantly want a pair. My set didn't come with bases, I'm just using some Clark rubber U channel at the moment.

 

Rudolf.

[gav240z]

Yep I'm in mate.

[skipz]

Not interested in a pair, but more of the application - What process & materials are you using? We play with a few processes at work, and often put parts made through a bit of abuse (temp/force/chemicals etc) - you get different part stability with the different processes/materials used.  Make sure you get something that can withstand the intended use, considering the heat of a fender in the sun, moisture absorption, UV degradation, material stability etc.  The rubber parts I've seen do not last (although you'll be quite static in this application...), while comparatively FDM parts (e.g. ABS, PC-ABS blends) seem pretty stable.  Just some thoughts.

[Triptych]

I do have a set with my mirrors but will be interested in a set. Always need backups just incase.

[gav240z]

Also let me know if you have other ideas of things that we could/should 3D print.

 

Ideas for 3D printing.

 

1. Choke / Throttle Knobs (all years)

2. Ash tray lid (early 240z)

3. Center console garnish

4. Map light garnish (early + later)

5. Voltage Regulator Cover

6. Inside Door Trim (inserts) where the stainless piece is (it's a cover) usually missing.

7. Rear Licence Plate (inner and outer pieces) - plastic

8. Early rear hatch vents (would need to sort out chrome finish).

9. Early 240z tool box lids

10. Early 240z rear hatch (inner trim) w/flutes in it.

11. Rear 1/4 panels (inside trim)

12. 1/4 window panels

13. Rear tail light inner trim at rear of hatch (covers access to the tail lights)

 

There is lots of little items then, like the windscreen scuttle panel plastic trims that it sits in (under windscreen) and stuff like that.

 

That's all I can think of for now... some of this would be much harder than other stuff I'd imagine.

[MyEnquiringMind]

Thanks Gav,

 

largely limited by the bed size of the printer (unless I speak kindly to my local University.) The guy who printed these for me works at the university, so I might have a chat with him about how big he can go. Some of those parts are already on the list, I am also looking at making the demister centre console plugs in the early girl as well.

 

Prototype #2 should be done by Monday with some updates and smoothing of edges etc.

 

Ill keep you in the loop.

 

Cheers, J

[gav240z]

Thanks Gav,

 

largely limited by the bed size of the printer (unless I speak kindly to my local University.) The guy who printed these for me works at the university, so I might have a chat with him about how big he can go. Some of those parts are already on the list, I am also looking at making the demister centre console plugs in the early girl as well.

 

Prototype #2 should be done by Monday with some updates and smoothing of edges etc.

 

Ill keep you in the loop.

 

Cheers, J

 

Sounds good, looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Another thing I thought of was 5 speed knob button's. Those would be good to 3D print. Although I've noticed even the American 4 speed knobs are going up in price as the new ones Nissan is making are slightly different to the original design (thicker). So it seems people want the original style still.

 

Heater / Defroster control knobs (those little black plastic ones that often break over the years), the heater console facia (since they always get cut for a head unit) is another good 1 (although larger).

 

The tail light finisher (chrome strip piece) - again we would need to find a suitable vacuum chrome process for plastic though...

 

I've seen a few rally clocks etc.. with broken black knobs on them so that would be a good piece to replicate (although very small audience I'd imagine).

 

If you can do larger items, reproduction center consoles would be a good 1, early ones are expensive these days at $600+ for a repaired / restored console.

 

Pretty much everything this guy is doing.

http://www.240zrubberparts.com/apps/webstore/

 

By the way with the fender mirrors, are you going to do the plastic cup that goes at the bottom? I was thinking about this and thought they remind me of the old film camera canisters.

 

 

Could probably modify them and make that work.

 

I've got a couple of sets of Fender Mirrors now that I've managed to source so I'm up for 2 sets of these black plastic bases as spares etc..

[gav240z]

but couldn’t justify the $100 on yahoo japan for new ones, accordingly I couldn’t find them in good condition anywhere else. (and figured I probably wasn’t alone.)

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DATSUN-FAIRLADY-Z-240Z-260Z-280Z-510-KPGC10-FENDER-MIRRORS-BASE-NEW-PAIR-/310977821275

 

US $29.99 +$10 shipping..

 

[gav240z]

Also Dremel now has a 3D printer.

 

http://3dprinter.dremel.com/

 

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NA00MWS

 

Almost worth buying 1 to see how good it is.

 

 

[PB260Z]

I am just amazed at how quickly this technology is becoming affordable.

 

Almost worth buying 1 to see how good it is.

 

Especially if a few people went in on one together