Ideas for illuminated shift ball

[Bitsyncmaster]

The idea of making an illuminated shift ball has been with me for many years. I just have not had a good idea of how to put a clear shift outline and the gear numbers onto an opaque ball.

I just thought of another option. The pattern and numbers could actually be a flat area on the top of the ball. That would open up a lot of options of how to produce one. Could even just silkscreen under a top flat piece of plastic.

I don't think a 3D printer can do two plastics (clear and black) yet.

I could machine the "ball" out of solid black Delrin easily on my lathe.

If course it would have LED lighting. The wires would not show since the shift boot goes all the way to the ball.

Open for ideas.

[Mario]

There are 3D printers that can do two colors/filaments in one print, look up dual extrusion. I've actually printed black/clear objects before.

Alternately, if you have a CNC machine (or are very patient with a manual mill), you could engrave the shift pattern into the top of the ball, then fill it with clear epoxy. Then drill out the inside of the ball. That would limit the overall size of the pattern to the size of the drill bit, though. But I'm sure there are ways you could make it work.

[Ron]

Not sure what you are looking for. Maybe use some of this clear casting epoxy (http://www.reynoldsam.com/product/epoxacast-690/?gclid=CPOzzL_xyskCFUokgQodriULzg) (or acrylic) with stainless steel shift pattern & numbers suspended inside...and/or use fiber optics...a lot you could do with sideglow cable :driving1:

[Bitsyncmaster]

Not sure what you are looking for. Maybe use some of this clear casting epoxy (http://www.reynoldsam.com/product/epoxacast-690/?gclid=CPOzzL_xyskCFUokgQodriULzg) (or acrylic) with stainless steel shift pattern & numbers suspended inside...and/or use fiber optics...a lot you could do with sideglow cable :driving1:

Something like this.

[Ras12]

What car is that shifter from? May be easiest to replicate however they did it.

[David T]

What car is that shifter from? May be easiest to replicate however they did it.

The shift pattern is already embossed into the surface of the gearshift. What I have done is clean it really well and then carefully drip some white paint into the pattern making it easily visible, just not in the dark. No one really looks at the shifter while shifting anyway and your hand covers it. You also have the problem of getting the wires into the ball. If you do try that make sure you put a fuse on the power wire going to the ball just in case you mess up and it gets grounded. Better the fuse blows and you lose only that and not all of your lights!