Marker light sockets - 3D printer trial

[DrJeff]

I printed up some 3D adapter sockets for the marker lights. Here are some photos of the pieces fitted to the marker light housing and the bulb casing.

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The holder worked ok-ish, but the plastic needs to be more flexible. I also put a castle-like 1mm rim on the top to grab the marker light housing. I would need to reduce the rise to about 0.5 mm and also make them probably 1mm longer. The whole thing would need to be covered with heat shrink.

[Nicholas R]

I am impressed! As far as I know this is the first reported usage of 3D printing to reproduce a DeLorean part! :aniclap::aniclap::aniclap: I hope to see more parts become available as 3D printing becomes more and more mainstream!

By the way, what kind of printer are you using if you dont mind me asking?

[DrJeff]

By the way, what kind of printer are you using if you dont mind me asking?

I use Shapeways.com (http://www.shapeways.com/) for my 3D printing. I looked into buying a printer, but then you are limited to 1 or maybe 2 materials. With Shapeways you are able to submit your design and select which material you want.

As far as parts, so far I've done...
- AC vent connectors
- 3rd brake light
- Steering wheel logo (in stainless steel)
- Center console switches bezel

This project was the first that attempted to replace a stock part with an upgrade. I'm 50/50 on if it is worthwhile since the original parts are available and not excessively expensive. For the non-stock replacement parts (like all those above) I've found 3D printing is very worthwhile.

[Josh]

Looks great! However it doesnt look like the led lights up much of the marker. Could just be the picture though.

I am interested in this 3D printing service. Is it fairly expensive?

[DrJeff]

Is it fairly expensive?

It does add up. Shapeways essentially charges by the mm^3 (millimeter cubed) and an additional fee per item. For six of these connectors I paid around $20 delivered. If you select materials like stainless steel, it can get expensive. My rationale is that I didn't pay $1,200 for a printer and then also paid for expensive plastics to feed it. Paying by the mm^3 also forces you to think in terms of building hollow objects.

I didn't look too deeply into the costs of other services like Thingiverse.com

[SAVAGE]

What other stuff are you planning of having made?

[DrJeff]

What other stuff are you planning of having made?

I've thought about the rectangular insert in the passenger escutcheon, the escutcheons themselves, vent fascias, glove box upper edges (as reinforcement), small brackets that contain button bezels (for my under-dash buttons for disabling the door buzzer, and activating the hood pop actuator. The only limiting factor is time of the CAD tools.

[Josh]

It does add up. Shapeways essentially charges by the mm^3 (millimeter cubed) and an additional fee per item. For six of these connectors I paid around $20 delivered. If you select materials like stainless steel, it can get expensive. My rationale is that I didn't pay $1,200 for a printer and then also paid for expensive plastics to feed it. Paying by the mm^3 also forces you to think in terms of building hollow objects.

I didn't look too deeply into the costs of other services like Thingiverse.com

Ok that makes sense, charging by volume. Me and a few friends want to pool funds and buy a printer, but maybe this is more economically feasible for the odds and ends we would want to create. Ill look into it further.

[jgarland79]

Do you have any of your drawings published on thigiverse or shapeways?

[Doogie]

Do you have any of your drawings published on thigiverse or shapeways?

I will be purchasing a printer in the next 30 days (studying what type I want) and would love to learn by printing parts! Do you have the file for the center vents? That could be my first test.

Next up is an iPhone holder to replace the Ash Tray :-)

Doogie

[DrJeff]

PM me and I'll send you the files. I've tried making them public on Shapeways, but it wants me to open a store first.

just FYI - I didn't develop the market light holders design any further. The shape and design turned out good, but the material they were printed out of needed to be more flexible. Since I don't have a printer, doing trial and error to get materials that would work was not worth it, so I didn't take the design further.

[LordFly]

I've tried making them public on Shapeways, but it wants me to open a store first.

Have you tried Thingiverse (http://www.thingiverse.com/) for posting? Haven't done it myself, but there is a TON of stuff on there, so I would imagine it easy to post.

[Squall67584]

I use shapeways for model building. If you design the parts to use their fine ultra detail medium, which can be designed with very small walls if you need it, and then cast the parts using resin, the parts could then be more flexible depending on the type of resin used. They'd also be cheaper to make multiple copies if they've cast. You could also make a cast in wax and do the lost medium method and pour in molten metal to make a metal version.

[DARCOM]

I put my stuff on thingiverse . But I have not made any Delorean parts. I do have many parts in mind like the steering shaft bushing and coustom console switches. If I finnish them I can post them. My stuff is under DARCOM on thiniverse.com.

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