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3D printing question

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JPSmit

JPSmit

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Well friends, here is this morning's question. Quick back story - My Vauxhall being a GT has a rare and very desirable 6 gauge dash insert. I also have a spare - Last week I was chatting via email with a fellow on my Vauxhall Club Board and he wants to buy just the plastic trim cover and using digital gauges. I am not interested in splitting the cover from the gauges but, said I would look into having a 3D copy made of the cover.

So...

1. is it doable?

2. Is it difficult? (I would not do it myself)

3. Is it cost effective? (knowing I am doing a favour and he would be paying)

I could post a pic but basicall it is about a foot long about 5 inches wide - slightly curved and 6 holes for the gauges.

thoughts? thanks!
 
JP, I'm not sure what is used for a base to copy, maybe a CAD drawing or detailed photo of an original? Some of the compound items being produced is mind boggling and I see no reason why it couldn't be copied. It is a very interesting concept and I also have thought of it's benefit in the restoration of our cars. Lockheed and Boeing are using them to produce some aircraft parts. PJ
 
That's a simple mold making job using silicone rubber and urethane plastic.
Heres what I'm talking about: This is a mold I made to reproduce the original Bugeye ignition wire to battery connector.

9867736806_f199eea724_z.jpg
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1. Probably. But that doesn't mean it most efficient of most effective way to do it.

2. Printing is the easy part. Coming up with the model is where all the work goes. Typically, it would either be created with a 3D CAD system or transcribed into the CAD system with a 3D digitizing device.

3. Not likely if you go through professional channels. Possibly, if you go through underground makers.


You really do need to post pix if we are to have any chance of even vaguely estimating the effort involved.

What's the original made out of? How does it mount into the vehicle? How do the gauges mount to it?

I've seen gauge clusters that look like stamped parts, some like molded parts, others like vaccu-formed parts. Each would be very different to reproduce a one-off functional equivalent.


pc
 
Here is the panel in question:



And the back - not the "light sockets" at bottom are screwed in and are separate - and the whole thing is plastic.

thoughts?
 
Oops and here is the back



I know it CAN be done, but, how easily?
 
J-P - seems the "making" isn't the problem. It's the creation of a template/guide for the printer to follow, that'll be the hassle.
 
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