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Wife got us a 3D printer. I am not really into the design part yet, but if someone had the (whatever) to load and print something, like a corvette emblem, I might get more motivated to pay more attention to it this winter when I can't drive.
Got several frogs and finger puppets printed on the Dremel.
Some already are making efi intakes, a company makes pistons, google it. A guy on here make some air cleaners for his crossfire. I was chatting with a guy who was talking about metal 3d printers price coming down about a year or so ago. Only a matter of time because people print their own heads.
There will come a time (in the near future, if not today) where we at home, makes our own parts.
One of them will be a intake.
So we can, if we will, make a dual intake. Adjust the program for the port size for my heads and exhaust manifold. So we will have a perfect match.
And the day after, we can make the same, but as a single intake.
I wonder if anyone is making this at home right now??
What would be great for me is if a 3D printer could do hard to find trim clips for my AMC. But as I understand it the platic used in them is too weak for trim clips.
What would be great for me is if a 3D printer could do hard to find trim clips for my AMC. But as I understand it the platic used in them is too weak for trim clips.
3D printers are good for making prototype parts and individuallized parts for special applications. They will probably NEVER be used for volume manufacturing...unless that part cannot be made by any other method.
The Navy is looking at 3D printing parts for ships. Even if the part is only used for a few weeks it could enable a fleet to continue operations.
Parts that are already plastic in cars will be the first/best choices for printing. The Crossfire air cleaners, air filter housings for LS swaps, and eventually intakes are some early candidates for C3s. Custom interior and door panels should be viable.
Printing plastic parts takes considerable time when compared to hot injection molding. And, in the auto making business, time is MONEY. Unless printing parts makes them faster (and less expensive), don't hold your breath on auto makers jumping into the 3D printer field (except for making development prototypes).
Printing plastic parts takes considerable time when compared to hot injection molding. And, in the auto making business, time is MONEY. Unless printing parts makes them faster (and less expensive), don't hold your breath on auto makers jumping into the 3D printer field (except for making development prototypes).
Might see autoparts manufucturers using 3D printing for smaller low volume parts where it isn't cost effective to set up a production line for them. Collector car pieces and so on. Or even people like myself who get a 3D printer to make plastic trim clips for an AMC SX/4 and then provide them to SX/4 owners for a profit.
Priya, and all, the source files are important when using the 3D printers to print any part, but changes are already happening to make this easier. I saw a demonstration in late September of a hand held 3D scanner that can be used to scan an existing part, save the data in a source file, then allow you to print the 3D image in ABS plastic. I also saw a demonstration of PET plastic equipment being developed to make tougher parts. Nylon is available as well, and it is tough, so as suggested it is only a matter of time before you will have access to this technology in either your home, or in a local store.
Just think, if you have a rare car part that is broken but have the broken parts you could glue them together, scan the part, build a new one, install it, be as good as new. For us car enthusiasts it has great promise and I for one look forward to what it can do to assist us all.
The Jimmie Johnson '71 Corvette project had me thinking about some parts. Customized side gill inserts are something that should be viable from a 3D printer.
The Jimmie Johnson '71 Corvette project had me thinking about some parts. Customized side gill inserts are something that should be viable from a 3D printer.
I hear you, and agree. Now you have me thinking about what I might do with my 72 road race project...
Priya, and all, the source files are important when using the 3D printers to print any part, but changes are already happening to make this easier. I saw a demonstration in late September of a hand held 3D scanner that can be used to scan an existing part, save the data in a source file, then allow you to print the 3D image in ABS plastic. I also saw a demonstration of PET plastic equipment being developed to make tougher parts. Nylon is available as well, and it is tough, so as suggested it is only a matter of time before you will have access to this technology in either your home, or in a local store.
Just think, if you have a rare car part that is broken but have the broken parts you could glue them together, scan the part, build a new one, install it, be as good as new. For us car enthusiasts it has great promise and I for one look forward to what it can do to assist us all.
Good post folks.
David
This I what I mean.
I don't see my self going to shop, and let them print what I need for the Corvette. I will do it my self, or one of my friends that has a printer. I see files been downloaded from a big future library, and printet.
This week I will try "this intake" next week, it will be another.
This technology will turn everything up side down soon.
I've made a couple things for our 72 Vette. While re-doing the interior I wanted to mount a pair of 4x6 speakers in the kickplate but didn't want to "bubba" it like the previous owner who just screwed them through the plastic trim plate. I 3D printed a couple of mounts which fit to the openings in the birdcage perfectly and utilize factory mounting holes.
I printed a few misc. broken plastic clips and reinforcements for cracked trim pieces.
I also printed a carb stand for rebuilding the Holley carb, worked pretty awesome actually!
