Console Lid Latch Update
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
I put it in place today. One of the round sides needed some slight filing/sanding for it to fit. I believe this is more to do with some problems with the printed piece rather than the model. It is now fitting pretty well. I left the spring at my workplace so I'll need to grab it Monday and check it the fitment there as well. I'd also like to do a few more prints before I call it good.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 363
Likes: 96
From: Savannah GA
Check out
https://www.protolabs.com/services/injection-molding/
I use them all the time for soft tool IM proto parts.
https://www.protolabs.com/services/injection-molding/
I use them all the time for soft tool IM proto parts.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
Pretty neat. I hadn't heard of them before. I'm sure a starting price of $1500 is good for getting an injection mold made but I have other avenues that would only cost me time and material. I would pursue those routes first. 
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
Just another update. I have the latch installed and working so here is a quick video. I believe the model is very accurate. I had to do some light filing of around one of the ends to fit through the hole on the console lid. I also I believe the hole that holds the spring could be a little further out. I believe both of these issues are related to the imperfections on the 3D printed part.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUL0...ature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUL0...ature=youtu.be
Last edited by PCMusicGuy; Jan 21, 2018 at 02:09 PM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 363
Likes: 96
From: Savannah GA
If you like, PM me a STEP file of your model and I may have a window to machine some out of aluminum in mid March. Ill try, very busy. I have 2 horizontal pallet changers that can go through these quickly.
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: Quakertown PA
I dropped my lid and the "pin" on one end of the "shaft" broke off. The lid doesn't bounce, but the broken pin rattles around inside the lid when I "corner with enthusiasm".
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
I printed out another revision of this part this past weekend. I mostly made a simple modification of the position of the hole so that it would hold the spring in a more correct orientation. My car is currently at the body shop and I will test it out when it comes home. Also, I would say that, assuming the newly printed one works like the old one, I can send the one currently in my car to whoever wants it. I guess it would be first come first serve. Would just need an address to ship it to.
Last edited by PCMusicGuy; Mar 5, 2018 at 10:42 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 495
From: Clearwater, Florida
I printed out another revision of this part this past weekend. I mostly made a simple modification of the position of the hole so that it would hold the spring in a more correct orientation. My car is currently at the body shop and I will test it out when it comes home. Also, I would say that, assuming the newly printed one works like the old one, I can send the one currently in my car to whoever wants it. I guess it would be first come first serve. Would just need an address to ship it to.
Is there any chance that you would be offering these in black? The red would just stick out more than I would like.
Last edited by Frankie15; Mar 5, 2018 at 11:00 PM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 514
Likes: 85
Lid latch
I had some velcro sitting in the cupboard. Put a latch piece on the bottom area of console and the other piece on the lid. Has worked fine for the past year. Realize this was a temp fix and would like a real latch .
My wife always tell me to KEEP MY LID ON when I get cut off in traffic!
If she could I can see her putting Velcro over my mouth.
JB
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,768
Likes: 3,283
From: Phoenix area, AZ
I printed out another revision of this part this past weekend. I mostly made a simple modification of the position of the hole so that it would hold the spring in a more correct orientation. My car is currently at the body shop and I will test it out when it comes home. Also, I would say that, assuming the newly printed one works like the old one, I can send the one currently in my car to whoever wants it. I guess it would be first come first serve. Would just need an address to ship it to.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
I haven't changed the filament over at the makerspace I use. I try not to change too much stuff as the equipment is also used for a school. If I get opportunity in the future to print it in black, I can send that one to you. In the meantime, when I swap the new one in, if you PM your address, I will send you the red prototype. In the future, if I send you a black one, you just need to send the red one to another member that needs one.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
Is it a padded lid from DSV? I have one laying around I could take some measurements with. In the meantime, could you estimate how much longer you think it would need to be to latch securely?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 4,463
Likes: 326
From: Houston TX
The file will be public soon. I wanted to test revision 2 of the model to see if the fitment of the spring was any better. I have the new part printed, but my car is at the body shop. So as soon as I get it back I will check it out and then make the file public. I will either put it on a place like thingaverse or host it somewhere myself.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 288
Likes: 12
From: AZ
The pad is from another company on the forum.
Please let me know and I'd gladly pay for the part, shipping or both
Advanced
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 73
Likes: 28
From: Miami Florida
Pic's for C6 2005
Many thanks to doomi and 72GACRZR for providing pictures and dimensions of the latch portion of the lid. The 3D model has been updated and last night I did a test print of it in ABS. The first picture is how it looks when finished printing while the next two are with the piece and supports separated. The printed part is on the left while the raft and support structure used during the print is on the right.
I will do some comparisons against my original broken latch in the next few days and then do some test fitting with the console and lid. I plan to make this model free once all the test fits and refinements have been completed. I am also thinking about making an original and one with an extended latch for those with aftermarket padded console lids. My latch always fit much tighter with the padded lid and that, along with the poor engineering of the latch itself, probably lead to an earlier demise.
The dream goal would be to invert the model once proven, create molds out of aluminum or steel on a CNC mill, then use the injection molding machine at my maker space to recreate the factory piece in ABS with the same mold lines. I will update this thread when I know more.
I will do some comparisons against my original broken latch in the next few days and then do some test fitting with the console and lid. I plan to make this model free once all the test fits and refinements have been completed. I am also thinking about making an original and one with an extended latch for those with aftermarket padded console lids. My latch always fit much tighter with the padded lid and that, along with the poor engineering of the latch itself, probably lead to an earlier demise.
The dream goal would be to invert the model once proven, create molds out of aluminum or steel on a CNC mill, then use the injection molding machine at my maker space to recreate the factory piece in ABS with the same mold lines. I will update this thread when I know more.