Console Lid Latch Update
#42
Melting Slicks
PCMusicGuy is kind and generous enough to send me one of his newest revisions. Once I receive it, I want to return the favor by giving someone his original red prototype that is pictured in this thread. It works perfectly.
So, who wants it?
So, who wants it?
#45
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Sorry for the long delay between updates. When I initially tried printing in ABS, I faced many issues. Mostly, the plastic wouldn't stay stuck to the glass bed while building the parts, and the layers were not very strongly bonded together.
After trying many different temperature settings and tricks, I decided to enclose the whole printer so that it would have a higher ambient temperature while printing. There is many benefits to this when dealing with ABS apparently.
I still had to fiddle with settings and tricks to get things printing at acceptable quality. I've been swamped with my day job the last couple months, but I did finally get it working well.
This is what the current latch looks like in ABS.
For those interested in what the printing setup looks like, here is a picture.
After trying many different temperature settings and tricks, I decided to enclose the whole printer so that it would have a higher ambient temperature while printing. There is many benefits to this when dealing with ABS apparently.
I still had to fiddle with settings and tricks to get things printing at acceptable quality. I've been swamped with my day job the last couple months, but I did finally get it working well.
This is what the current latch looks like in ABS.
For those interested in what the printing setup looks like, here is a picture.
The following 2 users liked this post by PCMusicGuy:
FatsWaller (09-01-2018),
Frankie15 (08-31-2018)
#46
Melting Slicks
Thanks so much for the update PCMusicGuy. This is a great thing you're doing for the community. Can't thank you enough for your generosity in sending me your newest model .Truly appreciate it. Nice setup too.
Looking forward to receiving it and I will get the original latch out to 5knives once I do.
Looking forward to receiving it and I will get the original latch out to 5knives once I do.
#47
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2011
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 13,256
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2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
My console lid latch is broken on my 2011 GS too.
There must really be a lot of these broken latches out there ...
There must really be a lot of these broken latches out there ...
#49
Safety Car
Thread Starter
My understanding is that there are a lot of broken latches out there for the earlier models. When I look at the replacement latch pictures on Cultrag, it looks as if it is a slightly different design that has extra supports for the little piece that always breaks. I can certainly make a bunch of these and sell them, just as long as people understand that the finish of these will have the layer lines and won't be smooth like an injected molded piece. What would everyone think about a $15 to $20 price point? That would include shipping. Shipping would be anywhere from $3 to $7. Flat rate envelopes are $7 these days at the post office. There may be some cheaper options and I'm exploring that as well.
#51
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Just an update. Shipping is right at $3.50 through the post office. Pretty reasonable. I would just need to buy some of the little bubble mailer 4 x 8 or 6 x 9 envelopes in bulk so that they are not $1 a piece. I currently have ABS in black and blue (a brighter blue). If anyone wants a latch let me know. I saw that these things have gone to just over $50 now. It was closer to lower $40s when I started this learning process.
Last edited by PCMusicGuy; 09-12-2018 at 11:04 PM. Reason: Grammar
#52
Advanced
Latch
My understanding is that there are a lot of broken latches out there for the earlier models. When I look at the replacement latch pictures on Cultrag, it looks as if it is a slightly different design that has extra supports for the little piece that always breaks. I can certainly make a bunch of these and sell them, just as long as people understand that the finish of these will have the layer lines and won't be smooth like an injected molded piece. What would everyone think about a $15 to $20 price point? That would include shipping. Shipping would be anywhere from $3 to $7. Flat rate envelopes are $7 these days at the post office. There may be some cheaper options and I'm exploring that as well.
#53
How in the world do so many of you guys break these? Why is it so friggin' hard for people to open a simple latch on a car? I can't believe how so many people can be so clums.........
Oh geez!! There went mine!!!!
Oh geez!! There went mine!!!!
The following users liked this post:
TonyFaub (07-07-2019)
The following users liked this post:
TonyFaub (07-07-2019)
#56
Racer
Just an update. Shipping is right at $3.50 through the post office. Pretty reasonable. I would just need to buy some of the little bubble mailer 4 x 8 or 6 x 9 envelopes in bulk so that they are not $1 a piece. I currently have ABS in black and blue (a brighter blue). If anyone wants a latch let me know. I saw that these things have no gone to just over $50 now. It was closer to lower $40s when I started this learning process.
https://store.usps.com/store/results...xes/_/N-u9qwm0
#58
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Not sure how this would work with your price point, but you can get USPS to send you boxes FREE of charge.
https://store.usps.com/store/results...xes/_/N-u9qwm0
https://store.usps.com/store/results...xes/_/N-u9qwm0
#60
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Wanted to give you guys another update. I've been working towards improving the finish quality on the parts. I know I won't hit injection molded quality but if I can make the part better, why not?
Since everyone enjoys pictures over tons of words, I thought I would share the progression of this project with you below. Just a hint, but the matching wording appears at the bottom of the picture. That's they way the forum handles picture comment uploads apparently.
Where it all started.
First print was at a Maker Space using red ABS.
It worked ok, but some edges were sharp and need a bit more refinement.
PLA plastic held its shape for a couple of days, but after experiencing the Texas sun in the parking lot at work, it started to warp. It worked for 3 weeks until the latch portion broke.
First successful prints on my personal printer out of black ABS. I'm still using one of these in my car.
Continued in next post....
Since everyone enjoys pictures over tons of words, I thought I would share the progression of this project with you below. Just a hint, but the matching wording appears at the bottom of the picture. That's they way the forum handles picture comment uploads apparently.
Where it all started.
First print was at a Maker Space using red ABS.
It worked ok, but some edges were sharp and need a bit more refinement.
PLA plastic held its shape for a couple of days, but after experiencing the Texas sun in the parking lot at work, it started to warp. It worked for 3 weeks until the latch portion broke.
First successful prints on my personal printer out of black ABS. I'm still using one of these in my car.
Continued in next post....