3D Printable 914 parts |
|
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG.
This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way. Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. |
|
3D Printable 914 parts |
MajorMojo |
Jan 2 2023, 06:48 PM
Post
#1
|
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 16-August 22 From: Canada Member No.: 26,779 Region Association: Canada |
Hi Folks,
I bought 1972 914 last summer and I've been working on various little improvements to restore/repair some issues. This forum has been a great resource - an ongoing source of information and advice, so thanks to everyone who has contributed their experience. While performing the various fixes, I decided to 3D print some of the little bits that I needed along the way. Most are actually available and not expensive, but: 1) I live in Canada and it can be annoying paying shipping, duty, taxes that end up being 2-10x the cost of the actual parts and 2) I wanted to take on the learning challenge and come up with my own solutions. My designs are shared on Thingiverse and you can download the STL files for printing as well as the original FreeCAD files I created them with. They are mostly nothing special, but perhaps they will be useful to others some time. I looked around and did not find anywhere here where we can catalogue 3D printable parts for our cars, so perhaps we can start with these. I'd love to see what other people have come up with too. The items I have so far are: - Marker light clips - Targa bar trim buttons - Window winder handle trim rings - Window regulator buttons - Rear brake adjuster covers - Trim washers for M5 flat screws - Button plungers for contact switches I'll be pleased to answer any questions or take your suggestions for improvements. Attached image(s) |
BillJ |
Jan 2 2023, 07:09 PM
Post
#2
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,109 Joined: 4-March 13 From: charlotte, NC Member No.: 15,610 Region Association: None |
I don't have a printer, and thus not a consumer, but this is really great of you. Thanks for supporting the community.
|
windforfun |
Jan 2 2023, 07:17 PM
Post
#3
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,833 Joined: 17-December 07 From: Blackhawk, CA Member No.: 8,476 Region Association: None |
|
mb911 |
Jan 2 2023, 07:55 PM
Post
#4
|
914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 6,876 Joined: 2-January 09 From: Burlington wi Member No.: 9,892 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Very cool
|
Mikey914 |
Jan 2 2023, 10:34 PM
Post
#5
|
The rubber man Group: Members Posts: 12,677 Joined: 27-December 04 From: Hillsboro, OR Member No.: 3,348 Region Association: None |
We looked at making 3D printed parts and found that the stresses on some parts exceeded the strength required. A key item is the button on the window regulator (early)
I'd runs some engineering before you put these into production. It's also hard compete with the nylon part injection molded at $6.25 a pop. Not that I don't think there is a market for some parts, but the devil is in the details. |
BillJ |
Jan 2 2023, 10:53 PM
Post
#6
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1,109 Joined: 4-March 13 From: charlotte, NC Member No.: 15,610 Region Association: None |
Unless i am reading it wrong he is not providing these. Just sharing his cad files if you want to do it yourselves?
|
Deusexmachina77 |
Jan 2 2023, 11:12 PM
Post
#7
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 93 Joined: 30-March 22 From: Chicago Member No.: 26,426 Region Association: Upper MidWest |
Thank you for sharing the files. We have a printer at our public library that I have always wanted to try. Now I have something worth the effort to print.
|
bdstone914 |
Jan 2 2023, 11:36 PM
Post
#8
|
bdstone914 Group: Members Posts: 4,534 Joined: 8-November 03 From: Riverside CA Member No.: 1,319 |
I think that is great that you are offering the files for free but Mark has a valid ppint about the stress on some parts makes them unsuitable for 3d printing. I remember a member offering engine lid hinges that were 3d printed and some failures were reported.
The window crank disks and rear caliper adjuster caps should be fine. What material are you using? |
vitamin914 |
Jan 3 2023, 08:08 AM
Post
#9
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 8-September 21 From: Toronto Canada Member No.: 25,893 Region Association: Canada |
I think that is great that you are offering the files for free but Mark has a valid ppint about the stress on some parts makes them unsuitable for 3d printing. I remember a member offering engine lid hinges that were 3d printed and some failures were reported. The window crank disks and rear caliper adjuster caps should be fine. What material are you using? Materials and printers have come a long way in the last few years. Some people have printed ghost guns with 3D printers. It is not just the old fused filament machines anymore. There are even printers that can fuse nylon powders with a 30 W laser. The cost of the machine is high (30k), but so is the cost of injection molding dies. That may be something for 914Rubber to consider but not the everyday Joe like me. There are lower cost alternatives that can produce parts from other engineering resins. Of course the material must be matched to the application if it is to work. I have a FormLabs UV printer that can print in a huge variety of materials, high temperature (460 deg F), rigid polyurethane, engineering resins and even rubber/elastomerics. https://formlabs.com/material-selector/ https://formlabs-media.formlabs.com/datashe...-TDS-ENUS-0.pdf I understand MajorMojo's motivation (thanks for sharing the files!) I too am in Canada and getting stuff across the border is a real pain in the butt. Take a $3.95 part... add $30 shipping, $40 customs clearance, and import taxes and if it doesn't get screwed up by FedEx or the US/Canada Postal, it turns a cheap part into a very expensive part. Naturally, you need to have a 3D printer to take advantage of this. I have the 3D UV printer for other reasons and it would not make any sense to invest that much money just to print a part or two. The printers are fantastic for one-off parts that nobody is ever going to sell commercially. I have printed a custom DIN mounting sleeve for a Sony CarPlay head unit, center cover caps with a Porsche shield for my RevolutionWheels, and a phone mount that exaclty replaces the curved metal ashtray (great since I don't smoke). There is some real satisfaction pulling the part from the goop, washing it, curing it, and having it fit perfectly. It will never replace our suppliers like 914Rubber or AA but it is always amazing to have more options. |
vitamin914 |
Jan 3 2023, 08:15 AM
Post
#10
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 8-September 21 From: Toronto Canada Member No.: 25,893 Region Association: Canada |
|
sb914 |
Jan 3 2023, 08:27 AM
Post
#11
|
Surf Guru Group: Members Posts: 4,315 Joined: 25-November 12 From: Brookings,Oregon Member No.: 15,191 Region Association: Southern California |
[center cover caps with a Porsche shield for my RevolutionWheels,
[/quote] @vitamin914 Got pictures of the center caps. I have revolution wheels but I don’t love the center caps. “Corvette ish” Thanks |
Robarabian |
Jan 3 2023, 08:50 AM
Post
#12
|
914 A Roo Group: Members Posts: 592 Joined: 11-February 19 From: Simi Valley, Kalifornia Member No.: 22,865 Region Association: Southern California |
Thank you for sharing.
|
vitamin914 |
Jan 3 2023, 08:58 AM
Post
#13
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 8-September 21 From: Toronto Canada Member No.: 25,893 Region Association: Canada |
[quote name='sb914' date='Jan 3 2023, 09:27 AM' post='3048949']
[center cover caps with a Porsche shield for my RevolutionWheels, [/quote] @vitamin914 Gob pictures of the center caps. I have revolution wheels but I don’t love the center caps. “Corvette ish” Thanks [/quote] @sb914 Yup... my thoughts exactly... too "Corvette ish" and too British for a German car. My car is in winter storage so I don't have quick access to to it but here is a photo of one of the trial 3D prints I did. The gold color is from pressing the part onto a freshly sprayed piece of plastic film. I still have not decided if I will do this in gold, silver or leave black. For those that don't know what we are talking about... |
dr914@autoatlanta.com |
Jan 3 2023, 09:50 AM
Post
#14
|
914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 7,893 Joined: 3-January 07 From: atlanta georgia Member No.: 7,418 Region Association: None |
one problem is that it takes way too long to print a part, hence not worth it with small cheap parts (we have over 500 injected molded side marker pins on the shelf) if we had to print them, we would still be doing it!!! LOL
|
76-914 |
Jan 3 2023, 09:54 AM
Post
#15
|
Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist Group: Members Posts: 13,507 Joined: 23-January 09 From: Temecula, CA Member No.: 9,964 Region Association: Southern California |
I don't have a 3D printer and I know nothing about CAD files but..................thank you very much for furthering the parts possibilities for the 914 of which I have an apparent addiction. I've read that they are 3D printing houses now as well. One futuristic forecast is that we'll be printing our Rx one day. Not sure that would be a good thing but the possibilities are endless and what currently appears to be ridiculous can be fact tomorrow. Thx again for your unselfish contribution. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
|
vitamin914 |
Jan 3 2023, 10:22 AM
Post
#16
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 202 Joined: 8-September 21 From: Toronto Canada Member No.: 25,893 Region Association: Canada |
one problem is that it takes way too long to print a part, hence not worth it with small cheap parts (we have over 500 injected molded side marker pins on the shelf) if we had to print them, we would still be doing it!!! LOL (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) It is hideously slow - one print can easily take 5 hours or more (depends on size / complexity). Good for prototypes, DIY or very low volume or custom specials - as in "made to order". Also most machines have small print volumes which limits size or number of parts that can be done at once. It is too costly of a process for making parts to sell that have a reasonable demand. |
sb914 |
Jan 3 2023, 10:29 AM
Post
#17
|
Surf Guru Group: Members Posts: 4,315 Joined: 25-November 12 From: Brookings,Oregon Member No.: 15,191 Region Association: Southern California |
[quote name='vitamin914' date='Jan 3 2023, 06:58 AM' post='3048954']
[quote name='sb914' date='Jan 3 2023, 09:27 AM' post='3048949'] [center cover caps with a Porsche shield for my RevolutionWheels, [/quote] @vitamin914 Gob pictures of the center caps. I have revolution wheels but I don’t love the center caps. “Corvette ish” Thanks [/quote] @sb914 Yup... my thoughts exactly... too "Corvette ish" and too British for a German car. My car is in winter storage so I don't have quick access to to it but here is a photo of one of the trial 3D prints I did. The gold color is from pressing the part onto a freshly sprayed piece of plastic film. I still have not decided if I will do this in gold, silver or leave black. For those that don't know what we are talking about... [/quote] Thanks for the response. And I appreciate you ! To bad they take so long…. |
MajorMojo |
Jan 3 2023, 12:26 PM
Post
#18
|
Newbie Group: Members Posts: 2 Joined: 16-August 22 From: Canada Member No.: 26,779 Region Association: Canada |
It’s nice to see some other printable parts being shared, thanks! To be clear, my intent is not to produce or sell parts. They are mostly readily available now commercially, but some day they might not be. For me, it’s mostly about the satisfaction of learning something new and producing something useful for myself. I wanted to share them with others in case they find them useful too.
I prototyped everything in cheap PLA and that’s probably fine for some parts. Others I have re-printed in carbon fibre PETG for durability. I’ve also tried printing some in ASA (a deriviative of ABS) but it’s pretty tricky to work with. For some of the parts, the commercially available ones are almost certainly better quality. But that could change over time as 3D printing evolves and improves. As others mentioned here, I don’t think there’s much of a business model for mass producing small parts like this via 3D printing. Most of these small parts print in 30min or less. Some, like the trim rings, I did in batches that took a bit longer. For those that do have a printer, getting a useful part later today is a lot better than waiting a week or more for it. Thank you for the welcome. I’m also working on a cupholder that fits into the center console storage bin. I will share that design too when I’m done prototyping it. Attached image(s) |
mepstein |
Jan 3 2023, 01:29 PM
Post
#19
|
914-6 GT in waiting Group: Members Posts: 19,312 Joined: 19-September 09 From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE Member No.: 10,825 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
I think people are missing the point when they dismiss printing. Sure it doesn’t make sense for commonly available parts but it’s awesome when you need a part that’s nla or like previously said, a $1 part with $50 in shipping charges. One of the guys at our shop uses his 3d printer to make small clips, brackets, spacers, etc. he can print it overnight and we have the needed part the next day. A customer wanted a certain steering wheel on his car. We had an adaptor made quickly to do it. Ferrari steering wheel on a Datsun/Ferrari clone. We also use it for prototyping a part before getting one made in another material. Testing the fit and functionality before spending money at the fab shop is a big win.
Metal printing machines are pricey but give them time. And another benefit, no need to order 500 of a slow selling item, just to have 495 of them sitting on a shelf. Print one as needed. It’s certainly not to only way to make parts but it’s a great tool to have available. MajorMojo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) |
rhcb914 |
Mar 11 2023, 03:37 PM
Post
#20
|
member Group: Members Posts: 358 Joined: 3-February 04 From: Boston, MA Member No.: 1,626 |
"I’m also working on a cupholder that fits into the center console storage bin"
Sweet! can't wait to print that. Been looking for one! I just picked up a Sovol SV06 and love it! Got to learn fusion360 though, still muddling my way through the youtube videos! This is a great idea for a thread. Thanks for sharing! |
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 6th June 2024 - 05:29 AM |
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002 |
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community! We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ... |