3D Printable 914 parts Options

[MajorMojo]

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.

[bdstone914]

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]

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.

[sb914]

[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

[vitamin914]

[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...