3D Printing Drip Rails

[IntrigdIrishGuy]

Hey guys,

First time in a long time I've written anything - I've been mostly just reading reading reading for ages since you folks cover just about anything I can think of.

Seems to me that finding a company to do a run of fully plastic replacement drip rails may be an interesting option. There are quite a few shops that can scan, create a mold digitally, and run a whole lot of modern plastics through it.

The cost might not be pocket change, but setting up a group buy up front may actually making it reasonable. How many folks here would buy a set at the original Dealer level cost?

I know one or two guys in the industry that might be able to point us in the right direction if demand is there.

 

[autocrossn]

I second this... I thought about buying a 3d printer but wouldnt be able to scan anything

 

[19Eclipse90]

There are no molds involved with 3D printing. All you need for a 3D printing job is a CAD model of the part you are looking to replicate, saved in the correct file format (typically .STL). Any yahoo with the part and a pair of dial calipers can get that done for you. 3D printing is great for a lot of things, just make sure that the printing material will be sufficient for the intended production use.

I've used these guys for work and have no complaints, enough to where I'll probably be using them again soon: GoEngineer Print Your Part. The other thing to be concerned about is the size of the part as not all printers have a very large capacity.

Edit: I thought about this all day and figured you meant something else about the mold but a (the) mold(s) for this would not be cost effective for a couple or group buys' worth of sets.

 

[IntrigdIrishGuy]

Well, I wasn't actually talking about 3 printing the parts themselves- wouldn't be cost effective for any decent sized run of them. Printing a few identical molds (in sections most likely) and then running a full batch of them in the molds would be the best compromise between cost/batch size.

And you're correct that 3D printing does use molds, but it's absolutely used to create them. The combination of a laser scan, plus 3 printed molds might make a decent sized batched financially viable. There's certainly enough of us that need them, its an out of production part, and modern plastics should be able to handle most of the stress of the original underlying metal pieces.

Pretty cool company you've got there to print parts!

 

[19Eclipse90]

Plastic parts in plastic molds? Or am I missing something?

I'm assuming you are envisioning injection molding, would that be correct?

 

[sirbow2]

i believe intrigd is talking about using a 3d printer to make plastic molds which can then be used to create new parts with methods such as injection molding.

 

[19Eclipse90]

That's what I'm building up to -- in my experiences, the pressures associated with your typical injection molding process will easily overwhelm a mold made of plastic.

 

[IntrigdIrishGuy]

Sirbow- pretty close. Its not that I don't agree with 19Eclipse90 about the shortcomings of plastic molds, and injection molding in particular, I just think theres enough variety in mold processes and 3D printing processes that its worth exploring.

Just a (probably poor example) but it would be possible to use 3 printing to create an initial mold, pour a positive wax mold, and then use a lost-wax casting process for the plastic.

 

[19Eclipse90]

Doing this on any sort of large scale will become expensive very quickly. I'm not trying to discourage you as I do agree it is worth exploring, I just want to make sure you have as much information before jumping into it.

For a one-off set, I imagine 3D printing is the way to go.

 

[IntrigdIrishGuy]

Oh, good lord yeah, these sort of production runs can get silly, fast. Thats half of finding the right 3D printing group to help understand the project cost. Its an odd middle ground between most 3D printing shops and shipping the piece off to china and having a couple thousand made up.

A one off set for fitment would be a first step in all actuality, just to check that the scan is accurate.

Might even be better to take the old ones, blast off the remains of the old plastic, and just essentially print that. Industrial Expoxy and a bucket full of small clamps might make a viable manufacturing alternative for batches.

Less printed material, and it becomes non-structural, mostly.

Any discussion on the right way to make them, also depends on how many a group buy would be. How many folks on here would order a set do you think?

 

[19Eclipse90]

Couldn't tell you and that isn't something I'm going to get into. The way I look at it, once the CAD models are had, they ought to be made public so anyone can use them to get their parts made at minimal cost. All it takes is one person to take that initial plunge. Even then, I don't expect it to hurt the pocketbook that bad.

 

[jakelandry]

I've worked with 3d printers a few times and IMO it would not be worth the time, hassle, or money. There is a LOT of integral-based work due to the various curvature of the part making it a huge pita. They can be found in any junk yard, sanded down, and sprayed with a VINYL paint. Looks 99% oem and lasts multiple years. Total investment: 20 dollars + beer money.

 

[Mello]

^^^ I agree. My work has a 3D printer. It's expense to use. It not like all the ones you see on the net. It floods a tank & hits it with a laser. I cad/cam I don't think the solid model will be a simple task either. Strip the oem's & plasti-dip spray them & be done with it.

 

[GSLENK]

Am I reading this right? 3D scan an object to 3D print another or a negative for a mold? Or even 3D print to original to be used to make a mold?

Is it just me or does it make more sense to simply make the mold from the original?

(This is besides the point of just plasti-dipping like everyone else does, and does effectively.)

 

[thuddor]

Am I reading this right? 3D scan an object to 3D print another or a negative for a mold? Or even 3D print to original to be used to make a mold?

Is it just me or does it make more sense to simply make the mold from the original?

(This is besides the point of just plasti-dipping like everyone else does, and does effectively.)

If you have a part in good shape, you can try to make a silicon mold. I work in plastic injection and thats a cheap solution for easy prototyping. It could be a reasonable try.

 

[Mitsubi-doo]

If you have a part in good shape, you can try to make a silicon mold. I work in plastic injection and thats a cheap solution for easy prototyping. It could be a reasonable try.

Wow this is an old thread.. I wonder if 3d printing technology has improved?
Im more familiar with making molds to duplicate parts in carbon fiber. And alot of small part molds can be done by 3d printing. But I think other options are better.
Honestly thought about molding the drip rails in carbon fiber to replace mine .