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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Interior & Equipment => Instrumentation => Topic started by: bake315 on April 03, 2014, 03:37:32 pm

Title: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: bake315 on April 03, 2014, 03:37:32 pm
I've been kicking around the idea of making myself a new gauge enclosure using a 3D printer.  Has anyone here had an opportunity to use one of those?  It's amazing what they are able to create.  Obviously, the end product's quality hinges mainly on the quality/accuracy of the drawing as well as the type of material used, but I have access to the necessary software and a friend with access to a printer that can do it.
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: hatzie on April 03, 2014, 05:07:21 pm
Give it a whirl.  My Form1 wouldn't handle that size and the SLI resin might not be good for long life.

From orbit via Android.

Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: Captkaos on April 03, 2014, 08:54:32 pm
If you have access I say go for it.  All of the Proof of Concept pieces for the Pillar pods were 3D printed.  If you plan ahead you can make them pretty sturdy.  It is plastic, so it should last.
Starting here all prototypes are 3D prints: http://forum.73-87chevytrucks.com/smforum/index.php?topic=16193.msg210472#msg210472
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: darmentle on April 04, 2014, 08:29:35 am
They can make anything with a 3d printer.  You need to spend good money on a good printer there some cheap ones for like 1500$ floating around for sale on new egg and they are junk.
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: Skyshadow on April 04, 2014, 08:35:50 am
I can CAD you a panel if you want. I am a Cert CAD drafter (part of a engineering degree lol). My personal printer can only do 8x8x11 though so unless you want it in pieces that clip together, you might want to have a large company do it for you (shapeways or R3D).
Also, you can check out GrabCad.com for panels that have been designed already. if they were built right (off equations, not numbers) then you can take a generic gauge panel and adapt if for your application.
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: bake315 on April 07, 2014, 09:52:25 am
Well, I'm trying out an Autodesk program called 123D Design, and at first blush it looks like it can do what I want.  I also have access to 3DSMax and Maya, but those sort of get over my head in a hurry. :)

Skyshadow, what would you need from me in order to CAD a panel?  Access to a printer that can handle it shouldn't be a problem.
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: ehjorten on April 08, 2014, 08:59:38 am
We have 2 printers at work and I am pretty much responsible for them, taking care of the maintenance and such.  We just got a new Stratasys Fortus 400mc FDM with large build platen and we have an Stratasys Objet30 Polyjet also.

I have made a few personal items on the machine, but I try to keep it to a minimum.  My last project was to make a hitch mount for our company logo!

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aJrKbHm6VFo/U0QAW3YTTtI/AAAAAAAAC4o/KcpcJ74kdLg/s720/20140207_144530.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JnmJz-G-Y4c/U0QAbQUQ4uI/AAAAAAAAC4c/XsFab2GKE4I/s800/20140207_154829.jpg)
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: bake315 on April 08, 2014, 12:06:28 pm
Nice!!!
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: Captkaos on April 09, 2014, 09:23:35 pm
Autodesk 123D is kinda a pain, you really need to work with it.  I played with it, but it is easier to build in CAD...
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: Skyshadow on April 15, 2014, 08:09:27 pm
I would just need your dimensions and design idea. If you have a comp that can read (handle) a .prt file then we can swap renderings back and forth. I work off Solidworks myself. It's a very powerful program but not for beginners.
I do have two kind of big projects going myself right now but I could fit ya in man. You can email me @ skyshadow07@aol.com if you want.
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: bake315 on April 18, 2014, 03:47:47 pm
I would just need your dimensions and design idea. If you have a comp that can read (handle) a .prt file then we can swap renderings back and forth. I work off Solidworks myself. It's a very powerful program but not for beginners.
I do have two kind of big projects going myself right now but I could fit ya in man. You can email me @ skyshadow07@aol.com if you want.

Thanks, man!  I'll let you know!
Title: Re: 3D printing a gauge enclosure
Post by: scorpion on June 23, 2014, 05:12:52 am

We have 2 printers at work and I am pretty much responsible for them, taking care of the maintenance and such.  We just got a new Stratasys Fortus 400mc FDM with large build platen and we have an Stratasys Objet30 Polyjet also.

I have made a few personal items on the machine, but I try to keep it to a minimum.  My last project was to make a hitch mount for our company logo!

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aJrKbHm6VFo/U0QAW3YTTtI/AAAAAAAAC4o/KcpcJ74kdLg/s720/20140207_144530.jpg)

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JnmJz-G-Y4c/U0QAbQUQ4uI/AAAAAAAAC4c/XsFab2GKE4I/s800/20140207_154829.jpg)

With those skills I'd be thinking about printing a dash bezel. ;)