3D Printing a Center Console
If you've been following my posts you've seen how I've started to incorporate 3D printing into my car 1966 Dart build. It started with a device to flip a stereo between a touchscreen and a Retrosound radio face. I've just started on my next adventure, which is the console. I've got my new printer on preorder, but it's a very fast printer so I should be able to turn out iterations pretty easily.
The idea is to print this thing according to the limits of my print volume, which is about 9.5" cubed. So this console will end up being probably 7-9 pieces. I will use registration pins to make sure the parts line up, dry fit them, and glue them when I'm satisfied. I'm going to let the design dictate materials, but will likely just be using a combination of leather and painting directly some surfaces.
Some of the features will include: 2 cupholders up front, 2 cupholders for the rear seats, a button for my stealth effects (like hiding the radio), a Lokar shifter with indicator, AC controls and 2 vents, arm rest with shallow storage area, hard wired remote for the radio, Holley sniper display, and possibly switches for windows and doors.
I'm still in the very early stages, so lots of this is still TBD, and this will be a long project, but consider this the home thread for it, and a starting point. Here's my very early basic, version, where I'm just sort of setting up the basic idea and laying out the components. In fact, one of the next things I need to look at is the available space between the shifter area and the start of the arm rest section...feels like its too long, and I may have measured something wrong.
If you've been following my posts you've seen how I've started to incorporate 3D printing into my car 1966 Dart build. It started with a device to flip a stereo between a touchscreen and a Retrosound radio face. I've just started on my next adventure, which is the console. I've got my new printer on preorder, but it's a very fast printer so I should be able to turn out iterations pretty easily.
The idea is to print this thing according to the limits of my print volume, which is about 9.5" cubed. So this console will end up being probably 7-9 pieces. I will use registration pins to make sure the parts line up, dry fit them, and glue them when I'm satisfied. I'm going to let the design dictate materials, but will likely just be using a combination of leather and painting directly some surfaces.
Some of the features will include: 2 cupholders up front, 2 cupholders for the rear seats, a button for my stealth effects (like hiding the radio), a Lokar shifter with indicator, AC controls and 2 vents, arm rest with shallow storage area, hard wired remote for the radio, Holley sniper display, and possibly switches for windows and doors.
I'm still in the very early stages, so lots of this is still TBD, and this will be a long project, but consider this the home thread for it, and a starting point. Here's my very early basic, version, where I'm just sort of setting up the basic idea and laying out the components. In fact, one of the next things I need to look at is the available space between the shifter area and the start of the arm rest section...feels like its too long, and I may have measured something wrong.
