63 Dart bezels and 3D printing?

Is there a future in 3D printing resto-mod parts?

  • Yes, open the flood gates

    Votes: 15 100.0%

  • No, please recycle

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    15
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66Dvert said:
I'm making a few interior parts for eh 63-66 convertibles, only 1(kick panels with speakers) part right now is considered by me to be a production piece but the other s are getting closer
kick panels
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top rear convertible panel filler just need to adjust cutting out positions
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ahh the glove box from hell, webbing issues still
ongoing so it's a no go for now. but I'm getting closer.
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side panels has the basic form but still working out an easy way to cut it out. View attachment 1715375484 View attachment 1715375486
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That is awesome! Thanks for confirming I'm not Bat $hit crazy for pursuing this. I love the kick panels, I was leaning towards similar custom door panels but if you have "production" pieces I'd be interested in buying a set from you and move onto next piece. I was soooo focused on the really expensive reproduction parts that I didn't even think about glove box, nice going! I'd be interested in one of those also if your selling them. What material are you using?
Thanks again for sharing, this thread has been very inspiring.
 
63DropTop said:
That is awesome! Thanks for confirming I'm not Bat $hit crazy for pursuing this. I love the kick panels, I was leaning towards similar custom door panels but if you have "production" pieces I'd be interested in buying a set from you and move onto next piece. I was soooo focused on the really expensive reproduction parts that I didn't even think about glove box, nice going! I'd be interested in one of those also if your selling them. What material are you using?
Thanks again for sharing, this thread has been very inspiring.
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last question first. On the kick panels (and glove box if it ever comes out right)I'm using haircell ABS. on the Side and top rear convertible panel pieces I'm using HIP plastics just a bit thicker than original. on the side glass divider cushions for convertibles I'm using 90 Dureometer rubber. and yep I'll be doing both the hardtops and convertibles soon.
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the kick panels are 115.00 shipped to the lower 48 if your interested they come with the panels (2), #8 trim screws (4), #10 trim screws (4) and a speaker dimension sheet for reference on how deep you can go. 1 item to consider is unless your dimmer switch is at least 3.5 inches away from the sidewall you will have to relocate the dimmer switch out a bit. (I have mine set at 4" for an easy hit of the toe.)
 
Cuda416 said:
Eh, not to ague but you might be surprised. Lot's of CAD/modeling software "shows" you something different because they aren't designed to actually model for printing etc. You can see it in any STL viewer. Going from an IGS sold to an STL (shell) can be problematic as well. Been there done that :) You might try loading the IGS into blender and exporting it that way.
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Thanks again for the tip, you were spot on. I looked at the STL file in solid works and it showed a completely different picture than other "viewer" showed. Now it's apparent.
 
63DropTop said:
Thanks again for the tip, you were spot on. I looked at the STL file in solid works and it showed a completely different picture than other "viewer" showed. Now it's apparent.
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Glad to hear it.

When @pishta showed off his awesome formula "S" badges, I noticed the same thing. There is a control in TinkerCad that lets you increase the number of "sides" the round things have and it starts at 20 but can increase to 64. For most things 64 is pretty good, but it's still visible when printed as vertical lines from the segments. I'd love to get my hands on one and model one in blender.

This was my biggest print to date, modeled by me in blender. Cut the model into 8 parts to print, glued it together and painted it... it was for our companies Christmas party.

20190103_1815542.jpg


20190106_1938422.jpg
 
dartfreak75 said:
This makes me curious about other potential possibilities. How durable is the the printed product? Can it be painted plated etc? How does it hold up to heat ?
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Depends on the material. Your typical "home" 3D printer will not print using materials that can withstand weather, heat, moisture. There are some good plastics such as nylon and ABS that can be printed. Metals can also be printed. But all of these are done with industrial type printers. Your best bet is to get the design perfected, then send off your stl model to a company like Shapeways for printing in your choice of dozens of materials.
 
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63DropTop said:
That is awesome! Thanks for confirming I'm not Bat $hit crazy for pursuing this. I love the kick panels, I was leaning towards similar custom door panels but if you have "production" pieces I'd be interested in buying a set from you and move onto next piece. I was soooo focused on the really expensive reproduction parts that I didn't even think about glove box, nice going! I'd be interested in one of those also if your selling them. What material are you using?
Thanks again for sharing, this thread has been very inspiring.
Click to expand...

Mine arrived last Friday they where above and beyond what I was expecting. Kurt is doing a great job. I am going to send him another small part you have likely not thought about yet either for him to reproduce :)
 
Jim Kueneman said:
Mine arrived last Friday they where above and beyond what I was expecting. Kurt is doing a great job. I am going to send him another small part you have likely not thought about yet either for him to reproduce :)
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Thanks for the praise Jim, But I really am doing this so I can make more parts for my cars(without the wife going too crazy on me for spending so much money) and it just so happens other people can use the stuff too! Can ya send me some installed pictures of the kick panels when you get them in?? and any feed back on what you like/don't like about the kick panels. I've got a test piece going out on the convertible rear top triangles and will see if they fit his cars also, then those parts will be ready. side pieces are next for the convertible... glove box is in stage 2 of testing and will need a week or so more work to redo some items I didn't like.
 
69_340_GTS said:
Depends on the material. Your typical "home" 3D printer will not print using materials that can withstand weather, heat, moisture. There are some good plastics such as nylon and ABS that can be printed. Metals can also be printed. But all of these are done with industrial type printers. Your best bet is to get the design perfected, then send off your stl model to a company like Shapeways for printing in your choice of dozens of materials.
Click to expand...

I've (well my partner hasn't and I have not even tried) not had real good luck getting the parts made correctly from shapeways on a couple parts. I prefer 3d printing,cleaning up the product. then making a mold and casting the part from Impact resistant plastic resin if I can or send out to a small hobby foundry, Though I do have to find another one since the guy just retired this year and he was supposed to cast me some 1966 dart rear tail light bezels when I got the 3d printed pieces to him.(dang it)
 
Here's a new multi color splicer. Cool stuff!!!
 
Could you try and use a carbon fiber PLA or maybe a metal infused PLA?
 
Would it be feasible to print something as large as a trunk trim panel? I'm not sure if I can get mine straight enough.
 
It can be done but it might be cost prohibitive

Might be cheaper to have it milled from stock
 
Claydart said:
Could you try and use a carbon fiber PLA or maybe a metal infused PLA?
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That's definitely a possibility. I'm currently waiting on my son to repair his machine so i can finish a few other items I'm looking into printing. It's his machine and he's currently making items for other people so guess dad has to wait my turn....
 
Idaho said:
Would it be feasible to print something as large as a trunk trim panel? I'm not sure if I can get mine straight enough.
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From what I've had quoted and looked into thus far, once the object is larger than about 1 square foot it gets cheaper to have machined.
 
I just got an Ender 3 Pro. I plan on making some things for my Dart.

20191230_085253.jpg
 
MuuMuu101 said:
I just got an Ender 3 Pro. I plan on making some things for my Dart.

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Awesome!!! What year Dart are you restoring? My son had a Creality CR-10. He picked up super cheap because previous owner couldn't get it to work. ( Just needed board plugged in). It has nice envelope and he's still working out the quirks.
 
1968 Dart. I'm still setting it up. I haven't turned it on, yet. Lol.
 
@MuuMuu101 PM sent

They got ALuminum powder type rigs that somehow lay a powder and then use a laser to melt the AL onto the base layer, over and over again. Stacks a solid AL part! Uber $$$ aerospace/race car prototype stuff.
 
4 inch thick! Wow. I'm in the market for a 3d printer now, too cool not to have. Dont mind building one if someone has had good experience with a kit or used/ stand alone. Limited $300 budget.
 
pishta said:
4 inch thick! Wow. I'm in the market for a 3d printer now, too cool not to have. Dont mind building one if someone has had good experience with a kit or used/ stand alone. Limited $300 budget.
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The one I got for Christmas is $250 on Amazon. It was as low as $210 during the holidays. I'm doing a test print right now (2nd attempt) and so far it is looking really good. It's a Creality Ender 3 Pro.
 
63DropTop said:
Hello everyone. I'm relatively new to forum only a couple years but this is my first thread/post. This is a great group of people and I'm glad I got turned onto the site prior to restoration. The knowledge base here is fantastic.So, I am in the process of restoring a 63 Dart convertible and like everyone else that has a 63 Dart, the one single year trim items have been challenging to find/repair/restore/replace. I believe the most difficult item yet has been headlight bezels! I feel like the day I win Powerball I'll also find a set of these new at a nice little old ladies garage sale... Any way out of frustration and mostly desperation I decided to try my hand at 3D printing a set. I would like to illicit feedback from my fellow 63 dart restoration specialist and anyone else on what they think about the concept in general? There are many benefits (cost primarily, paint-able, can still chrome plate, can print in different colors, don't need to make large batches, won't dent from stone or bug,etc...). Anyway I was wondering if anyone else has dabbled in "printing" their own parts and if so, how did they turn out? Thanks in advance.

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I think that's great what your doing and honestly don't know much about it but do know that they are 3D printing steel parts where I work which would certainly be more durable than the plastic.
 
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