3D Scanning Parts

[SF_Mini]

I have the opportunity to have some CAD files created out of some extreme high quality 3D scans of parts. What is worth doing, for example NLA or rare parts? For future 3D printing or cnc etc.
Mk1 column cowl is top priority as I can print that easily at home. Any additional suggestions? Plastics ideal.

[mk1]

Sounds like an interesting project. I did similar a while ago, best item I did was the MK1 interior light. Catmint Gordon has moved this on & is now offering complete units. I was surprised that I couldn't think of that many bits to do when push came to shove. My printer has now been semi retired.

Really good column cowls are available.

http://www.minispares.com/product/Class ... o%20search

[Bitsilly]

The light switches on the speedo cowling on an 850, or just the visible bit as an adapter?
On a Lotus Elan, the 50p size vents bottom of A post.
Those are the two bits I have real problems finding, but I can’t say if mine is a common need.

If you can do clear plastic and scan inside cavities too, I bet you would sell quite a few mk1 glass w/s/w fluid bottles and lids!

[Bitsilly]

Just on an aside, I read once that chrome can be applied to plastic, no idea how or if it is any good, but if it can it would open things up a bit, especially for mezzanite items ( is that the word??) at least it’s a problem for Jags.

[mk1]

Electroplating onto plastic is actually quite easy. I used to do it all the time when I was making circuit boards.

You need to initially coat the plastic in question with some form of "electroless copper" There are various ways of doing this & once it has been done it can be plated as normal. The plastic substrate has to be PERFECTLY smooth though as polishing such parts is nigh on impossible.

I don't think I have ever seen plated plastic that would pass as anything other than plated plastic though.

[Peter Laidler]

A lot of the cheap sports trophies are plastic, electroplated. Have a look/feel next time you get a chance. My friend locally had his Mk1 Cortina GT bezels all re-chromed by one of the trophy manufacturers

[timmy201]

I've been doing some CAD and 3D printing of steering wheel parts, which I think is ideal as they are strong enough for the part and not load bearing.

64F83F38-3193-4F34-9899-7252F0D89A2C.jpeg

5F8162AC-9B00-48CC-9118-857DD8BF9BEC.jpeg

If you could work out the Formula trim rings like these:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=36101

I just wish I had a printer at home to trial the process a lot quicker

[snoopy64]

Hi, interesting watch, i have had some involvement in the tech for the post printing treatment of parts but this shows how quickly this has moved from prototype printing to production..

https://youtu.be/7xV-3mjEBoY

[rogerotto66s]

A friend made me a new (actually better than new) fresh air hose to front panel adapter (24A1967).
The “ears” on mine split. The 3D part has thicker and reinforced “ears”.

3B844622-E466-4AAA-B299-4847300C0EA8.jpeg

Doing research for this topic I see I should be using rivets rather than screws to attach to front panel.

626D03B6-A887-4C3C-8057-BBD302B36E9B.png

[mk1]

Catmint Gordon does these parts, probably as good & cheaper than doing your own.

https://shop.catmint.biz/product-catego ... he-bonnet/

[Puff4]

Yes, he does appear to be making the screen. I’m the ‘friend’ who reproduced the part for Roger. It took about a hour of CAD work and one prototype to get it right, particularly how to add strength without affecting the overall appearance of the part.

Surprisingly, the cost to make such parts on a 3D printer is quite low. The filament to produce that screen was about $0.75. Time is more the issue, as it took 3x longer to print it than to design it!

-Kevin

[SF_Mini]

Glad this sparked some conversation. Just want to note that scanning and CAD’ing isn’t just for 3D printed application. The true gold is having a complete 3D rendering of a part which will open the door for any material to be CNC’d. Such as an aluminum steering cowl. I’m lucky to have access to all the tools for this. What I lack is the knowledge of what is actually worth spending the time on outside of my own needs.

[Joel Welsh 4769VU]

My little brother is a big computer/tech guy, and his wife- 3d models characters for a video game company.

He recently brought over a tablet with a lidar? based scanner technology? and walked around my cooper, scanning the whole car into a 3d model.

He did it as a... lark in some off time- as he was thinking of 3d printing some scale RC car bodies in differing sizes.

His scanner technology picked up not only the shapes and sizes of the car- but matched photographic imaging to the scans.

To the point that he had reflections in the window glass from the trees.

It's a simple jump to scanning and printing parts.
Why did it never cross my mind?

[InnoCooperExport]

We had some plastic parts from Fulvia seats, a small button that set the backrest reset position after pulling the backrest forward to allow access to the rear, and they are indisitinguishable from the long since NLA, unobtainium, original part. Absolutely ace.

There's a few Inno bits that could be remade but they are very VERY niche. I follow a company on Facebook called Additive Restoration who do nothing else but reproduce impossible to find rare parts, often for very rare cars.

[Catmint]

Printing is a whole minefield of opportunity and error. A lot is depenant on the machine and the material used, at first it looks pretty cheap, but to start producing quality parts, it starts to cost - the printers have "wear parts" that need to be replaced every so many hours, decent resin is expensive. To give you and idea, my lithograph machine cost about £6K, the printing screens are about £150 and have a limited life, resin is about £140 a litre, but it is a bloody good setup and I have full backup from the machine's manufacturer. By the time you build running costs into the product, it does ramp up the price signifcantly, but for small product runs it is far cheaper than spending ££££ on injection moulds. I think the next big way to look is at the metal printing, but the machines for that are about £100K.

As with most things, it is not as rosey as it first appears, there are issues with different types of printing and I certainly would not want to use it for anything structural unless it had been made by someone who knows what they are doing

These guys are doing a fantastic job https://s-can.co.uk/

Gordon