Any 3d printing geniuses out there

Zed Baron

Zed Baron

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 Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Ok, after watching one of the car programmes this week (might of been Car SOS) where they recreated a whole centre console using 3d printing I was pretty amazed how far the process has come in a short period of time. So I was thinking how easy would it be to recreate the lower bumper grilles to accommodate a spotlight (like some of the E85's/86's have). Probably need to scan the original grille and then design an aperture/ring for a led spot.z4m-small.jpg
 
Zed Baron said:
Probably need to scan the original grille and then design an aperture/ring for a led spot.z4m-small.jpg
Click to expand...
It's much easier to design it from the scratch, as the 3D scans are very imprecise.
Zed Baron said:
I was pretty amazed how far the process has come in a short period of time.
Click to expand...
Well, printing of such big structures consumes huge amount of time. As, in most cases, you have to pay for the consumed time of a 3D printer, that will be very expensive. But of course, not impossible.

We started a smaller 3D print project years ago in the German ZRoadster forum, where we re-designed new hinges for the luggage compartments. Even these small hinges consume about 8 hourse each to get printed.

Have a look:
https://www.zroadster.com/forum/threads/verdeckklappe-im-kofferraum.70643/page-12#post-2751889
 
Thanks Robbi, I noticed on the TV programme it was about 40 hours to complete, I remember the hinges :thumbsup:
 
Just 3d print the lamp housing. Friend using 3d printing to production run bracket for traffic light equipment. He wore out the bought 3d printers, he designed and made his own.
What would it take to make the false headlight lamp led.
 
Realistically you could just cut a hole in the existing grills but you would need something stronger than the grills to bolt the lights to.
Depending on the model would there be any issues with space behind the grills.
 
For this you would just print the fake vents on a regular home 3D printer, I'd estimate something like 12-16hr print for something like that. As the item is curved there would be some support structure (hidden on the back to keep the front looking nice). You would need it printing in PETG though as PLA isn't external friendly. The material cost will be less than £2, but the time and prototyping is where you will spend your money.

Part 3 or 4 at the below link:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=LM12-EUR-01-2010-E89-BMW-Z4_35is&diagId=51_7325
 
Zed Baron said:
Ok, after watching one of the car programmes this week (might of been Car SOS) where they recreated a whole centre console using 3d printing I was pretty amazed how far the process has come in a short period of time. So I was thinking how easy would it be to recreate the lower bumper grilles to accommodate a spotlight (like some of the E85's/86's have). Probably need to scan the original grille and then design an aperture/ring for a led spot.z4m-small.jpg
Click to expand...
I have been playing with 3D printing for some time, the biggest issue with the job you propose is the size of it, the build volume of most household 3d printers is not sufficient. You cound consider printing a mounting that you could fit into the existing piece by cutting out a hole?
Google sketchup is a good playground to find your way around.
You drag and drop to create, save the file then export it to slicing software (simplify 3d is very good) before saving it as a printable file.
Either way its very time consuming.....
 
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