Making my own hardtop lock covers

How much does the plastic cost for 3D printing? You can get printers for £500 now, for one job that's silly but if you'll use it a lot? Or for all these bits that BMW don't make anymore...? Make 5 sets and break even?

Metal and some fabric could work really well.
 
Just had a look and the plastic is really cheap, less than £15 per Kilo!

There's a lot of places that do both 3D scanning and printing, would need to take a scan of the original lock covers to get detailed CAD image for printing dimensions.

If someone has a set of covers they could get scanned there could be some profit in selling low cost covers...

This is a list of places you can go to get them scanned (and printed) in the UK there's 63 of them! Anyone with a set of covers near enough to any of these places and wants to see if its doable?

https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint#/?place=Birmingham,%20West%20Midlands,%20UK&latitude=52.48624299999999&longitude=-1.8904009999999971&distanceUnit=miles&materialGroups=prototyping-plastics&scanning

I think the price for printing could be brought down by emailing the 3D scans to a few different places and getting prices, from that website there are over 400 places in the UK that offer 3D printing and will post out the printed parts so plenty of competition in the market!

https://www.3dhubs.com/3dprint#/?place=Birmingham,%20West%20Midlands,%20UK&latitude=52.48624299999999&longitude=-1.8904009999999971&distanceUnit=miles&materialGroups=prototyping-plastics&shipping
 
Even if no one who owns a set wants to either take them into a scanner or even post them to a scanner could we arrange a kind of group buy, where a few of us that want some buy a set get the scans done and then sell them on afterwards once we have the scan?
 
right i have a mate how might be able to get these made, need to show him next week mine, will update asap
 
mac27040 said:
right i have a mate how might be able to get these made, need to show him next week mine, will update asap
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:thumbsup: awesome stuff!

My blue peter effort is off at least for for this weekend as the parts haven't turned up but will still have a crack at it once they have arrived
 
I've been searching for these for a long time, and have ordered them at different online shops, always returning my money because they couldn't deliver. hope someone is successful in creating their own!
 
Well done chaps! I don't need a set but this is exactly what 3D printing is for, anything that gets the ball rolling is great work.
 
Finally got round to making them tonight, they ain't perfect mostly due to my lack if upholstery skills but actually look decent and a massive improvement over the gaping holes in my roof. For a fiver and an hours work I'm happy with them. The flash on my phone is pretty rubbish so no photos til tomorrow in the daylight
 
85genius said:
Finally got round to making them tonight, they ain't perfect mostly due to my lack if upholstery skills but actually look decent and a massive improvement over the gaping holes in my roof. For a fiver and an hours work I'm happy with them. The flash on my phone is pretty rubbish so no photos til tomorrow in the daylight
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How to keep us all in suspenders :!: :wink:
 
Marlon said:
85genius said:
Finally got round to making them tonight, they ain't perfect mostly due to my lack if upholstery skills but actually look decent and a massive improvement over the gaping holes in my roof. For a fiver and an hours work I'm happy with them. The flash on my phone is pretty rubbish so no photos til tomorrow in the daylight
Click to expand...

How to keep us all in suspenders :!: :wink:
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:rofl:

I have a photo of them on the kitchen table before I fitted them.

Actually got loads of photos so going to do a step by step guide when I get chance

DSC_0206_zpshdrfuekd.jpg
 
Scooba_Steve said:
Sell them for £50 a pair and make a fortune!
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:lol:

Not quite good enough to sell just yet but think I could do it better with a few more tries..

Think I'll just post the how to on here though and let the guys make their own, quite satisfying knowing I got rid of the lock holes with a little bit of effort
 
Still on the case, give me a couple of weeks as I might have someone who can 3D scan them and print them
 
You've done well there mate. Very impressed.

If someone wants some Brand new genuine ones, make me a decent offer :lol:
 
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