3D printing parts for the Prado

[Tin175 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tin175]

I've had a little desktop 3D printer for about a year now. Used to print something on it everyday whether it be for work or toys for the kids. Its been sitting idle lately and I got some time to play with it again. Very useful tool. If you haven't heard of these yet they are basically a hot glue gun that puts down layers of plastic until the 3d part is complete. They are getting very affordable and easy to use and it won't be too long before they become a fairly common household appliance.

After reading all the horror stories about fuel and injectors I got myself a Racor 230R10 filter and water sensor. The plan was to design up a bracket and print it in plastic to make sure it fits before making a steel one.

I want it behind the original filter to make plumbing easy.

Drawn up and positioned ready for printing.


Took about an hour to print this up. Used about $3 worth of filament. The filament is ABS. (Lego plastic)


Support material removed and cleaned up. Ready for test fit. ABS is good for about 100 degrees before going soft. It won't be used as a permanent bracket but it very useful for testing fit and clearances.




I was pretty happy with the fit for the first go. I have changed the design slightly and lifted the filter up another 5mm to give me more clearance for the water sensor.


It will be easy enough to design a metal version now that I'm happy with the design.
So after a couple of hours I was able to design, print and test fit my bracket. 3D printing is so handy.
Btw, I'm happy to print parts for others if you have something you have designed.

[Tin175 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tin175]

Catch can bracket

I also did a catch can bracket earlier in the year. I was supposed to make up a steel bracket but haven't got around to it yet. Its still looks fine and is as strong as the first day I put it in. However, I wouldn't trust it on a big trip.

[kenny5000 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close kenny5000]

Interesting concept, how strong is the plastic? Could you break it by hand? Its looks perfect for custom interior brackets that aren't stressed in any way.

[MDSimpson Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDSimpson]

That is an awesome thing to use it for..


Brilliant..

Wanna sell the templates so I can get brakes made??

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

What a cool jigger!

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

Very nice work there. Top job
I wonder how long it will be before we see 3DPrrinters that use exotic substances like liquid alloys.

[pete8205 Member Find all posts View Profile Close pete8205]

that's awesome
the time saved fabricating brackets that look the part is unreal

[Tin175 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tin175]

Interesting concept, how strong is the plastic? Could you break it by hand? Its looks perfect for custom interior brackets that aren't stressed in any way.

The plastic is quite strong but not as strong as an injection moulded part. It would take a bit of effort to break it in my hands. If I jumped on it I'd break the corners off. There are ways to increase the strength and integrity of the part. You can wick thin CA (super glue) into the part. This fills any small gaps left by the printing process and helps hold the layers together. You can also dip in acetone or MEK which slightly melts the plastic. Once allowed to dry the plastic fuses and you can achieve a smooth surface finish.

Also to save time and material, most models are not completely solid inside. They have a honeycomb structure.

Very nice work there. Top job
I wonder how long it will be before we see 3DPrrinters that use exotic substances like liquid alloys.

Metal printing is already available and is being used to make aircraft parts and rocket nozzles. They use fine powdered metal and fuse it together layer by layer with a laser. Exotic materials like titanium and nickel super alloys are being 3D printed. Shapeways in the US will print your parts in metal for a reasonable cost. It is quite popular for jewellery as there is no limitation on what you can make.

[r4ndll Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close r4ndll]

That's pretty cool. How long before they begin printing parts to repair themselves and reproduce?

I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

Nice work. This is something that is most definitely worth your learning. The machines are getting cheaper. The cost is going to be in the consumables.

Its something that is going to catch a lot of people by surprise. Some have even forecast 3D printing as the biggest thing since the industrial revolution itself.

[rorza Member Find all posts View Profile Close rorza]

I've always wanted to get into this type of work. It seems you are pretty handy at this sort of thing given the top job with the oil cooler bracket you produced. How does one get into this particular stream of the fabrication industry if you don't mind me asking?

From these plastic prototypes do you then recreate the brackets using a Flowjet type machine or do you do it via the metal printing you spoke about in your previous post?

I'm very impressed with it all.

[Beach Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Beach]

I've always wanted to get into this type of work. It seems you are pretty handy at this sort of thing given the top job with the oil cooler bracket you produced. How does one get into this particular stream of the fabrication industry if you don't mind me asking?

From these plastic prototypes do you then recreate the brackets using a Flowjet type machine or do you do it via the metal printing you spoke about in your previous post?

I'm very impressed with it all.

Google is your friend. Start here:

http://lifehacker.com/how-to-get-sta...g-a-1340345210

The possibilities are quite endless. Get a cheap machine and start printing.

[Nightrod111 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nightrod111]

I have a cube 3d printer and im pretty happy with it

[chappy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close chappy]

I have a mini UP but haven't used it much , I struggle with my chosen design software.
Tin175 what design software/programme are you using?.

[Tin175 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tin175]

I've always wanted to get into this type of work. It seems you are pretty handy at this sort of thing given the top job with the oil cooler bracket you produced. How does one get into this particular stream of the fabrication industry if you don't mind me asking?

From these plastic prototypes do you then recreate the brackets using a Flowjet type machine or do you do it via the metal printing you spoke about in your previous post?

I'm very impressed with it all.

First thing to do would be to learn a 3D drafting package. I use Solidworks. There are free packages too such as Google Sketch Up which is pretty good too.

I'll make the bracket out of pressed (folded) stainless sheet. It will be laser cut and bent. Metal printing machines are too expensive at the moment but give it 5 to 10 years and things will be different.

I have a mini UP but haven't used it much , I struggle with my chosen design software.
Tin175 what design software/programme are you using?.

I have an Up plus 2. Similar to your machine. I use Solidworks for my design software. It needs a bit of practice to get proficient at any 3d drafting software. I also print other peoples designs from databases such as Thingiverse, heaps of free designs you can download.