[HOBO]

Hello Gents,

I am 2nd Generation in the Industrial 3D Printing Industry. And want to do some market study by asking y'all what kinda small / medium size plastic part you guys need to be reproduced. I am currently working on Reproducing Ram Head Hood Ornaments ones that are paint ready, Ones that are Nickle plated (Just Like the Original ones), and this wicked black distressed ones. So I wanna feel things out to see what else might need to be done.

I am still working on pricing of the New Reproduction Ram Head Hood Ornaments. I have one getting plated now and waiting on its return. Parts I am thinking about are like trim clips, seat belt buckle covers, and ETC. Which all parts would be produced out of Nylon 12 which will be tough as nails and functional.

 

[HOBO]

No till now. but mine wont look like that, provided this business idea takes off. I dont use the FDM tech, I use SLS which is a lot better and has 10X the resolution & structural integrity . Which mine will come pre vapor smoothed so it looks and feels injection molded. I am all about quality & function. Also FDM are not always 100% solid. They have an infill normally of about 20% - 35% with the rest being air. Also here are some photos from the plating company of the finishes I am looking at. Plus there the best in the industry, making parts stronger, plus there plating wont peal. it gets imbedded some how.

 

[HOBO]

Luckily mine hasn't broken off, maybe I can scan it or have one of my engineers CAD it for me. Its the fan lever right? The one that controls the fan / blower speed?

 

[HOBO]

as long as I have a .slt file and its not too big or long yes. do note if its a big or long piece it has to be built in sections. but would have a cut out like a puzzle piece to insure proper fitment. I had to build some big parts this way in the past. I have access a Max Build Size of 400x400x450 mm (15.75 x 15.75 x 17.72 in). but if this takes off, and I can afford to buy a really nice 3D scanner. I'll be able to do larger parts with out much issue. I am currently focused on smaller stuff right now.

 

[HOBO]

Dually noted Neil!

 

[HOBO]

Ill post the nylon specs here once i get home later today. Yeah i dont see why i can not build all that.

 

[HOBO]

Lol i'll do my best to help you guys out too! Still one thing at a time. There is only one of me. Lol I'm using my own cash to try this out & got a lot of testing to do as well. I don't want to sell shit replacement parts. I wanna sell shit that last & doesn't break easy. I am running behind today. I should be able to get those nylon 12 specs out for you guys tomorrow.

Plus heres a few photos of whats possible. Btw the door handle photo is built as a functional piece all ready assembled. For the ram head that is what it will look like once it gets vapor smoothed. Right now the one in the photo is at the plating shop. But these vapor smoothed ones ill sell as paint ready for those who like doing custom colors n stuff.

 

[HOBO]

This.

Interior trim of any kind is a junkyard or eBay only type of thing.

I don't see why not. Id have to 3D scan them in so i can capture the texture perfectly. But id have to scan unbroken damage ones from somebody & the big pieces in chunks with a puzzle joint in it for assembly that fit tightly. Then just assemble with some JB weld, sand, then paint it the color you like.

 

[HOBO]

I am glad you like it Kurt good idea Bohunk. I can at least make those to where all you gotta do is add some padding. and here is the nylon 12 specs

 

[HOBO]

there is this plating company who has spent years developing how to plate 3D printed parts to increase strength and longevity and where it wont peel off. My dad did a tone of material / R&D with there process & know the CEO, if saw the other photos in the beginning of the metal plated parts thats what I both want to do Original and that black distress look. But I am still working at this time Jungle. Now go back and answer Bohunk, I'll make em solid Since SLS is better suited for that. I can always honey comb the inside later to lighten it up.

 

[HOBO]

Yeah Jim I definitely will get with you on that once i figure out pricing. It all depends on that bulk pricing from the planting company.

I can not do clear lense / parts yet. But i think i know a material that will work. But id have to process develop that KG5JXO. But definitely a great idea.

 

[HOBO]

Plastic wheel flares should be perty doable. Whole entire door panels would be a hell of a challenge because they are so big. Best to fine the old objection mold dies for those. But one thing at a time. I gotta start small and work my way up to the big stuff.

 

[HOBO]

I dont see why we can not CAD up some kick ass wheel flares and give them a try. How far out you guys want something like that? 3 inches? Because i am gonna start learning CAD here soon. And it would be a good easy 1st project. Since its very simple in shape and design.

 

[HOBO]

I am still working on pricing from the metal plating company. But this is there first quote. The prices are way to high. I have emailed them back asking what can we do to lower the plating cost to below a $100. But i thought id share it. Im hoping to sell the ram heads no more than a $150 plated since the cost of re making original ones where high than i anticipated, but these would be ultra high quality and probably out last you and your grandkids good tho. Now i know i can sell white ones which are paint ready for $60 each. Photo below of the white ram head in case you missed it at the top. Right now thats all i got.

Quantitys & price for metal plating.

To plate 1 it would be $230 a unit

To plate 10 it would be $205 a unit

To plate 25 it would be $180 a unit

To plate 100 it would be $150 a unit

White Injected Modeled Smooth ones (Piant Ready) $60.00

 

[HOBO]

Lol I'll have to see how it goes after few weeks of CAD studies goes. But should be doable.

 

[HOBO]

Thanks Panda! We'll see what happens! Only one thing at a time. I am also thankful for all the feed back.

 

[HOBO]

Yeah my thoughts exactly. The one item I know thats on top of the list is the Ram Head Hood Ornament. Seeing those prices spike to $300 - $400 + is just retarded. I hope to reproduce damn near identical ones to the originals for a fraction of those cost. I think that price gouging is ridiculous and not cool.

 

[HOBO]

Well, I made some progress on CAD of a wheel arch. lol Just a simple shape. I still have a way to go, gonna pull one mine off. So I can take some measurements of factory mounting holes in the wheel well. I have to CAD the mounting holes / bracket. Then Style it a bit. but this was designed after a 1 hour crash course at 1 am. I plan to get with my engineers this week and ask em a few CAD questions.

 

[HOBO]

FINNALY ITS BACK!!!! I just got my SLS Nylon 12 Hood Ornament back from the plating company. Check out the photos below!!! I do believe it is a bit too shiny, I got to edit the STL a little bit. Tell me what you think! I forgot to add, they hand polished this guy for an hour. Explains the costs above.

 

[HOBO]

Well its not an easy answer. to make it cheap as possible for every one id have to buy 100 units & get them plated (I do NOT have the capitol / buying power for this). But if some one just wanted to buy one of them. then the price sky rockets. I am over all still trying to make the price cheaper. But do note all of this is being American made with the highest quality in mind. But I do not know how big of a market demands there is because Id have to shell out $20K to get the price to be cheap enough. I am gonna try to CAD up trim clips and get a price on those and maybe start there. and if that goes well. Maybe that can fund the Hood ornaments to be cheaper. Prices are as follows below at this current stage in time. Do note my goal is Sub $150 for plated hood ornaments, but I do not know how possible it is.

To buy one that is paint ready - paint what ever color you want (BASE COLOR WHITE) : $60.00 Plus Ship "Easily doable now, Just note might have a long lead time"

To buy one that is (NICKLE PLATED PLATED) : $360.00 Plus Ship

The Price if I have the Capitol to buy in bulk 100 units (NICKLE PLATED PLATED) : 225.00 Plus Ship