3D Printed Chrome Mirror Gasket $15

Discussion in 'Small Garage Products and Services' started by knucklebusted, Jun 18, 2018.

  1. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Update 07/22/18: Looking for volunteers to test the prototype new design. I've PM'd the folks below that have expressed interest.

    Update: 06/19/18: Additional picture of new on left, original on right at high res.

    I've gotten the first prototype back from my guy. What do you guys think? As I've said before, these are not show car gaskets but they are functional. Pictures below. If someone would like the prototype to test on their car, I'll ship it to you with a return for money back promise less $1 for shipping.

    List of buyers who have expressed interest in Flat Chrome Mirror singles (price $15 shipped in the US):
    1. Brett Slater - 1 - paid, shipped 1st unit to test fit
    2. Dano - 5 to 10? Contact when production starts
    3. ajesh35 - 2
    4. wovenweb - 3
    5. 69GS455 - 2
    List of buyers who have expressed interest in Custom Angle Chrome Mirror singles (price to be determined):
    1. 36racin - 1
    Here's the pictures of an original on the right/back next to the prototype on the left/front.

    Chrome-Gasket1.jpg
    20180618_134147.jpg 20180618_134156.jpg 20180618_134216.jpg 20180618_134207.jpg 20180618_134835.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2018
    OHC JOE and Brett Slater like this.
  2. Marv Marksberry

    Marv Marksberry Well-Known Member

    We have a 3D printer at the college where I teach and the items we print don’t appear as course as what I am seeing in these pictures. I will try to post a picture sometime tomorrow of a radio delete plate I printed.

    Marv.
     
  3. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    I have no experience with 3D printers but I know the one he's using is about $300 new and he says ABS is tougher to print in than the PLA most people play with due to higher heat. I wonder what the one at your school costs?

    I do know ABS can be sanded and painted due its higher working temps.

    ABS can also be smoothed with acetone but I've not tried that yet.
     
  4. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    ABS needs to be printed on a heated bed AND in a heated enclosed box.

    It looks like he needs to tweak his settings a little and get some better looking prints before you start selling them. That top layer looks really rough.

    If the settings are right, it shouldn't need to be smoothed with acetone. It should come out smooth on top and bottom.
     
  5. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    I only know what he's told me. It is a heated bed, is enclosed. To get the alignment nub on the bottom he has to do it on a raft or something like that.

    When all is said and done, you only see the outer edge.
     
  6. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    Is the side opposite the alignment nub flat or does it have a lip? Hard to see details with black.

    I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I'm trying to give suggestions and help out. Hope you're not getting upset with me. I think it's great that you're doing this.

    If you would be up for it, if you would send me the .stl file, I could try to print it with PETG and see how it comes out. I do have ABS but i haven't messed with it yet, mainly because I don't have my printer enclosed yet. I'll even send you the part after I print it. I absolutely would not go behind your back and sell them, I don't even have a car that use these mirror gaskets.

    Your buddy that is printing these is close, but the settings are just a little off. It amazing how much a very slight setting change affects print quality.
     
  7. Marv Marksberry

    Marv Marksberry Well-Known Member

    BD4774EC-DD0D-4AC6-8051-96DA5BF07029.jpeg
    The lower one in the picture is the one I printed.
    I am not happy with the texture finish of the printed one. As you can see the original one has a texture finish and it is difficult to copy. I started to highlight the chrome area on the printed one and stopped. I am going to try painting the radio delete plate first and then complete the chrome pin highlighting.

    Marv.
     
  8. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Not mad, just don't know that much. I don't have the file either.

    Yes, the side opposite the nub has the lip around it. I've tried my hand at designing some 3D stuff using Tinkercad. If I were doing this piece, I'd do it flat with a hole and weld the nub in the hole post printing but I don't even own a 3D printer though I was tempted to buy one to do things like this when a buddy got one and offered to try.
     
  9. 36racin

    36racin Platinum Level Contributor

    I applaud your efforts for getting us some gaskets that are clearly no easily findable. I'll try to find the information you requested on my custom gasket.

    Thank You and your printer hookup for helping us out,
    Todd
     
  10. FJM568

    FJM568 Well-Known Member

    Here's a suggestion. If you print the part with a hole or a blind hole instead of the nub, and print the nub separately and then press fit it in and either super glue it or use acetone to fuse it in. That way you could print that side flat on the build surface and you would get a much nicer looking print and the layers would fuse together better and make a stronger part.

    So, in other words, basically how you said YOU would do it. Lol.

    Man, I really ought to read and comprehend before making a suggestion that the original poster himself suggested.

    Your idea is probably the best solution to get a better part.
     
  11. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Yeah, I tried to tell him something like that but he's harder headed than I am. I'll tell him someone with more experience said it and maybe he'll listen. ;)
     
  12. 69GS455

    69GS455 69 GS 400

    I will take 2 when available.
     
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  13. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    OK, I've talked to my printer guy and he likes the idea of making a hole and printing a nub to glue into it. It will make a much smoother bottom.

    We're going to get a test print of that once Brett Slater confirms it is the proper dimensions to work with the chrome mirror on the door.
     
  14. wovenweb

    wovenweb Platinum Level Contributor

    Has Brett been able to test fit yet?
     
  15. DasRottweiler

    DasRottweiler -BuickAddict-

    I assume so, as I provided the original, and it was returned to me with 2 pairs of sport mirror gaskets that I purchased. Jim
     
  16. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    No, not yet. It has been hot and people are reluctant to work on things in extreme heat.

    I'm going to give it a few more days then I'm going to see if we have another volunteer to check one made of PLA for mechanical fit. PLA is not UV stable but it is easier to print.

    A volunteer?
     
  17. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    Any volunteers?
     
  18. HeavensDevil

    HeavensDevil Well-Known Member

    Ill volunteer!
     
    knucklebusted likes this.
  19. knucklebusted

    knucklebusted Well-Known Member

    OK, here's the next prototype with the pin not installed. I'll be shipping this one to HeavensDevil for mechanical fitment.
    20180808_204408.jpg
    20180808_204416.jpg
    20180808_204435.jpg 20180808_204447.jpg
     
    HeavensDevil likes this.
  20. HeavensDevil

    HeavensDevil Well-Known Member

    Ok, first and foremost I want to apologise for the crappy pictures. The gasket looks the part and the holes line up. It's a bit tight in the "belt line" but snaps right into place with some pressure. I'm sure that's not an issue once mounted to the car. I am currently on vacation(collecting parts/visiting friends/family) and will be test fitting on the car when I get home. Will report back with pics.
    IMG_20180815_104752.jpg IMG_20180815_104619.jpg IMG_20180815_104323.jpg IMG_20180815_104029.jpg
     

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