3D Printed Switch Blanks

[blood_sweat_&_gears]

I am restoring/ building up a 1985 BMW E30 and with the original stereo removed I had a hole in dash where the volume button use to be. I decided to attempt making a blank plate instead of buying one from the dealer. I will be making different versions in the future. Currently working on a eBay voltmeter version and will post it when I get time to finish it.

The .STL file can be found here: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1293294

[2santiago]

Nice!!!!


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[R1dd1ck913]

Thanks for the share on thingiveres.

[straight6pwr]

is the front textured like the OEM ones?

[blood_sweat_&_gears]

is the front textured like the OEM ones?

I didn't design it to be but looking at it now it doesn't look too far off.

[stonea]

I would love to see some pictures

[blood_sweat_&_gears]

I would love to see some pictures

Added them to the link. Sorry about the crappy photos. There wasn't much light (car is snow covered at the moment).

[blood_sweat_&_gears]

I didn't design it to be but looking at it now it doesn't look too far off.

I think the trick would be to print it on painters tape and hope it takes on the texture.

[White325is]

or just buy them new from the dealer for 5.00 a pop?

[blood_sweat_&_gears]

or just buy them new from the dealer for 5.00 a pop?

or print them for less than $0.20.

[AbsorbantNut]

great post!

[AndrewBird]

No matter what you print it on, you won't get a nice surface finish. It's going to have the texture of any/all 3D prints, lots of lines in a pattern.

3D printing is great for a lot of things. This is not one of those times.

[george graves]

or just buy them new from the dealer for 5.00 a pop?

Please, please tell me where you can get them for $5. It's more like $12.

3D printing is great for a lot of things. This is not one of those times.

Yea - I more-or-less agree. You need to match the surface texture. That and the over hang of the clips is going to be tricky.

[AndrewBird]

Casting these out of resin would be a better way to replicate them. Create a silicone mold from an original part, then pour multiple parts from the silicone mold. This would pick up the factory texture and replicate the part exactly. Might be too brittle to work properly though. By design, it has to flex a bit to be able to snap into place. Resin might just break.

The originals are likely ABS and were injection molded.

[blood_sweat_&_gears]

Might be too brittle to work properly though. By design, it has to flex a bit to be able to snap into place. Resin might just break.

The originals are likely ABS and were injection molded.

In no way am I an expert but I doubt it would be ABS. The only reason I say that is because the OEM buttons/ trim are somewhat flexible. ABS is very rigid and when it gives it snaps. If anything its something with similar properties to PVC. That's just my thinking.