Do you want something 3D printed for e30?

[cornchip]

Heh. 3d printing. Heh.

Kinda like pop psychology, try it for a while before you try to fly with it.

One of the (many) things I've learned is that how a part is formed is a
significant part of its design.
So injection molding is very different from subtractive forming is very
different from additive forming.

Don't get me wrong- for gauge pods, sunvisor clips, cupholders and the like, it's awfully fun.

But home 3d printers and materials are years away from printing a valve cover.
Even farther from an intake manifold, unless it's for ITBs.

t

Home 3D printers, yes, but there are machines that can print metal (and appropriate plastics) at the scale of an intake manifold or valve cover. 3D systems have some if you want to spend the $$$$ to do it.

I'm really disappointed because there was a startup in my town that was developing 3D printed injection molds, but they recently lost funding & are in the process of auctioning off all their IP.

EDIT: as far as quality of the parts thing; I have learned, for some OEM parts made of "metal", the 3D printed parts are far superior. They will never break, compared with the original "pot metal" parts. The other cool thing is being able to replace some originally plastic parts with virtually indestructible metal parts. Keep an eye on e30update.com to see what I'm talking about ;)

[ZeKahr]

I've thought of another plastic part that would be much more easily doable with 3D printers: the NLA seat bolt caps. I've noticed that people go bananas over those when they are posted for sale. It's weird because unlike the dash you never really start at it every time you're in the car. They also aren't exposed to very high temperatures, at the worst maybe some moisture if you get in the car during a rainy/snowy day.

[cornchip]

I've thought of another plastic part that would be much more easily doable with 3D printers: the NLA seat bolt caps. I've noticed that people go bananas over those when they are posted for sale. It's weird because unlike the dash you never really start at it every time you're in the car. They also aren't exposed to very high temperatures, at the worst maybe some moisture if you get in the car during a rainy/snowy day.

Yep. just thought of that a couple days ago. I didn't even know these were a thing until, well, a couple days ago! I guess my last E30 didn't have them, and now that I've started a couple projects on the new one, apparently this car has a couple left. I hadn't looked for any yet, are they tough to come by? I could crank out a CAD for those pretty quickly.

[cornchip]

already out there - https://www.ebay.com/itm/164125578845 - oh well, there're lot's more parts left to reverse engineer!

[TobyB]

there are machines that can print metal

Kind of. The CNC welder, and the CNC 'splutterer' that then has to be sintered.

Again, yes, at the development edge, it's cool, but for you and me, on a 'less than a new car budget',
DIY CNC EDM is probably more useful.

t

TLAs for days.

[MattWll]

After 3D printing, you still need to refine everything.

[cornchip]

Kind of. The CNC welder, and the CNC 'splutterer' that then has to be sintered.

Again, yes, at the development edge, it's cool, but for you and me, on a 'less than a new car budget',
DIY CNC EDM is probably more useful.

t

TLAs for days.

fair enough.. although I'm not exactly certain which processes you're referring to. the parts I've had printed in metal are pretty nice. And like I said, if you want to spend the $$$$.

After 3D printing, you still need to refine everything.

Well, right, for an intake or valve cover you'd have to machine contact surfaces. For the parts I've made, no further refinement was necessary. Well OK I take that back, I made a hole slightly too small & had to drill it out, but that was my fault, not the fault of the process.

[ZeKahr]

Just had a lightbulb go off in my head today; what about OEM looking speaker covers for larger speaker sizes like 6.5” and 6x9? I’d love to run larger speakers with more bass in my car but most of them come with covers whose styling just don’t fit in the design language of the E30 interior

[cornchip]

Just had a lightbulb go off in my head today; what about OEM looking speaker covers for larger speaker sizes like 6.5” and 6x9? I’d love to run larger speakers with more bass in my car but most of them come with covers whose styling just don’t fit in the design language of the E30 interior

Great idea! If you want, PM me, I can help you out. Or OP could too I guess