Hi E30 people,
This project isn't as grand as most on this section, but for me was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about 3D printing.
Several years ago I bought a set of ESM wheels. They're Borbet Type A reps in 16" x 7.5".
I didn't have the funds to spring for real Borbet Type A (still don't! story of my life!), but these have done fine for me since I got them.
The center caps though. I didn't like them. I wanted flat caps. ESM didn't sell flat caps for the 16" wheel, and authentic Borbet flat caps didn't fit.
Here's what they looked like right after I installed them:
Late 2019 I bought a 3D printer thinking I could make some money with it (I've had some success with a couple of designs), and of course make some fun stuff too.
Initially I made a set out of PLA. They looked great, but after the car sat in the sun for a day they warped badly.
PLA material has a 'glass transition' point of 130 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. That's when the material starts to melt. Sitting in a parking lot by the Van Nuys airport must hit that mark, or come close to it.
This is the PLA version (pre-warping):
I had second thoughts about using the word Borbet on reproduction wheels, so the next version out of ABS doesn't have any letters.
ABS has a glass transition point of about 220 to 230deg Fahrenheit, so there shouldn't be any future problems with warping.
The paint is from a rattle can and not a spot-on match. There are many things about the car that aren't perfect, so this is fine for me for now.
If/when I make another set I'm thinking I may use the german word for cruiser: "Kreuzer" if my google-fu is correct, or maybe the Grateful Dead dancing bears in a circle. That's the thing about 3D printing: your options are almost limitless.
Thanks for reading.
-Mayhem
This project isn't as grand as most on this section, but for me was a lot of fun and I learned a lot about 3D printing.
Several years ago I bought a set of ESM wheels. They're Borbet Type A reps in 16" x 7.5".
I didn't have the funds to spring for real Borbet Type A (still don't! story of my life!), but these have done fine for me since I got them.
The center caps though. I didn't like them. I wanted flat caps. ESM didn't sell flat caps for the 16" wheel, and authentic Borbet flat caps didn't fit.
Here's what they looked like right after I installed them:
Late 2019 I bought a 3D printer thinking I could make some money with it (I've had some success with a couple of designs), and of course make some fun stuff too.
Initially I made a set out of PLA. They looked great, but after the car sat in the sun for a day they warped badly.
PLA material has a 'glass transition' point of 130 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit. That's when the material starts to melt. Sitting in a parking lot by the Van Nuys airport must hit that mark, or come close to it.
This is the PLA version (pre-warping):
I had second thoughts about using the word Borbet on reproduction wheels, so the next version out of ABS doesn't have any letters.
ABS has a glass transition point of about 220 to 230deg Fahrenheit, so there shouldn't be any future problems with warping.
The paint is from a rattle can and not a spot-on match. There are many things about the car that aren't perfect, so this is fine for me for now.
If/when I make another set I'm thinking I may use the german word for cruiser: "Kreuzer" if my google-fu is correct, or maybe the Grateful Dead dancing bears in a circle. That's the thing about 3D printing: your options are almost limitless.
Thanks for reading.
-Mayhem
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