Anyone Got an RP Machine And Want to Help Me?

[bmwman91]

I am FINALLY in a place in life where I have some time to mess around with my FX-R headlight retrofit project again, and I was wondering if anyone has access to a rapid prototyping machine that I might be able to get some parts from? The part is more or less going to be this thing, which is ~5" in diameter.



Build is here:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=231842

I understand that the material isn't free and I am fine with offering compensation. The online RP services that I looked into were more $ than I was willing to put into this project since I will probably go through 1-2 iterations of this. They will be solely for test-fitting the projector housings, so there's no concern about structural or environmental stability. The final articles will be billet aluminum.

Thanks!

[Thizzelle]

did you try redeye? they have a online quote system where you just upload the file to them. Can just see price before you buy.

[bmwman91]

I haven't tried them yet, so I'll see what they quote me at. Thanks.

[bmwman91]

Yeah, still $150 for a one-off at redeye. That's about what I get hit with everywhere. Maybe I'll have to stick with foam-core and an X-Acto knife for the prototypes and then hope that it's close enough that the machine parts work.

[e30vert]

Join TechShop in San Jose for a day or so and bust out your own design on their machines.

http://www.techshop.ws/

Or contact Rick at BT Laser. 425 Reed St Santa Clara or San Jose Ca
his email is

rick@btlaser.net


Very helpful and knowledgeable guy. I am having him laserjet some stuff for me soon.
They do laserjet and waterjet.

[AndrewBird]

There is a tech shop in downtown San Francisco as well.

[Optimator]

R3vlimited member 'newman' has the very machine you're looking for.

A few licks of his Tootsie Pop and I'm sure you two will be square.

[bmwman91]

Alrighty, I found a place that does 1-off's at a reasonable price. It's called Shapeways. They basically charge per cubic centimeter of material with minimal extra fees. I put together a material-minimized version of the bracket in Pro/E and it cost me $40 shipped. Lead time is like a week, but that's fine. It is more of a 3D art printing service site, but since I am only looking for something that beats poster board, it'll be A-OK.

[e30vert]

So Newman's tootsie pop is going to stay dry? :p

[Thizzelle]

yeah 3d print shit is expensive but way cheaper then milling it

[Fusion]

Awesome project. Just a thought (haven't gone through the 6 pages) - Once you have the proto, check youtube on making molten alu molds. There are guys that have built small engines, although in the project I watched, the guy had a lathe. I think you could get away with rotational sanding on the two faces if the mold is close, since I think you're not dealing with thousandths in percision. The rest will have that cast aluminum look, but milling them would probably be way expensive.

[bmwman91]

So Newman's tootsie pop is going to stay dry? :p

It would seem so. Maybe if he threw in an ice cream cone with the 3D print I'd consider, but no ice cream = no homo.

yeah 3d print shit is expensive but way cheaper then milling it

Word

Awesome project. Just a thought (haven't gone through the 6 pages) - Once you have the proto, check youtube on making molten alu molds. There are guys that have built small engines, although in the project I watched, the guy had a lathe. I think you could get away with rotational sanding on the two faces if the mold is close, since I think you're not dealing with thousandths in percision. The rest will have that cast aluminum look, but milling them would probably be way expensive.

I have definitely thought about scaling up the model by 3-6%, adding some drafts and then casting the part. Since I have access to a Bridgeport, I will probably just mill the parts myself. It's slow, but sort of fun.

[Optimator]

It would seem so. Maybe if he threw in an ice cream cone with the 3D print I'd consider, but no ice cream = no homo.

Damn.

[bmwman91]

Damn.

I drive a hard bargain, I know.