3D Printing a Sunroof Part

Donie75

Hi,
I have a slightly unusual query. I have a boat with 2 Farmont F600 Sunroofs fitted. These are aftermarket type tilt & slide sunroofs from the 70's & 80's. The units are no longer manufactured and there are no parts available.
I was wondering if there are any companies around who could use a 3D printer to replicate the handle assembly for me?
Has anyone any experience of this?

macplaxton

No experience of this however if you can get the part in question drawn up in the appropriate CAD program, then there are quite a few places online that will "print it off".

Maybe also consider how it broke and modify the design slightly to prevent future breakage?

Perhaps something you might be able to rope a keen student in the relevant discipline into doing?

kyote00

There is a place in Rathmines in Dublin that will print for you. http://3dprintingdublin.ie/3dprint/

They print in PLA (softish) and ABS (hard but can be brittle).

Also, the finish (colour and texture) may not be what you need. It is also hard to get paint to stick if you need to change colour.

The biggest issue is that you need a 3d model of the part --- which is a bit different than a CAD drawing. 3d models are essentially point planes in slices.

that said, I printed a knob for a radio (in black) --- took me about a month to get the model right

Donie75 wrote: »

Hi,
I have a slightly unusual query. I have a boat with 2 Farmont F600 Sunroofs fitted. These are aftermarket type tilt & slide sunroofs from the 70's & 80's. The units are no longer manufactured and there are no parts available.
I was wondering if there are any companies around who could use a 3D printer to replicate the handle assembly for me?
Has anyone any experience of this?

Max Headroom

kyote00 wrote: »

There is a place in Rathmines in Dublin that will print for you. http://3dprintingdublin.ie/3dprint/

They print in PLA (softish) and ABS (hard but can be brittle).

Also, the finish (colour and texture) may not be what you need. It is also hard to get paint to stick if you need to change colour.

The biggest issue is that you need a 3d model of the part --- which is a bit different than a CAD drawing. 3d models are essentially point planes in slices.

that said, I printed a knob for a radio (in black) --- took me about a month to get the model right

Thought ABS was bendy..most bike plastics are ABS...

househero

Donie75 wrote: »

Hi,
I have a slightly unusual query. I have a boat with 2 Farmont F600 Sunroofs fitted. These are aftermarket type tilt & slide sunroofs from the 70's & 80's. The units are no longer manufactured and there are no parts available.
I was wondering if there are any companies around who could use a 3D printer to replicate the handle assembly for me?
Has anyone any experience of this?

What you need is possible. But it will be expensive as what you require is a part being designed for a very very small run ( 1 or 2 )

As far as I know, we are not able to automatically 'copy' parts, we design them from scratch, printing is the easy bit.

How much are you willing to pay for the handle?

colm_mcm

Apparently Proton fitted these to Persona model cars in the 90s.
Surely getting a handle that fits from a car would be a better idea?

Is this the type of thing you're looking for?
http://kleinanzeigen.ebay.de/anzeigen/s-anzeige/farmont-inalfa-kurbelgriff-kurbel-m-zubehoer-fuer-schiebedach-f600/182321786-223-6206

Donie75

Thanks folks.

Colm, that is the exact piece I am after but I would need to piece that bolts onto.
It's looking like it will be way too complex to 3D print it.
I think my best bet would be to make an alternative handle. The innards of the handle/spindle connection is all chewed up. There are a few holes in the spindle that I use to turn the mechanism so I'm considering making something that will fit into the holes that I can attach to a small batery screwdriver or drill.

Thanks for your help. In the meantime I'll also keep an eye on Ebay.

bbsrs

Donie75 wrote: »

There are a few holes in the spindle that I use to turn the mechanism so I'm considering making something that will fit into the holes that I can attach to a small batery screwdriver or drill.

.

Sounds like an adapter made up attached to a 3/8 drive speedbrace would be better .

shagman

Why not post some photos of your broken sunroof parts and maybe someone will suggest something that will be a neat fix.

11wingnut

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other

charcosull

Probably not worth doing. Even the best 3D printed resins are no where near as strong as actual plastic parts. Pricey too.
Laser Prototypes in Belfast are probably one of the best places in the country for this though.

quietsailor

Limerick Fab Lab - I posted links in this thread to the UL 3D printing workshops, they run evenings where you can bring in a broken part and they will scan & print it, it'd be worth giving them an email