G-machine of a different.......scale?!?

[black2002ls]

3D printing.

Essentially, you create a 3D file, CAD/Solidworks drawing. Send it to someone and they print it in plastic. The machine essentially uses plastic wire to "print" the part!

It has been a while since I've done a cost analysis on wheels. The lats time I got an estimate to do it start to finish, sleeves centers and all was $250-300. For just sleeves, I would like to think I could get them done for $50 or so. but I'm afraid its going to end up closer to $100. Tires, to get them printed, it should only cost $20-30. I would get a pair of each printed so that they could be molded in pairs. I've heard rumors of the capability to print in rubber. That would make it much easier. Anyway, once I got the 3D prints, I would send them to someone to make molds. I know some people who create and sell resin copies of parts for the large scale models. I would essentially pay for the mold to be done and leave them with them and work out some deal to allow them to sell them. Typically molds cost anywhere from $50-200+

[PASD U]

Damn. On the one hand, $300 is expensive to spend on wheels for a plastic, static display model BUT...I'm crazy. Sometimes you can't dwell on the cost too much for too long. LOL To me, it would be worth it to have "that" set of wheels. I'd do it just because my OCD would never let me live with a stock model. If I ever get around to buying a 1:12 Lamborghini, I might get your source information. As of today, what's your color going to be?

[black2002ls]

Still not sure about the color. It will go back to sunset orange or get sprayed with cyber gray.

[black2002ls]

Well, I got a little package in the mail today. My prototype parts arrived from the 3D printer. It turns out that the mating ring for the wheel face wasn't printable in its current format so I will have to tweak it. The plastic I had these printed in prints very rough not near good enough for finished quality pieces. I have learned quite a bit so far from looking at these pieces. The most important: the wall thickness isn't as much as it appears on the screen! the sleeves are too thin IMHO. I am also on the fence about the overall look of the wheels. I feel like the spokes are too thin. I like the general design, I just feel that maybe the spokes could be a bit wider. As far as wheel size, this is what I've mentioned about scale correctness not always looking correct. These should be 20" wheels, though they still look a tad bit small.

[PASD U]

That does look pretty damn thin. Progress though.

[black2002ls]

I re-worked the centers and sleeves last week. I re-ordered those parts along with some trial runs of the brake components I have completed so far.

[black2002ls]

The new wheels showed up today. I'm VERY pleased with the way that the centers turned out. As for the sleeves, I made a slight error when I designed them, and they are WAY too small. This wheel center was printed in shapeways Frosted Ultra Detail material, and is very nice IMHO.

Here is what it looked like when it came out of the box, semi transparent



A coat of primer applied



Then how it looks under the car

[Dirtmod08]

Originally Posted by black2002ls

3D printing.

Essentially, you create a 3D file, CAD/Solidworks drawing. Send it to someone and they print it in plastic. The machine essentially uses plastic wire to "print" the part!

It has been a while since I've done a cost analysis on wheels. The lats time I got an estimate to do it start to finish, sleeves centers and all was $250-300. For just sleeves, I would like to think I could get them done for $50 or so. but I'm afraid its going to end up closer to $100. Tires, to get them printed, it should only cost $20-30. I would get a pair of each printed so that they could be molded in pairs. I've heard rumors of the capability to print in rubber. That would make it much easier. Anyway, once I got the 3D prints, I would send them to someone to make molds. I know some people who create and sell resin copies of parts for the large scale models. I would essentially pay for the mold to be done and leave them with them and work out some deal to allow them to sell them. Typically molds cost anywhere from $50-200+

Man, that's about $7,500 for the set of wheels at 1:25 dollar scale, lol. Impressive detail throughout.

[black2002ls]

Well, time for an update on this thing. Thanks to 3D printing, I'm finally making some progress and getting excited about this thing. I originally started it with intentions of building something real close to Bad Penny. Then I noticed the paint issue and went solid black. Well, we are back to sunset orange metallic! I've added some CF parts (decals) just to give it a different look. Think auto cross.








I've also finally got a good, scale, LS engine. I'm trying to decide if I should go twin turbo or whipple. I'm leaning towards the whipple to try and keep the project moving and the costs down (all 3d printed parts).



and for size reference:



I'm still fighting with the wheels. That has been a perpetual battle. I finally found someone to machine sleeves for the wheels I drew in Solid Works. Unfortunately, the finished product was not what I was looking for, and they ended up WAY too big. What is shown in the pictures above, are the wheels I'm planning to go with. A design I drew up in solid works. The "sleeves" are also printed and painted with a molotow chrome pen, to see how it turned out.

Look for more updates coming soon!

[syborg tt]

So cool and I think you should go Whipple.