Where do i find files to 3D print replacement parts?

[phamersma]

I need a small part for my cupholder (the front button). This should be a perfect candidate to use 3D printing. However i am not very good at developping the file/model for 3D printing.
The free site yeggi.com shows some bmw printables but not what i need.

Does anybody know where i can find this? I am willing to pay for it....

[oliverd642]

I think it will be quicker and easier to buy a brand new £10 replacement on eBay. I can't help you buy of you find a model for 3D printing I'd love to see it when it's done!

[Mike WW]

I had some 3D printing done at work for a transfer switch and saved 10's of thousands of dollars. (jury is still out on long term results) But the hard part was getting someone to do the 3D scanning, everybody wants to print, very few scan. Unless you already have the scanner and printer I think oliverd642 has the right answer.

[edjack]

Agreed. 3D printing, whilst intriguing, is not yet ready for the masses, Jay Leno notwithstanding.

[nikatkimber]

Don't know now, but as of a year and a half ago, most places that do high quality prints have a couple hundred dollar minimum; and that's just for the print. If someone hasn't already made a model of the part, and you need a high quality model made, expect to pay pretty well for it. Also, they most likely can't go off a broken part to model, (unless it's a very simple break), and will need a complete working part to measure off of.

[phamersma]

Thanks for the help. @ oliverd642: Ebay does not sell the buttons only copmplete cup holders.

We have a good 3D printer at work wich would be free for me for such a small part. So a model would be enough.
Maybe i wait for a good scanner my work to buy. Kickstarter has some allready for only $300.
The other cupholder has the same part so i could use that to scan.

For now i might just buy the whole cup holder and replace only the button.... :(

[RLNTLS1]

I do 3D modeling AND have a 3D printer. Can you post a picture of what the part looks like? I'd be willing to help out. I trashed my stock cup holders back when I got the car so I don't have one to base it off of.

[phamersma]

I do 3D modeling AND have a 3D printer. Can you post a picture of what the part looks like? I'd be willing to help out. I trashed my stock cup holders back when I got the car so I don't have one to base it off of.

Thanks for the offer, but it needs to be really preciese. Only a good scanner can do the job i think. Or you would need the part youself to measer every angle exact. its not really straigh forward.
And how do i add a picture in this thread?

[toybreaker]

You are wrong. a good 3d modeled cad file works just fine.
We have many of these printers in the military. We used GIBBSCAM and MASTERCAM.

[RLNTLS1]

Only a good scanner can do the job i think.

As somebody who regularly takes physical objects and creates them in 3D without a scanner, I respectfully disagree. Some reference photos and accurate measurements in the hands of a skilled professional can often result in a cleaner and more precise model than a scanner can produce. The last scan quote I got for a small part was almost $200, and that was a small shop.

[joekitch]

As somebody who regularly takes physical objects and creates them in 3D without a scanner, I respectfully disagree. Some reference photos and accurate measurements in the hands of a skilled professional can often result in a cleaner and more precise model than a scanner can produce. The last scan quote I got for a small part was almost $200, and that was a small shop.

The tricky part is weird bits with strange shapes that are hard to estimate dimensions/measurements on. if it's just some kind of L bracket that's easy.

Another tricky bit is that if the part is pretty small, you're always going to lose strength when you use a 3d printed part. 3d printed abs is just weaker than injection molded stuff below a certain size. You might be able to work with something like polymax PLA instead but i've found pla loses a lot of rigidity with heat. an L bracket in a hot car for a few days becomes more like an S bracket

[RLNTLS1]

The tricky part is weird bits with strange shapes that are hard to estimate dimensions/measurements on. if it's just some kind of L bracket that's easy.

Another tricky bit is that if the part is pretty small, you're always going to lose strength when you use a 3d printed part. 3d printed abs is just weaker than injection molded stuff below a certain size. You might be able to work with something like polymax PLA instead but i've found pla loses a lot of rigidity with heat. an L bracket in a hot car for a few days becomes more like an S bracket

What you are saying is absolutely true. When I first read his post, it sounded like a simple enough part, and from what I googled, it doesn't look like much more than a flat piece of plastic with an indent and rounded edges, maybe an inset surface on the back to fit into the rest of the cup holder. I enjoy this type of work and was willing to help out, but it doesn't sound like he wants it.

[joekitch]

it sounded like a simple enough part, and from what I googled, it doesn't look like much more than a flat piece of plastic with an indent and rounded edges,

indeed, i was just speaking generally

556855

it sounds like OP just wants the rectangular "fascia" that you press to deploy the cupholders, not the actual crescent shaped mechanism. I'm curious why he needs that piece because that piece almost never breaks? what breaks is either the smaller armature or the little hook piece in the mechanism that keeps it closed

[phamersma]

i figured out how to put a picture in here now.
This is the button i need. It is hard to get a good picture. Its half an inch high and less than an inch wide and deep.
@RLNTLS1, I don't know much about modeling but seems like a difficult job with only a (not so good) picture?

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz2iXc5ayKNkMkNMZEtYMy1TR2Mhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz2iXc5ayKNkWElGNGpzUTlDU00

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz2iXc5ayKNkMkNMZEtYMy1TR2M
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bz2iXc5ayKNkWElGNGpzUTlDU00

[tantumaude]

I've made several odds and ends for the E39 on a 2nd gen Cubify Cube. I typically use vernier calipers to measure accurately, and build the design from scratch in autoCAD. It's worked well so far, but I find even ABS isn't always strong enough. The shitty resolution also hampers the really small bits. If you want, send me all the measurements and several more pictures, I can do it.

[joekitch]

but I find even ABS isn't always strong enough.
you might want to look into this tritan stuff, it's apparently some of the strongest stuff out there aside from nylon (which requires a stupidly hot enclosed build chamber and other problems)
https://www.matterhackers.com/store/3d-printer-filament/taulman-tritan-high-tensile-polyester-1.75mm

[tantumaude]

you might want to look into this tritan stuff, it's apparently some of the strongest stuff out there aside from nylon (which requires a stupidly hot enclosed build chamber and other problems)
https://www.matterhackers.com/store/3d-printer-filament/taulman-tritan-high-tensile-polyester-1.75mm


Very cool!

[toybreaker]

I've made several odds and ends for the E39 on a 2nd gen Cubify Cube. I typically use vernier calipers to measure accurately, and build the design from scratch in autoCAD. It's worked well so far, but I find even ABS isn't always strong enough. The shitty resolution also hampers the really small bits. If you want, send me all the measurements and several more pictures, I can do it.

Buy yourself a set of radius gages and a good bevel protractor to round out your measuring capabilities.

I am lucky in that I have an optical comparator and access to dental mold material. Makes getting the little angles and radius' perfect.