3d Cad designing for fabrication/part reproduction

[Murdoc1905]

Hello, I have been messing around with Autodesk Inventor for years, 4 years of it in high school, and I now have Inventor 2016 that I mess around with. I've always loved designing and fabricating.  I am by no means a professional, and can't for example tell you how much force or how heavy a part will be, but I have toyed with 3d designing parts that often break for possibilities in CNC reproduction (hood pull handles, Hatch hinges)

[eaglefreek]

If there is one thing that is needed by Eagle owners, it would be stronger hatch hinges. However,  until the used supply runs out, I don't think many would be willing to pay what it would cost to make a set.

[Murdoc1905]

Yeah, I just did some preliminary design on the upper hatch part out of cnc aluminum 6061 I believe, and it was running $45 a part. That's without the bolts or hinge pin. I didn't have any dimensions for the hinge itself as I only have a sedan, but I imagine it would run around $80 a hinge. There is a possibility of cheaper if I fiddle with things. But I'll have to get my hands on a hinge to get a more accurate cost analysis.

did my fiddling and found it more expensive lol. but I did add a finish and what not to the part.

[Murdoc1905]

just for reference this is based on a 3.7"x4.7"x1" part that is copper and zinc plated costs around $72 per part for an order of 25 parts. so I can imagine that it would be a steep price to pay for half a hinge.

[vangremlin]

A couple years ago I came across a pretty good set of rear bumper ends for an SX/4 and looked into getting them 3D scanned for ultimately getting them 3D printed someday.  The price just to scan them was going to be on the order of $300-400, not including time to "clean" up the scans.  I'm not sure what the cost of actually printing them would have ended up being but I decided it was not a good investment for me.  Yes, there are quite a few SX/4 owners that need bumper ends, but don't know how many are willing to pay several hundred dollars for them. 

[Murdoc1905]

Yeah I've heard about that issue many times, that would be something that would be very difficult to reproduce accurately due to all the complex angles and multi-part mold requirements for mass production, 3d printing has come a long way but I'm not sure it will give fast and smooth results. Best idea I can come up with is building a new design out of metal since it seems easier a material to work with.

[eaglefreek]

The hinges aren't flat and square, they have some angle or twist to them and on top of that, they are handed. A few years ago, a member made a set on a CNC and said he would have to charge in the $250 range for a pair, if I recall.

[Murdoc1905]

Yeah, I imagine they are a bit more complicated than what I designed. That was using "emachineshop's" cad program just to see what they would charge for something resembling the part

[mudkicker715]

I believe the sunvisor hinge pivots could be a thing to look at. There was a gm version that shared it, idk what anymore. Just a thought.

[Murdoc1905]

done and done.


XD but seriously, I am looking into what other types of sun visors would fit the screw pattern.

[vangremlin]

lol those are great visors, would love to have one of those on my Eagles lol.