Lgmt2's centre cap 3D printing

[Navara96]

Hi guys,

I'll start of by saying I'm no professional, really I'm doing this just to improve my solid works skills and hopefully end up with a replacement set of centre caps I can use. But I am planning on 3D printing a set of Ray's centre caps to fit lmgt 2's ( may fit 1's aswell?) as anyone with the caps know the plastic gets brittle and the mounting tabs snap off! I have seen sets go for over $600 in good condition... But really they are still 20 years old . All going well the final product will be made of abs plastic ( unless anyone has an opinion for otherwise?) yet to see wether there will be the ability to colour match to the originals otherwise more than likely black , cost I am unsure of yet.... I was going to see if there is any interest first so I could enquire for x amount of caps and see what happens but hoping around half the cost. All the dimensions and measurements are being taken from a genuine centre cap and I will get a mock cap made up first to ensure fit.

Is this something anyone/ones would be interested in? Nothing final just a gauge of interest at this stage.

Thanks!

[nicr4wks]

Registering interest.

I would think black would be fine, a trip to the powder coaters can sort out any customization.

 

[Stallo]

Fit lmgt3?

[niZmO_Man]

I have a feeling they're the same as LMGT1 caps as well.

[GTR-N1]

As Ravi alluded to, I think that the hexagonal caps of the LMGT1, LMGT2, LMGT3 and Magnesium LMGT4 are the same; (but not the LMGT4 GT500).

Pete - aka PLYNX on SAU - has made them before.

They can be either be black or sliver-frost in colour.

 

[Meathead]

Very interested in a set of the standard black ones for my LMGT1s'

Please let me know!

[MrFijiGold]

(but not the LMGT4 GT500)

 

:(

[niZmO_Man]

Three blue ones came with my LMGT1, so I can measure those if you wish. But I'm pretty certain they're just the regular old style RAYS caps.

I'm sure you'd have no trouble moving 50 units (I'd be down for one lol).

[Navara96]

Hey guys, sorry I have been busy working on a few other projects but I'll try get the solid works file finished tonight and can post up some photos

[Navara96]

just need to get the bottom section with the mounting tabs sorted (probably finish it tomorrow night or tuesday) 

but overall it matches the centre cap i have here quite precisely so hopefully this week i can look into getting a prototype printed! if anyone here knows somebody or a company to go through to get them printed please let me know

thanks

[Navara96]

so.... if anyone is still interested the cap is done!.....well the file at least,  the mounting tabs were a pain but hopefully they work properly ( they are the same dimensions as originals so they should). Now to find someone to print it.

 

 

[GTR-N1]

Whoever buys the set of White LMGT Magnesium 18x10" in the F/S Ad will require 3 caps I think.

 

[Steve_89]

I would be interested in a set of these too. You can never have enough spares

[Navara96]

i haven't forgot about this guys, just speaking to a few about costs and the best way to get the results i'm after, hopefully over the next few days i will have a solid update 

[Navara96]

i have spoken to a few company's, the one that seems to stand above the rest is Solid Concepts, they have a base here in WA and also Singapore. They have answered everything I have annoying asked them and understand the use/purpose to ensure that if this does go forward the product is more than up for the task and the finish is on par if not better than the originals. the 2 options i have been given are;

1. SLS nylon production- makes very low quantities viable  but isn't the best suited to the job, it's only available in white ( so will require painting) and the final product is from a 3D printer as such the finish straight from the machine may need sanding/ tidying up.

2. vacuum casting, firstly a set of master copies will be printed sanded/ cleaned/ finished before being used to make a silicone mould from which the final PP/ABS pieces will be made. the advantages being a completely finished cap ready to install with a professional finish quality and available in different colours ( probably matte black to resemble the orginals?). the downsides being the initial cost to produce the mould, to make less than 20 units the cost just is not worth it.... so on to that.

COST; really option 2 is the best option and the one i'm hoping to get enough support for to go with, at 20 units the price would be $80-90 a piece or $320-360 a set. I know this isn't cheap for a set of "fakes" but quality wise I am confident it would at least equal the originals ( likely better), I don't stand to make any money on the caps so it's not that there is a mark up on anything... its simply not cheap to create these low number runs. The mould can potentially be used for 20 sets (80 units) until they expect it to degrade so if there is enough interest (10+ sets) we could expect prices to drop $10-15 a piece but finding that many interested people may be difficult so if you do know somebody please let them know! 

I am happy to do a production run with 5 people ( 20 units) but can't justify it for any less than that, so please let me know if you are interested still and i can get a definitive quote and get the ball rolling

thanks guy and if you have any questions feel free to ask

Nic

[Navara96]

As you can probably see the interest since pricing went up was well... less than great. But ohh well that happens. I did get a prototype printed though just to see how well I did recreate the part and I am very happy with how close to original it is if anyone does want the file please just pm me just keep me in mind if you do find a cheap way to get these made!
Thanks guys

[Navara96]

Hi guys,

if there is anyone interested there are 4 sets of these made from billet aluminium, annodised black for sale for $310 posted 

[Navara96]

from the original to plastic copy to and finally.....billet and anodised  

[GUWOP]

Real nice! Sucks that people show interest and then flake out. Maybe eBay them? 

[Meathead]

Do you still have any sets left?