very cool, i'm really interested in getting a 3d printer
3D Printed Double Din Fascia (Pic Heavy)
- Thread starter IAmOrion
- Start date
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- Feb 18, 2016
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- Model of Z
- Z3M Imola and Z4 (e89)
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
I was sent this link ...
https://rigid.ink/blogs/news/how-to-smooth-pla-to-a-mirror-finish?
I'm sure it would work equally well on ABS, or any other 3D-printed material.
https://rigid.ink/blogs/news/how-to-smooth-pla-to-a-mirror-finish?
I'm sure it would work equally well on ABS, or any other 3D-printed material.
Yup seen that before too - I've been using XTC3D for my PLA prints where I needed smoothing and painting etc. For My car pieces - the vinyl wrap is thick enough that it doesn't show the fine lines of the print, so no smoothing etc required. Just vinyl wrap with zero prep
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2011
- Points
- 145
Do you have images of your final products with XTC or vinyl wrapping.Yup seen that before too - I've been using XTC3D for my PLA prints where I needed smoothing and painting etc. For My car pieces - the vinyl wrap is thick enough that it doesn't show the fine lines of the print, so no smoothing etc required. Just vinyl wrap with zero prep
I vinyl wrapped a dashboard in 1985ish. Not one of my best DIY jobs
I'm going to message you as this thread is getting way off topicDo you have images of your final products with XTC or vinyl wrapping.
I vinyl wrapped a dashboard in 1985ish. Not one of my best DIY jobs
Unfortunately my printer, which is 2 years old, seems to have burnt out I'm trying all sorts to fix it but it's bit of an arse to try and trouble shoot these things, and sadly I just don't have the money to replace it so until I can fix it I've kinda come to a halt
Ahh that's real a shame. Just when you were really starting to make progress. Sod's law and all that...
Yup!! Now, saying that, after having completely stripped it down and replaced some terminal points it completed a 22 hour print
and is now on its 2nd 22hour print, so I fingers crossed I've managed to fix it! Will update in next few days hopefully
Finally - a nice update ...
So, I had to adjust the vent arm heights as after printing I realised I was 30mm out (I'll blame it on being tired) but after modding the vent arm I got round to fixing them in place:
I used silicone to glue and seal, and held over night with mini clamps:
It was then time to put the fascia on, and get the cage in place:
Once in place, I bent the security tabs over, into the gaps of the 3D Printed fascia:
Once the cage was pinned in place, I then had to use a bit of delicacy and get to the screw holes each side of the fasica and screw the fasica in place using the OEM screws. NOTE: I intend to change these to some sort of Torx Security screw asap since you're average radio thief doesn't carry those (they might after reading this :rofl: )
Once the fascia was screwed in place, I then inserted the stereo, and with a little bit of elbow grease and A LOT of swearing I got the stereo clipped into the cage, and put the stereo surround in place (As well as putting my oddments tray in place) :
My final 3D printing task for this, is to print out a little "cover" to neaten this bottom edge/gap up:
For now though, it's all in place and secured:
Happy Days 8)
Things left to do:
- Smooth out and re apply vinyl to the oddments tray so it has a much better finish.
- Use vinyl cutter perhaps to cut the vinyl for the fascia so that it's a much neater, better trimmed result... Or prime, sand, smooth and then spray with black plasti-dip.
- Print bottom "cover" to neaten the final finish
Those are trivial tasks which will I'll get around to eventually but as they're small, I have still have other larger projects on the go I want to get finished up first such as my custom headlights I'm doing So this is technically finished now - as it's basically just aesthetics regarding the smoothing and final vinyl layer, but it's in place, held securely and works amazingly
Here are screenshots of my final* designs
(* I may tweak the eventually but for now, this is my most up-to-date designs)
1) The Vent Cover / Replacement
Front:
Front Angled:
Underside:
2) The Vent Arms
Front:
Side angled:
3a) Fascia WITH VENTS
Front:
Side:
Side / Rear:
3b) Fascia WITHOUT VENTS
Front:
Rear:
4) Tray
Front:
Top:
Side/Underside:
Please do let me know what you guys think!
...So, I had to adjust the vent arm heights as after printing I realised I was 30mm out (I'll blame it on being tired) but after modding the vent arm I got round to fixing them in place:
I used silicone to glue and seal, and held over night with mini clamps:
It was then time to put the fascia on, and get the cage in place:
Once in place, I bent the security tabs over, into the gaps of the 3D Printed fascia:
Once the cage was pinned in place, I then had to use a bit of delicacy and get to the screw holes each side of the fasica and screw the fasica in place using the OEM screws. NOTE: I intend to change these to some sort of Torx Security screw asap since you're average radio thief doesn't carry those (they might after reading this :rofl: )
Once the fascia was screwed in place, I then inserted the stereo, and with a little bit of elbow grease and A LOT of swearing I got the stereo clipped into the cage, and put the stereo surround in place (As well as putting my oddments tray in place) :
My final 3D printing task for this, is to print out a little "cover" to neaten this bottom edge/gap up:
For now though, it's all in place and secured:
Happy Days 8)
Things left to do:
- Smooth out and re apply vinyl to the oddments tray so it has a much better finish.
- Use vinyl cutter perhaps to cut the vinyl for the fascia so that it's a much neater, better trimmed result... Or prime, sand, smooth and then spray with black plasti-dip.
- Print bottom "cover" to neaten the final finish
Those are trivial tasks which will I'll get around to eventually but as they're small, I have still have other larger projects on the go I want to get finished up first such as my custom headlights I'm doing
So this is technically finished now - as it's basically just aesthetics regarding the smoothing and final vinyl layer, but it's in place, held securely and works amazingly Here are screenshots of my final* designs
(* I may tweak the eventually but for now, this is my most up-to-date designs)
1) The Vent Cover / Replacement
Front:
Front Angled:
Underside:
2) The Vent Arms
Front:
Side angled:
3a) Fascia WITH VENTS
Front:
Side:
Side / Rear:
3b) Fascia WITHOUT VENTS
Front:
Rear:
4) Tray
Front:
Top:
Side/Underside:
Please do let me know what you guys think!
Looking good!! JIM
Well OK, as you asked, I think you have significantly reduced the resale value of your car IMHO.
Well, each to their own of course
I must repeat, the "finish" still needs to be, well, finished as the fascia looks a bit crappy, but it's just a case of smoothing, sanding and spraying properly. I have other projects on the go so the design and fitment was my main priority.
As for resale.... I paid £1500 for the car, stripped out bits I didn't need or want, made back about £1000, so when it's time to sell, I'll keep the headunit itself, and then anything over £500 is a bonus
OK, put it back together as it was and I will give you 550 quid.....anything over £500 is a bonus
Haha......OK, put it back together as it was and I will give you 550 quid.....
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Me, I'll reserve comment until you can show me the finished article. I like the idea of a double Din Head unit in principle. I had one in my VW Touran, VW Touareg and my old Eunos too.
Tony.
I had one in my VW Touran, VW Touareg and my old Eunos too.Tony.
If you want my opinion - the idea itself is okay, but how it is implemented - perhaps there is some room for improvement.
Honestly, i've tried to install aftermarket radio, but since i was not able to do it that way so it will look OEM i've switched back to stock one and installed aftermarket Bluetooth and MP3 device replacing original cd-changer. Maybe not cleanest option, but very discrete, only aftermarket mic is visible.
Imho, it is very hard to get those bespoke plastic parts to look stock.
And honestly, no offence, but i think you kind of failed same way as myself...
Honestly, i've tried to install aftermarket radio, but since i was not able to do it that way so it will look OEM i've switched back to stock one and installed aftermarket Bluetooth and MP3 device replacing original cd-changer. Maybe not cleanest option, but very discrete, only aftermarket mic is visible.
Imho, it is very hard to get those bespoke plastic parts to look stock.
And honestly, no offence, but i think you kind of failed same way as myself...
Personally, I don't think the implementation is an issue per se, however I know the "finish" of my implementation needs to be fixed since it looks a little naff - but that's just aesthetics. In terms of design etc I think it's pretty spot on IMO. I will be removing the fascia, smoothing it down and hopefully having a smarter, smoother, gloss black finish on it I reckon.
Personally I'm not too fussed about stuff looking perfectly stock, I mean, close to stock but that's bloody hard to fit a double din AND maintain a stock look so I'm happy with the design
Just need to sort out the finish / post processing so it looks better in place. I also think it doesn't help that I wrapped the dash in carbon vinyl AND the fascia, I think it's too much hence my decision to eventually smooth it out and make the fascia black
Big ask, but why not print a whole dash panel in sections, and replace the OEM cutout for the vents and stereo with a double din insert?Just need to sort out the finish / post processing so it looks better in place. I also think it doesn't help that I wrapped the dash in carbon vinyl AND the fascia, I think it's too much hence my decision to eventually smooth it out and make the fascia black
David