3D Printed Rear Fender Flare End Caps (1 Viewer)

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Someone needs to make these
 
What printed are you using ?

I have tried most of the Desktop brands and even an industrial brand. Right now I have 4 Flash Forge Dual Pros, 2 Lulzbot Taz5's, 1 TAZ6, 7 Qidi Techs (my favorite sub $1k desktop machine), 1 Afinia, 4 CTC (those are junk), 2 Makerbots, and 2 Wanhaos. The CTC are by far the worst. Wanhao isn't much better. My favorite machines are my new Lulzbot due to it capacity and print speed and my Qidi's. The old Makerbot is also pretty damn reliable. I did finally pick up an industrial machine by Stratasys but was not happy with it. It broke down as often as my desktop machines and cost 50 times the price to repair. It will take me years to pay off that machine based off the cost of ownership. That was not a good investment. I also had a loaner AirWolf Axiom as a demo for a couple months. That machine was AWESOME!! I think for the money, Airwolf probably makes the best desktop machines. Unfortunately to switch all of my machines over to Axioms would cost me close to $90,000. I don't nor will I ever have that type of money. As my machines die I may pick up a couple. Here is a link to what I think is the best desk top machine out there:
AW3D AXIOM 3D Printer - Airwolf 3d Printers
 
Since nobody else has said it...

shut-up-and-take-my-money.webp
 
Im interested in something like that on the pictured 4runner. I want to take off the running boards but dont want to deflare. I wonder how its going to interfere with sliders though.
 
So just a quick update:

A few weeks ago, I left my flares with @D farms to begin working on these.

About a week ago he was in a pretty nasty accident which rolled his truck a few times, so he is likely to not get to these right away, while he is going through recovery.

He is still interested in making them, so stay tuned. He's a bit worse for wear right now, but he's proving to be a pretty resilient guy. I'll do whatever I can to help him and I'll update the thread with more info when it's available.
 
Yes! Speedy recovery and interested in the product
 
I have 3D printed a ton of stuff mostly ABS and PLA and I've come to the conclusion that anything that is going to be exposed to the elements isn't going to hold up over time, two seasons and it'll be coming apart.
 
you do realize that many parts on the truck are already made of abs plastic. the grill for example is abs and it sees a lot of moisture and heat from the radiator and sun.

so far ive had only one failure, the customer didnt fully secure the piece and took it through a carwash which then destroyed it after it came loose.

in addition I recommend using a truck bedliner on them. weve all seen those commercials for linex recently, you can spray that stuff on water and it holds up.
 
The design I saw D Farms make on the T4R site is great for Cast Urethane production. Use the thermally extruded part and cast it in silicon. Then run several parts through that silicon tool using a UV stabilized Elastomeric.

Video about how to make a silicon tool using a 3d printed part (or anything you have)
 
you do realize that many parts on the truck are already made of abs plastic. the grill for example is abs and it sees a lot of moisture and heat from the radiator and sun.

so far ive had only one failure, the customer didnt fully secure the piece and took it through a carwash which then destroyed it after it came loose.

in addition I recommend using a truck bedliner on them. weve all seen those commercials for linex recently, you can spray that stuff on water and it holds up.


I do realize there are many ABS parts on vehicles. My issue is not with the material used but the production method used. The process of 3d printing parts which builds a part by bonding many layers (of ABS in this case) creates a weaker part in comparison to something that is injection molded for example. I've been 3d printing my own parts for a few years now and I can say from experience that they do not hold up. If strain is put on the part perpendicular to the layers it will be prone to breaking. UV exposure also works to weaken the part over time but like you said coating in bedliner or some other coating can help in this area.

I think what is being offered here is great, and I hope it works out. It's just not something I would spend $80+ on based on my own personal experience. I would consider an injection molded version for that price but not 3D printed.
 
Count me in as well.
 

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