3D printed seat heater knob?

[EatsManyHotDogs]

Santa brought my son a 3D printer for Christmas. Fascinating machine. It occurred to me that it could print a seat heater knob to replace the Lego block I've been using, if I can feed it the appropriate design code. I'm looking into some online CAD software to try to customize a knob design, but this is new territory for me. The Lego block has been fine and all, but if I can get a new knob for cheap, that would be cool. I have a hard time justifying the purchase of a whole new seat heater switch assembly, even if it is the cheaper knock-off variety.

Has anyone else looked into this?

 

[Reckless]

No I just bought the entire switch off ebay for ~$30. The china aftermarket ones had knobs that don't come out, a much needed upgrade in my opinion. Also, I believe the oem switch would fail after awhile, my aftermarket one works for last 150k miles and gives more heat than the original when I got it.

 

[afgman786]

Santa brought my son a 3D printer for Christmas. Fascinating machine. It occurred to me that it could print a seat heater knob to replace the Lego block I've been using, if I can feed it the appropriate design code. I'm looking into some online CAD software to try to customize a knob design, but this is new territory for me. The Lego block has been fine and all, but if I can get a new knob for cheap, that would be cool. I have a hard time justifying the purchase of a whole new seat heater switch assembly, even if it is the cheaper knock-off variety.

Has anyone else looked into this?

View attachment 2537280

What kind of glue did you use? I realize this is probably a silly question and I'm overthinking it. But I realized the size of a lego head is bigger than the metal dial I need to glue to and didn't want to put too much glue and have it run down and potentially ruin something.

 

[bemerritt]

I can probably help you out. Let me measure mine and get one printed, then i can send you the .stl

 

[EatsManyHotDogs]

What kind of glue did you use? I realize this is probably a silly question and I'm overthinking it. But I realized the size of a lego head is bigger than the metal dial I need to glue to and didn't want to put too much glue and have it run down and potentially ruin something.

Sorry for the late reply. I used a dab of 3M 5200 Marine Sealant/Adhesive that I had leftover from a boat project. It has a caulk like consistency so it won't drip, sticks to anything, and doesn't become brittle when it dries.

 

[DPA200]

I’m kinda surprised this many years and this many lost heater knobs that nobody has made replacements yet. I’m in the same boat, sans Lego. Sucked mine up in a car wash vacuum a few years ago just left it uncovered. What all is involved in the Chinese replacement route? Bummer those doesn’t come off, my plan was to buy the generic and just take the knob off

 

[DPA200]

I can probably help you out. Let me measure mine and get one printed, then i can send you the .stl

Any updates on this?

 

[DPA200]

No I just bought the entire switch off ebay for ~$30. The china aftermarket ones had knobs that don't come out, a much needed upgrade in my opinion. Also, I believe the oem switch would fail after awhile, my aftermarket one works for last 150k miles and gives more heat than the original when I got it.

What all is involved to replace with the Chinese one?

 

[DPA200]

Wonder if these would fit?

2004-2009 Lexus RX330-RX350 heated seats controller knobs [X2] | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2004-2009 Lexus RX330-RX350 heated seats controller knobs [X2] at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Reckless]

What all is involved to replace with the Chinese one?

I dont know my mechanic put it in in few minutes. It seemed pretty simple to him. Been working flawlessly 5+ years.

 

[DPA200]

I went an order the eBay ones that say they are for the Lexus RX. The seller said they’d fit the Land Cruiser so we’ll see. $30 expensive for 2 small pieces of plastic for sure, but I’d prefer to keep the factory panel in there and just replace the 1 missing knob. Seller is in Ohio. I’ll post up when I get them.

 

[Lester did that]

I made a bunch of heater seat knobs a while back out of bronze with the dimple on top and gave them away. The trick is incorporating that small flat on the post that receives the knob. It's rather slight and machining it into the diameter of the female end of the knob would cost major money in bronze. Might be doable with a 3D printer? I used an thick epoxy paste to get around that detail. Just half of of a dab. It conformed to the "flat" but did not create a permanent bond. IE you can remove it if needed but it won't be lost in a vacuum if your cleaning. 2 years later and no complaints. Replaced a couple of rear knobs the same way.

 

[DPA200]

I made a bunch of heater seat knobs a while back out of bronze with the dimple on top and gave them away. The trick is incorporating that small flat on the post that receives the knob. It's rather slight and machining it into the diameter of the female end of the knob would cost major money in bronze. Might be doable with a 3D printer? I used an thick epoxy paste to get around that detail. Just half of of a dab. It conformed to the "flat" but did not create a permanent bond. IE you can remove it if needed but it won't be lost in a vacuum if your cleaning. 2 years later and no complaints. Replaced a couple of rear knobs the same way.

Got any pics? Sounds like a good fix

 

[Lester did that]

It worked out pretty good. People have commented "Classy". They look a lot better than the photo. The dang new camera on the phone shows way too much. They look all scratched up but they are not. Except with an IPhone camera...

Standard stock size bronze rod. You can get them in 6" lengths. Cut and drill a hole. I have access to a milling machine so it was chop chop in about 5 minutes. A little ball of wood epoxy stick in the hole and just pressed them on. If you put a tiny amount of butchers wax on the male post and wipe it off the epoxy will bite to the bronze or what ever material the knob is made from and not to the post. So you can remove it if needed. It's not permanently attached but you can run a vacuum over it and it wont get pulled out.

Amazon product ASIN B015BYDIY4
This stuff is multipurpose. Any color works but if you have any damaged furniture around get a color that matches that. Works well on edges and does not fall off like paste fillers. Sands like butter.

 

[DPA200]

It worked out pretty good. People have commented "Classy". They look a lot better than the photo. The dang new camera on the phone shows way too much. They look all scratched up but they are not. Except with an IPhone camera...

Standard stock size bronze rod. You can get them in 6" lengths. Cut and drill a hole. I have access to a milling machine so it was chop chop in about 5 minutes. A little ball of wood epoxy stick in the hole and just pressed them on. If you put a tiny amount of butchers wax on the male post and wipe it off the epoxy will bite to the bronze or what ever material the knob is made from and not to the post. So you can remove it if needed. It's not permanently attached but you can run a vacuum over it and it wont get pulled out.


View attachment 2806516


Amazon product ASIN B015BYDIY4
This stuff is multipurpose. Any color works but if you have any damaged furniture around get a color that matches that. Works well on edges and does not fall off like paste fillers. Sands like butter.

very nice solution for sure. It was that partly squared male post that stumped me every time i tried to find something. I'll give your epoxy method a shot when my Ebay plastic RX knobs ones arrive if they fit

 

[DPA200]

Got my Ebay RX330-RX350 seat heater knobs in the mail and they fit perfect in my 08 LC. Has ridges in the side so when it's up it's not an exact match, but can't tell when it's down. I figure I'll put the 2 new ones in for a matching pair, and keep the 1 original I have as a backup. The inner notch has the correct half circle shape so it fits nice and snug. $30 a bit crazy for 2 little pieces of plastic, but I'm happy none the less. Easier solution than replacing the whole heater unit.

 

[YellowJacket]

I can probably help you out. Let me measure mine and get one printed, then i can send you the .stl

Did you ever get one printed by chance?

I’m surprised nobody on here is selling these yet.

 

[YellowJacket]

Did you ever get one printed by chance?

I’m surprised nobody on here is selling these yet.

Maybe there’s plenty of people selling these on eBay now. I feel like that wasn’t the case when I first started looking a couple years ago.

2008-2015 Lexus LX570 LS460 Car Seat Heating Ventilation Switch Button Knob For Lexus LX570/LS460 | Black | Dashboard | 2x | Durable | China

For Lexus LX570 LS460 2008-2015. 2PCS Heating Ventilation Switch. For Toyota/for Land/for Cruiser LC200 2008-2015. 2ï¼Made of high quality material, durable and practical to use. -Material: Plastic.

www.ebay.com