Build up pictures

[petecossie]

This project is amazing, can't wait to see it in the flesh at some point in the future at one or other of the shows.

Its amazing what can be made with these 3D printers, myself and another chap on Z3 Coupe Forum got a few pairs of roof rail trims for £15 a set from a guy in the States. These were quite small intricate items but fitted perfectly.

These parts were not available individually from BMW, complete roof rails at £90 (back in 2015) would have had to be bought just replace one missing trim. Saved a bundle of money.

 

[Sir Percival]

Reached a bit of a milestone today, wired up the ignition switch and fired her up (old key taped to the immobiliser pick up) ....started first time. Tacho and speedo just clipped in on to their plugs.

Tacho was reading wrong, but only because I had set the calibration switches on the back set wrongly. Changed that setting and reading appears spot on now.

Four way flashers work both externally and on the internal Tacho indicators (left/right arrows). Could not check left/right indicator operation because I don't have them fitted back in yet (but if the four ways work they should be fine)....same with main beam indicator.

Oil light/battery light on dash working (on the old senders, I have yet to swop them) boot release working, lights all working externally, both tacho and speedo light up OK when you switch on the lights. Ancillary instruments not fitted yet.

Handbrake indicator light working. Heater fan works fine.

Two problems came to light; I have a momentary switch for the fog light...for some reason it isn't working properly and the rear fog is only on if you hold it in the on position, also it does not light up the fog light on indicator....but if you switch on the front ones (which has an ordinary switch) they work fine and the indicator lights up....I might have them wired up a bit wrong....but at least they are easy to get to.

Second issue is that the dimmer on the main light switch does not seem to work on the tacho/speedo....maybe it only works on the ancillary gauges...I will check it out....again the wiring is simple to get to?

Other than that, well pleased, will fix these small snags then move on to final connection of the heater cables, fitting tacho/speedo permanently, tighten up some of the switches (the ones where the nut is on the back, Fog indicator/boot press button) Then start wiring up the ancillary instruments, including fitting the resistor for the fuel gauge. I will get them all wired, and then change the senders last...I have already laid the cables for these.

A good day.

 

[oldcarman]

Thanks for the update I've been following all the way and as you can't wait for the day you have nothing to do but enjoy the fruit of your efforts!! As @ Southernboy has a saying, " slowly slowly gets the monkey" you'll need to get Barry to interpret it for you!! JIM

 

[Dino D]

Some big progress!
Re the dimmer - it should dim the speedo and cluster

 

[Sir Percival]

Given up on the dimmer....don't intend to drive it in the dark anyway.

 

[hard top]

Given up on the dimmer

Loose it and use a retro switch (if possible)

 

[Pingu]

I think I may be suffering from the problem already.....I meant to say 3D printing.....not laser....trousers may be possible after all.

What do you want printed?

What material? What colour?

Do you have the .3mf or the .stl file?

 

[oldcarman]

I haven't a clue what your question asks but sounds like you may be able to help @ Sir Percival. I sure hope so as I can't wait to see the car completed! Maybe one day soon!! JIM

 

[Pingu]

I have a 3D printer. But I can't print anything without the file.

A 3D printer needs a .gcode file to print from, but each printer needs unique.gcode files.
The .gcode file tells the printer the settings, such as nozzle temperature, bed temperature, filament feed speed and the actual X-Y-Z co-ordinates of each movement the nozzle needs to make to form the finished print.

The .gcode file is generated from the .stl file.
The .stl file is the 3D image that you may have seen in programs like AutoCAD.
.3mf files are the files generated by the program 3D Builder, which comes free with Windows 10.

I use 3D Builder for most of my stuff, as it is so simple to use.

@Sir Percival was asking a question similar to "Can someone can print a piece of paper?" You can if you have a printer, but without knowing what to print how can you be of much help?

 

[oldcarman]

Thanks @ Pingu that did help me understand to a point and then my 70 yr old brain became muddled. I think if I see a 3D printer in action I'd be better off as I'm more of a tactile learner and always have been. But thanks for the info and I hope Percival can supply what you need!! JIM

 

[Sir Percival]

Loose it and use a retro switch (if possible)

Good thinking, I have ordered a Lucas one, and laid in the wires ready for it.

 

[Sir Percival]

I have a 3D printer. But I can't print anything without the file.

A 3D printer needs a .gcode file to print from, but each printer needs unique.gcode files.
The .gcode file tells the printer the settings, such as nozzle temperature, bed temperature, filament feed speed and the actual X-Y-Z co-ordinates of each movement the nozzle needs to make to form the finished print.

The .gcode file is generated from the .stl file.
The .stl file is the 3D image that you may have seen in programs like AutoCAD.
.3mf files are the files generated by the program 3D Builder, which comes free with Windows 10.

I use 3D Builder for most of my stuff, as it is so simple to use.

@Sir Percival was asking a question similar to "Can someone can print a piece of paper?" You can if you have a printer, but without knowing what to print how can you be of much help?

Thanks Pingu....sadly I don't have windows 10 only 7

I was wondering if I could get the following printed, preferably in chrome? colour.

I know how twitchy some car manufacturers are so I was wondering about having the one of the following printed for my boot lid;



In the font of a well known car company

 

[Pingu]

Thanks Pingu....sadly I don't have windows 10 only 7

I was wondering if I could get the following printed, preferably in chrome? colour.

I know how twitchy some car manufacturers are so I was wondering about having the one of the following printed for my boot lid;

View attachment 71300 View attachment 71302

In the font of a well known car company

The best that I may be able to do would be to print letters and then you can spray them.

I'll give it a go and get back to you. Hopefully, I'll do a little video to show @oldcarman how it's done.

 

[Sir Percival]

That would be great, many thanks....don't spend ages on it though.....but in "F" type font if you can. Thanks again.

 

[Sir Percival]

Got quite a lot done over the holidays. All dashboard switches now repositioned and working (apart from the dimmer switch....I am working on that, see above) Got to be done, as the instruments are so bright it's like looking at two London eyes...on New Years eve...and I don't think wearing welders goggles, when driving at night, is a good idea.

Going to try and finally fit the tacho and speedo, unfortunately they are retained from the rear so I have to pull the entire dash forward again to get my hand round the back....another job where my forearm will end up looking like am aerial photo of the canals on Mars....in blood.

Still, permanent attachment of the dash after that should be possible, and then I can start connecting the ancillary instruments...but I also have three new senders to fit and a ballast resistor to go in the fuel indicator wiring, to ensure correct tank contents reading.

I have bought a new radio that allows the face to be mounted separately to the body, so I should be able to have it in a proper position for driver operation, rather than hidden away in the glove box, as the face needs hardly any space behind it.

Then I need to fit the new front bulkhead that covers the A/C unit, then the carpets and then the new seats....then the front wheels have to come off to fit the new stainless side grills I bought instead of the plastic ones, then finish the headlight covers, fit the new steering shaft cover, and the new indicator stalks, and the speedo calibration switch, door cards, new speakers........blimey, wish I hadn't listed it now....still lots to do.

 

[Pingu]

That would be great, many thanks....don't spend ages on it though.....but in "F" type font if you can. Thanks again.

I've produced something that is ready to print. I just need sizes for the FerrisB. Total width (the height will be proportional) and thickness.

How are you planning to adhere it to the car? Each letter and the dot above the i are separate items and will have to be aligned by you as you fit them.

 

[oldcarman]

Thanks @Pangu that would be awesome if you can put up a short video of the manufacture process. And I'm certain @ Sir Percival will be so grateful! I know of no one that does this even on a small printer so I'll learn something new so again thanks for including me in this!! JIM

 

[Sir Percival]

I've produced something that is ready to print. I just need sizes for the FerrisB. Total width (the height will be proportional) and thickness.

How are you planning to adhere it to the car? Each letter and the dot above the i are separate items and will have to be aligned by you as you fit them.

FerrisB should be about 200mm long, probably attach with 3m doublesided

 

[Pingu]

That would be great, many thanks....don't spend ages on it though.....but in "F" type font if you can. Thanks again.

I'm printing it at 350microns (coarse) just now. To my eye it looks too big. I think the downloaded font may not be 100% correct. I could really do with the exact dimensions that you want.

I'll post it to you and you can tell me the corrections you want.

 

[Sir Percival]

Great....have you got my address?