As some people might know my dad and I are currently repainting and redoing the interior of his '88 Iroc-Z Convertible. As most people know interior parts for verts. are almost impossible to come buy. So i decided to make my own. The part that need to be fixed was the sliding bracket for the tonneau release for 87-88 cars. It had been broken in 3 piece just from everyday use.

Here is a picture of what the part is:



Here is a picture of what I started with:



I am currently a CAD major at PCT. So, I devised a plan to get it remanufactured. I first used Autodesk Inventor Professional 11 to draw the part as a 3D parametric model.



After the part was drawn I saved it as an *.STL file and send it to the printer. I sent the file to the Prodigy Plus Rapid Prototyper which is essentially a 3D printer. It's a fused deposition modeler which basically ejects plastic into the shape of a part. When the printer was finished I had to wash it in a chemical to get the excess support material off.

This is the final product:





And here is a comparison:



It is not perfect, I do have to modify the hole spacing and the fillet radii, but it is easy to fix and get another prototype made. The final product may need to be fiberglasses to make stronger but we will have to see.


Thanks for reading,
Ryan

 

Dood..that is pretty cool!
Can you make other parts? It may be a good money maker for you on the side!

Tommy

 

i need one. what about making them

 

I can make more parts but the printer has size lmiits. I'd have to stick with small parts. I am not sure if I can make more. I don't want to abuse the school but I can definetaly ask my professor once the final product is made.

 

You did a great job! I'm impressed.

 

Verry nice. I though about repoding some of them in Billet Alum. and powder coating them in wrinkle black.

I just dont know if the demand is there.

Red1992V6Rs,
PM coming your way about some info.

 

It would be cool if you could make one of those that included the tonneau release switch area, the weak tonneau plastic isnt very strong. make all 1 piece.

 

TPI383,
PM sent.

As to all the others, I am trying to figure out a way to get these produced for the public once I have the design completed. It seems like these are a common problem. Is there a same design for firebirds? I'll keep everyone informed. By the way, can someone find me the distance between the two hole center. I need a very presice measurement. I'd appreciate it very much.

Ryan

 

Red,

Back at ya... I dono if the birds are the same. Id guess Yes but ya never know.
I know my 91RS vert parts are diff. I belive smaller.

 

i was tryin to up a pic of my part which is different, but my pc is being gay. my 1991 has a handle you pull on.

 

Courtesy of TPI 383

http://www.cecoatings.com/images/Car...toprelease.jpg

Can someone also get me the overall length and width along with the distance between the holes? Some of my dimensions don't line up with the broken part and what my dad is telling me.

Thanks again,
Ryan

I believe TPI383's is the 89-92 version.

 

yes that is the part for mid 88-92

 

My switch isnt between my window switches, its next to the top release cable machiniam

 

I've seen those prototypes made on TV before. Very cool that someone on here has actually done it.

It would be awesome if you could use prototypes of parts to make molds and find some place that can mass-produce them in plastic/fiberglass/aluminum/whatever. Is that the idea, or can you actually use the prototype part?

Very cool. And I'm very intrigued.

 

That is exactly what can happen. With this, a mold could be made, or the file could be send to a CNC machine. The part is actually pretty strong, but I just don't know how it will hold up. You would think the orinigal would have held up.

 

Very cool. Me likes. Keep up the good work.

Rob

 

Red,

Give me a call fi/when you want to try and do these outa aluminum. Im thinking you can sell em pretty quick.. Or even offer to see if lon(TDS) would want to sell em thru his site.

 

So, what's the status on all of this? Can we say... Resurrection?!

 

Damn that is cool....Nice job