3D Scanning Design Website

[nismo silvia]

About a year ago I posted on the forum to get help to buy a 3D scanner so I can start a free website with scans of parts/ cars, will lets just say most of the comments were negative. I wasn't going to beg people for something that would contribute significantly to the community.



So now for the good part, the past year I have been working on designing some parts for my 240Z and my S13 using a Faro Platinum Arm I got. After I tried to get a GoFund me campaign for a laser scanner so I could start a free website where CAD scans would be readily available was shot down by everyone that commented on it.



So now I have a Faro Laser scanner and will start off scanning in things I need for now it will be VK56DE, RB26DETT, SR20DET, LS1, L Series, CD009, S13, and 240Z. I will be working towards getting a larger scanner but am in the process of starting the website which will have a $350 yearly membership, or you will be able to download files at a higher fee without a membership.



The files will be IGES files that can be opened in any CAD software. The main purpose behind this is for easy design and once I get the larger scanner and can scan in whole chassis which was my original plan, designing one off or production parts will be simple and require no test fitting.



This will also include aero I plan on scanning the full S13 aero and once I have enough cash to build a large enough injection mold I will be reproducing legit ABS injection molded S13 aero. It is a lot of work for just one person so don't expect it to happen overnight a block like the VK after I scan it has 300,000,000 points that I have to edit and mesh. I will post up the website link here closer to the end of the year once I feel I have enough scans to justify charging a membership fee.



The above images are not scans it was a point cloud from the Faro Platinum of a RB26 and RB30 and is a custom RB36 that I am designing for my 240Z. I do not think there will be that huge of interest on here but once I get finished with my projects I am going to start with the Porsche 911 and Subaru STI

Let me know what you think, for current day to day progress check out my Instagram and add me RoadBashTV

[nismo silvia]

What no comments on this, where are all the people that actually work on their cars? I must be getting all of the ones that have to hold their wife's purse.

[kach22i]

We have a local place here called "Maker Works", I wonder if a scan by you of a CIS airbox then modified (customized changes) in AutoCad by myself and then 3D Printed would be an alternate method to cutting up an old box or fabricating one up from scratch using fan-fold insulation, epoxy and fiberglass.


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[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by nismo silvia

I must be getting all of the ones that have to hold their wife's purse.

Not a good start with that comment, but I'll add....

It is one thing to scan a part, but guys who wrench on their cars in the garage on nights and weekends are not going to have the ability to use one of your files to manufacture a part for their use.

Perhaps you are getting little feedback or less than positive feedback because you've offered 1/2 the solution to a problem and in some cases the solution has no problem. Some of the parts we need are still available. It might take a bit of hunting, but we eventually find them. To set up an operation that can utilize the scans in most cases is cost prohibitive.

Perhaps you should re-evaluate your target audience or offer complete parts until home-based manufacturing (e.g. 3-D printing or the like) becomes the norm.

[dad911]

Originally Posted by kach22i

We have a local place here called "Maker Works", I wonder if a scan by you of a CIS airbox then modified (customized changes) in AutoCad by myself and then 3D Printed would be an alternate method to cutting up an old box or fabricating one up from scratch using fan-fold insulation, epoxy and fiberglass.


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I don't think 'consumer grade' prints will hold up to the engine compartment heat.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by nismo silvia

What no comments on this, where are all the people that actually work on their cars? I must be getting all of the ones that have to hold their wife's purse.

You have a question about a 911? If not, take your post and your attitude to another forum, maybe the off topic one...

JR

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by MotoSook

Perhaps you are getting little feedback or less than positive feedback because you've offered 1/2 the solution to a problem and in some cases the solution has no problem. Some of the parts we need are still available. ..............

I agree, parts are out there for our cars.

The market lies perhaps with the track/Autocross guys looking to customize and shed some weight, and or experimenters like myself.

Maybe going into 3D software forums where people know what to do with the base file scans?

Example:
Autodesk 123D - Free 3D Modeling Software, 3D Models, DIY Projects, Personal Fabrication Tools

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by dad911

I don't think 'consumer grade' prints will hold up to the engine compartment heat.

Is that plastic like Crayola Crayons?

[tirwin]

I have some experience with CAD software. I used to do that years ago. I have thought about getting back into it for some ideas I've had. The one thing I don't yet understand about 3D printing is the structural aspects of the material. There a lots of little plastic odds and ends (non-structural) that I could see where having the ability to 3D print at home would be convenient.

But then there are other parts that have design tolerances for bearing load or withstanding temp or pressure, etc. I've wondered how 3D printing can be used to make parts that have specific design requirements? For those parts, you would think that you're not just buying the part, you're buying the engineering and testing that went into manufacturing the part.

It also seems to me that your business model is a bit challenged because we're still in the 'early adopter' phase of 3D printing tech curve. Once the tech becomes more mass market then your appeal goes up. I think MotoSook is right -- the number of people here that, at this point, care about manufacturing parts themselves is probably pretty small. I'd say it's the people who have the ingenuity and (today) already have the means to fabricate something.

As a potential end-user I think there is an opportunity cost to overcome. Right now why would I spend hundreds of dollars on a 3D printer to make one thing? But once I have a bunch of good reasons to buy a 3D printer then it's a different story. Once I've made the initial investment then it's all gravy.

A suggestion would be to start with a real niche of parts that would be valuable to lots of people.

Just thinking out loud and trying be to helpful.

[J0hnny]

Forget about 3D printing anything structural on the "cheap"

Markforged makes a 3D printer that prints with carbon, kevlar or fiberglass reinforcement over Nylon, it works, but I would not call it a replacement yet.

The parts are OK, but not every application works.

the scanning would work mostly for recreating a model of the engine or parts, and engine bay, and then work on your own parts and make them with traditional methods.

Metal 3D printing is still a long way out, the machines are really expensive, and somewhat slow, the parts usually need quite a lot of work afterwards, and the mechanical properties are largely unknown, specially since the printed part has a very different inter-granular structure.

[dsfnctn]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I agree, parts are out there for our cars.

The market lies perhaps with the track/Autocross guys looking to customize and shed some weight, and or experimenters like myself.

Maybe going into 3D software forums where people know what to do with the base file scans?

Example:
Autodesk 123D - Free 3D Modeling Software, 3D Models, DIY Projects, Personal Fabrication Tools

I could have sent the base file scans of the Porsche 4.0 GT3 intake plenum to my tool maker and he would have a mold done in MDF very cheap and very fast . I had to do it he old fashon way since im old

[Mick_D]

I have a nextengine 3d laser scanner and use rhino, gibbscam, and solidworks to make part files and post-processing g code files i can run on a cnc mill. I've not tried a 3d printer but the part files are similar, it is just the post-processor that's different.

[MotoSook]

I haven't seen printed parts with the kind of finish necessary for high tolerance parts. Maybe there are machines capable of this, but certainly not for the home printer or printers within reach of even the most eager home hot rodder. So any part that requires close fit or a tolerance fit will need to be run on a CNC machine or over-printed, then machined. Structural integrity as mentioned before is questionable with printed parts further eliminating the PO's business plan as a viable solution to anyone without access to a CNC machine.

I have a Bridgeport and measuring tools...my eyes are my scanner

[Tom Elder]

Hi, Nismo

Good luck with your endeavors, I hope you succeed!

Through work I have used the services of www.a2mac1.com , Startseite :: autograph dimensions GmbH - Discover inside information and SEMA for vehicle cad or scans. A2mac1 and Autograph are too expensive for home use. Sema you have to have a brick and mortar store to qualify for their cad service. Even if you could afford or qualify for these services, our old cars are not available in any cad format. I have often wished to have access to a cad file of our old cars, part of the enjoyment of the hobby, is to design and build bits and bobs for my car.

The value for me would be to have more environment cad to design various bits and bobs, around. Let me know when you have a 901 / 911 transaxle and a complete long hood body surface or solid file, 300,000,000 point clouds don’t interest me much.

Business model will be tough at $350, if I had a business and was making money from the designed parts then $350 is very reasonable. But for a one off personal use project it is a bit steep. But I have in the past purchase an engine cad model for about $100, which I find very useful. So a lot would depend on my need and wants at the time, commercial or personal.

I would like to think there is a market need for an affordable home hobbyist scanning service of customer parts. I have been to an industry scanning service provider for a home project but it was expensive as well.

Here is an additional link to a friend of mine who is offering up a service for motorcycles, you might find interesting. His service uses a Romer arm to reverse engineer data points of motorcycle geometry. MotoSPEC Motorcycle Chassis Software - MotoSPEC His target customers race engineers.

Please keep us posted on your progress, I do like mixing old school and new school engineering techniques…………….. ok back to the drawing board, yes I still have one.

[nismo silvia]

Even a high quality 3d printer will have some porosity you would have to seal the part if you were going to just 3D print and use and depending on the quality of printer the results might not hold up for day to day use with heat cycling and stress. I am not sure it that is what you were meaning when you said 3D printing an airbox?

Originally Posted by kach22i

We have a local place here called "Maker Works", I wonder if a scan by you of a CIS airbox then modified (customized changes) in AutoCad by myself and then 3D Printed would be an alternate method to cutting up an old box or fabricating one up from scratch using fan-fold insulation, epoxy and fiberglass.


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[nismo silvia]

Even a high quality 3d printer will have some porosity you would have to seal the part if you were going to just 3D print and use and depending on the quality of printer the results might not hold up for day to day use with heat cycling and stress. I am not sure it that is what you were meaning when you said 3D printing an airbox?

Originally Posted by kach22i

We have a local place here called "Maker Works", I wonder if a scan by you of a CIS airbox then modified (customized changes) in AutoCad by myself and then 3D Printed would be an alternate method to cutting up an old box or fabricating one up from scratch using fan-fold insulation, epoxy and fiberglass.


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[ganun]

[QUOTE=Tom Elder;9011082]Hi, Nismo





Beautiful work but the fan is backwards, just the blades, flip it 180.

[Tom Elder]

Hi, George
I can't take credit for the engine cad file, it was purchased here 3d air cooled flat six engine
price seems to have gone up. I just changed the color and added air cleaners. Good eye, I will have to update the fan.

[2jmotorsports]

Nismo is your model library going to be composed of the raw scans or cleaned up water tight surfaces/solids?

[Blackbyrd]

I have a few parts I would like to produce but the company who will make my molds
(cnc aluminum) and injection the plastic said I need a cad file of my part. Can someone help me out with this ?

Need to get some cad files/3d scans of my parts

Help appreciated