Reply With QuoteGood luck!!!
FYI it cant be the same size as the left side because it will be on the header.
First off, let me say that I do not have any idea how to use this technology so this idea may not even be feasible. With that said, I see a lot of talented people on the boards here. I have a 2007 Scg with the Buell right side scoop from the comfort kit. I have seen more than one person who does not like the fact that it does not match the left side scoop.
With modern technology for rapid prototyping out there today, how hard would it be for someone in the computer field to 3D scan a left side scoop and reverse engineer it to be a right side scoop that would perfectly match? Could it then be printed in black and put on the bike? If not, could you use the printing to make a mold to have several replicated in black plastic? I just can't see paying the $200.00 or so for the matching fiberglass one that is out there. There has to be a way to do this less expensively. I mean, the outer factory right side scoop is relatively cheap. Why can't they (or one of us) replicate it and have a bunch made to bring the cost down?
Anyone else out there think this would work?
Good luck!!!
FYI it cant be the same size as the left side because it will be on the header.
It's a game of quantities. The 3D parts are rather costly to make and are typically not final product quality. Injection molded plastic molds are pricey as is time in the machine to make just a few for the accessory market. These machines are made to drop hundreds of parts for every time the mold is mounted. You'd get to that $200 mark very quickly unfortunately. Vacuum forming or fiberglass molding would be another option but you'd run into similar hurdles I'm afraid.
This is just my opinion based on the experience I've had with molded plastics and 3D prototyping. Others may have different views?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAdVO8Rkv6c
possible :D
I was wondering when you'd pop up in this thread logix. lol :D
You have no idea how much it costs to 3D print something. that 200 is relatively cheap.
Rapid prototyping is routinely used to make molds for vacuum forming. Its not at all unreasonable to think of laser scanning a left side scoop and printing out a mold to use in even a household vacuum form or autoclave.
I agree its not the answer to make the actual parts though.
Cool DIY on the carbon but you need the mold and you 'd be doing that for yourself. Lots of time in making those parts by hand and therefore lots of cost. So yes, it can be done but not for under $200 until you get to high quantity production numbers.
laser scanning to create a point cloud for 3-D modeling can be a tedious operation and time in the machine can be cost prohibitive for parts like this. It's time consuming but you can create your mold from the existing part (left side scoop) using epoxies and modify to mirror the two (to account for difference referenced by oh9bolt). 3-D printers are used for a variety of purposes. Most utilize an ABS material and a support material that can dissolved by caustics to achieve a final part. All of mine use Catvia5 as the model software for CAM operations. The ABS material isn't that expensive, but machine burden rate is expensive, at least here. The ABS will hold up nice, but a little on the brittle side for temp variations. Finish texture can leave a little to be desired. I have only seen the ABS in white and green. I'm sure that there may be other color/material options available.
I do have a 3-D printer that I've used to build a few bike parts. If I were making a one off piece like the one in question, I'd have to scan the left scoop with a 3-D scanner. (That piece is in the very near future list of my tools purchase.)
Anyway once the left scoop was scanned, I'd flip the image and scale it down to like 99% and overlay the print with carbon fiber. The extruder heats the plastic up to 205 degrees for PLA, and 225 for ABS. It simply would melt with the mounting points so close to the engine. So that is why the carbon fiber is needed. The scale down would compensate for the overlay.
The scoop would have to be made in at least 2 pieces to fit on the print bed. I have a large format printer. The largest print that can be made is 12"L x 12"W x 8"H. Due to the size of the scoop, you're looking at several hours of printing. My last project HERE. Took a total of 16 hours to print. It was 13"x2"x4" tall and printed in 4 pieces. 3D printers don't do well with any overhangs.
I've been tempted to do this project. The only thing keeping me from it is the original scan of the left side. If someone has a scan of that. Send me the file, I'll print it, carbon fiber it, and send the part out where ever you guys think it can be molded and mass produced. Then everyone can enjoy it.
Of course during the build a thread would be needed so everyone can see the progress.
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