Hey,
So, there's a manufacturing revolution going on right now. Hope you heard about it. If not:
please read this. In a nutshell: physical objects can be made by fusing powders/extrusions of raw material in successive layers. No hard tooling is ever needed, so customized parts can be made relatively cheaply. Like this:
I decided to create my own shifter knob for my 1999 Boxster. I created the 3D model of the cap with
Sketchup . Using
Shapeways, a 3D printing manufacturer, I uploaded my model and then ordered a physical copy of it, made in stainless steel. HALIX (tm) is the business name of my
shop, just so you know.
The part hasn't arrived yet, but I'm anxious to get the word out that 3D printing is going to be commonplace soon for replacement parts. Real nylon 12, stainless steel, silver, ceramics, glass, sandstone, rubber, and more are all available from Shapeways. I'm not affiliated with them, BTW; I'm just a designer. Other companies can print in aluminum, carbon-fiber reinforced nylon (I've tested it, and it's amazing), Inconel, PAEK/PEEK, edible stuff like meat and frosting, and more.
Anyway, if you know how to 3D model and want to design your own cap using my template, download the Sketchup file
here or the .stl file
here. If you want to learn how to 3D model, there are tons of resources on the web. I personally made this
how-to guide for absolute beginners.
Additionally, if you like the design I've showcased above, you can purchase it
here. If you use my template for your own design or liked my 3D printing start-up guide, feel free to donate a buck or two to
nealbrace@gmail.com using Paypal.
So, what else are we going to make?
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