Speedwagon Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Subaru, to my knowledge, doesn't sell them anymore. All the current ones are very brittle. I have access to a 3D printer, that prints parts in ABS plastic. Would this be a good way to make new ones? If so, would people here be willing to buy some? And would someone be willing to turn the current part into a file I can use(I'm no good with CAD and such)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinky26 Posted August 1, 2013 Share Posted August 1, 2013 (edited) I would be willing to buy a set. I would love to do the CAD thing but I don't know the first thing about the program. In the mean time I will put out the word to see if I can find anybody in my circle that might know the program. Edited August 1, 2013 by Dinky26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg454 Posted August 6, 2013 Share Posted August 6, 2013 I bought a new set from subaru about 3 years ago when I redid mine. They could still order them then. Greg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 (edited) Ther are no tailgate trim pieces left, and they were made of tin, not plastic. How would they warp? I'm a bit confused on that one... Edited August 7, 2013 by skishop69 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg454 Posted August 7, 2013 Share Posted August 7, 2013 Ther are no tailgate trim pieces left, and they were made of tin, not plastic. How would they warp? I'm a bit confused on that one... I wasn't talking about the trim itself. I mean the little plastic blocks that go under the trim that the trim screws to. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinky26 Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 What site did you find those on cause I haven't seen any that are available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skishop69 Posted August 8, 2013 Share Posted August 8, 2013 Those pieces are still avaiable from Subaru. At least they were about a year ago when I ordered mine. Weren't may left IIRC. Wouldn't be a bad idea though. They break easily even when new. The plastic composition wasn't that good back then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbosubarubrat Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 i might be. what would a rough estimate be for a whole set? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinky26 Posted August 9, 2013 Share Posted August 9, 2013 I've got a request into my local Subaru parts shop. I'll let you know when I find something out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bratman2 Posted August 10, 2013 Share Posted August 10, 2013 When I had my Brat painted the last time about 5 years ago I pulled the metal trim on mine. Several blocks were broken and fell to pieces trying to reinstall. I cut wooden wedges and coated with a fine coat of marine adhesive caulking and tapped into place. That has worked great for the last 5 years and counting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbosubarubrat Posted September 1, 2013 Share Posted September 1, 2013 any updates on this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bendecker Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 I just used some thin polypropylene plastic, cut them into small squares, pre-drilled them, didn't even tap them, just screwed right into them with a power screw driver. They work great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperBrat Posted September 2, 2013 Share Posted September 2, 2013 There were over 150 pieces still for sale from Subaru just out of Portland about 4 months ago for around 2.00 each.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeoldecycleshoppe Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Hey y'all, this is a weird way to introduce myself, but the subject "3D printing" caught my eye and I think I can help you out if you're interested. I don't have a printer, but I am a CAD guy and have several programs on my computer. Looks like Speedwagon is fairly close to me (5 hours or so). If you, or anyone on the forum has one of these trim pieces in good condition, you can send it to me and I'll model it in CAD, then send you the file for printing. I was just cruising the forum for info on these old Subarus as I've always thought they were cool and find myself needing a back up vehicle while I work on my truck for a while. Then I found this on CL near my neighborhood: http://westslope.craigslist.org/cto/4045458706.html Any reason I shouldn't go get it? (If it's still available, need to call them tomorrow) This seems like a really cool forum. I might hang around even if I don't get the wagon. Creating old obsolete parts would be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pressingonward Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 You're talking about 3d printing the little clips that hold the chrome trim onto the edges of the bed rails, correct? Does anyone have a picture of the clip they can post? I'm curious what they look like, and I don't want to pull the trim off my BRAT to find out. I would think you'd be able to go to a body shop supply store and get a box of generic clips that will do the job. I've worked with 3D printers a decent amount, and a clip printed from ABS should work fine as long as it doesn't take a large amount of deflection to clip the trim on. ABS is a somewhat brittle material, and it's even more brittle when 3D printed, but still usable. Definitely stronger than the material we use in the stereolithography printer at my work. I could also model the part in CAD for the OP if need be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yeoldecycleshoppe Posted September 6, 2013 Share Posted September 6, 2013 Also, if you're printing in ABS, make sure you can print in black as it is the most UV stable for outdoor use. Shapeways does a good job of quick turnaround on printed parts, and they do a number of different materials, including stainless steel. I have used their "strong plastic" on several parts and it has a lot of give which may work better for a snap-in piece like this trim clip seems to be. pressingonward, what do you do? It's always fun to find another CAD geek. I am an Industrial Designer, used to work for a sports equipment manufacturer in MI, then moved to CO a year ago and now work from home. (I don't want to hijack this thread, message me any reply) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bantum Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 (edited) I think these are what you are looking for : http://www.ausubaru.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=199&pictureid=1802 Edit : this image is from Steptoe on AUSubaru : http://www.ausubaru.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23610&highlight=brumby+trim Cheers, Bantum ... Edited April 2, 2014 by Bantum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REXSPEEDWORTHY Posted October 13, 2013 Share Posted October 13, 2013 I used the eye end of a black rubber stretch strap. Cut it so it just barely removes the eye. They taper down already. Cut a smll notch at the top of the taper. You may have to taper it even more. Keep trimming till you can cram it in the hole. That notch will allow it tosnap into place. No need for a pilot hole drilled, for these screws go right in and expand the rubber for an even tighter fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 Did anyone ever follow up and make a .STL model of these? If not, would anyone be interested in designing it if I mailed them a good sample? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Thinking along the lines of 3D printing, what we really need is a model of those crumbling air vents we have, I would print off a mountain of these and mail them out if someone did the model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfoyl Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 There are four plastic parts I can think of that could be reproduced : 1. Air vents 2. Door handle surrounds (in all colors) 3. Trim endcap under tailgate stainless 4. Trim endcap under bed trim (where it meets with item 3) - I am looking for this one myself at the moment. Modelling it - are there 3D scanners that can make the drawing process obsolete - ie. can they scan into an STL format ? I haven't played with 3D printing enough to know the technology. My main concern with 3D printing is the roughness of the finish. I have trialled (for work) acetone vapour finishing and it works in certain designs but not others. The part I was doing was essentially like a very small (2 inch long) bath, and the bottom of the "bath" was very rough... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfoyl Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 The other part I think most of are looking for (for a BRAT) would be the stainless tailgate trim, which really shouldn't be _that_ difficult to have made. Once the tooling is done the unit cost should be peanuts... I know of at least one person who has made up a tool to make it out of solid plastic (and then vacuum-metallise chrome the finished part). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iluvdrt Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 I would be very interested in buying new reproduction items. The badges on the outside could also very easily be 3D Printed. I'm tired of buying faded or "slightly" broken pieces haha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
subarubrat Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 (edited) Since there are several of us with printers but no design skills, what about doing a "group buy" and collect good examples of those parts and get someone for hire like on Shapeways to design it, split the cost among those interested, and then those of us with printers can knock off sets? Any interest? However, dfoyl has posted a good point, the finish of 3d printed objects is something you have to understand and be OK with. I would not find it to be an issue with vents but badges might not be ok. That said, for many cars where plastics are no longer available even in slightly broken condition 3D printing is the only option and lots of methods to finish out the parts to OEM appearance are being used. Edited November 4, 2015 by subarubrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverhelme Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Since there are several of us with printers but no design skills, what about doing a "group buy" and collect good examples of those parts and get someone for hire like on Shapeways to design it, split the cost among those interested, and then those of us with printers can knock off sets? Any interest? However, dfoyl has posted a good point, the finish of 3d printed objects is something you have to understand and be OK with. I would not find it to be an issue with vents but badges might not be ok. That said, for many cars where plastics are no longer available even in slightly broken condition 3D printing is the only option and lots of methods to finish out the parts to OEM appearance are being used. I could use a new set of clips depending on the cost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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