• Hello Guest, welcome to the initial stages of our new platform!
    You can find some additional information about where we are in the process of migrating the board and setting up our new software here

    Thank you for being a part of our community!

3D Printed Parts Thread

Maximum Turtles

Maximum Turtles

New member
Joined
Feb 18, 2014
Location
Santa Rosa, CA
As our Volvos grow older, many parts become harder to find and lose their aftermarket support. Fortunately, several members, myself included, have been quietly producing their own parts (like stock and modified) through the medium of 3D printing.

This thread is to be a list of parts people have already designed and are ready to print, as well as a place for people to request parts.

Parts Ready To Print

25 Tooth Odometer Gear (240) - Designed by Swiftfingers
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:530961

Small Gauge Bezel (240) - Designed by Maximum Turtles
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:559671

Center Console Switch Plate (240)- Designed by Maximum Turtles
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:559677 < with attachment for a common type of USB charger

Cup Holder (240) - Designed by Blippy
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:91442

Shift Boot Support (240) - Designed by propav8r
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:66503

Cup Holder Remix (240) - Designed by rdahm
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:900952 < redesign of Blippy's cupholder, as one thicker piece

Parts Requested

52mm screw-in frames for gauges (240)
^ Accompanying the already available 52mm gauge bezels

Center console/e-brake cover (240)
^ A sturdy replacement for the center console on a 240, highly requested but challenging for 3D printers

Plastic pullrod for reverse lockout (M46, 760)
^A simple enough looking part to produce, hard to find

Gauge inserts for HVAC vents(740/940)
^aaronllewellyn is all over this

Post requests in the comments below, or +1 requests others have made. Hopefully someone will agree to design them on their own terms.

If you have any parts you have created or are creating, please add them in a reply and I'll be sure to add them to the list.
 
Last edited:
Cool, I'll post parts as I make them. It should be noted that it's often cheaper to get and OEM part IF IT'S AVAILABLE. If it's not... then we can make one. If you don't have a 3d printer, you may be able to ask one of the guys here to print for you, or use a service like Shape-ways.
 
Guess I could bump this with a little shift boot support dealio I drew up awhile back. Works like a champ.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:66503

d8pTxF7l.jpg


DNShTd1l.jpg
 
How about the screw in frames for the 52mm gauges to go with the bezels? That way there's an off the shelf replacement for those parts, which can be used with any 52mm gauges, stock or otherwise?
 
These are primarily substitutes for plastic parts right? 3D printers print a plastic-like material, ya?

Eventually, we'll lose aftermarket support for metal parts, I imagine... the heavier pieces, like control arms and whatnot.

And eventually all electronic parts will be extinct, in which case nothing electronic in the car will be Volvo. Everything will have to be megasquirted and we'll be buying our relays from Target.
 
:twocents: not all printers are equal and not all printed parts will be good. Very high grade machines should produce a functional part. Buyer beware.
 
What about bigger pieces like ebrake boxes or the plastic boxes on the back shelf right under the rear window that get sun baked and turn to sand? Larger interior trim pieces. Can you get that texturing on the outside? Any thoughts on similar weathering of these 3D printed pieces over, say, 10 years?
 
theknave said:
What about bigger pieces like ebrake boxes or the plastic boxes on the back shelf right under the rear window that get sun baked and turn to sand? Larger interior trim pieces. Can you get that texturing on the outside? Any thoughts on similar weathering of these 3D printed pieces over, say, 10 years?
Click to expand...

The 3d printing technology will only get greater over time, just like all other technology. ALL OF IT.

I'd really like to see a center console printed, if you can find them used on eBay they're like $120 and still fragile. A 3d printed unit would be much stronger
 
It at least has the potential to be. For example, a piece could have additional reinforcement (honeycomb) while still looking stock on the outside.
 
One thing that is made of plastic, breaks, and is hard to find (I got replacements for mine at the JY, I don't know if Volvo still makes it) is the rear bumper bracket for the 240 (post commando). It might be different based on year or sedan/wagon. Bolts into the body on each side, and bumper cover clips into it. This can break if the bumper gets hit, even a little, and then the sides droop.
 
93Volvo240 said:
Have you ever touched 20+ year old volvo plastic? Lol yes, anything I've ever seen (from a 3d printer) is at least 10x stronger than my current interior parts.
Click to expand...

It will all depend on the material used to print and how good the printer machine is. many places and hobbyist are using cheap equipment producing inferior parts.
 
A co-worker of mine has multiple 3D printers, and supposedly by the summer he expects to be able to print in Delrin. Then we'll be able to make all sorts of functional parts, like little bushings and things that are long NLA from volvo... really hoping he comes through on that.
 
blandoon said:
A co-worker of mine has multiple 3D printers, and supposedly by the summer he expects to be able to print in Delrin. Then we'll be able to make all sorts of functional parts, like little bushings and things that are long NLA from volvo... really hoping he comes through on that.
Click to expand...

Would that be strong enough for suspension bushings?
 
Another idea, if the printer is capable of the size: single round headlight buckets, early grills, & egg crate grills for 86+ front ends
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top