Custom made case

sebberry · 09-11-2007, 02:05 PM

Just thought I'd share this with you...

I know someone who is a reseller for Dimension 3D printers and was kind enough to offer to print my carputer case for me from ABS plastic...

Here is the original solidworks design:

And here is the case:

Sadly the printers cost as much as a new car so I don't think there will be a group buy on printers anytime soon

2k1Toaster · 09-11-2007, 04:20 PM

Not only do the printers cost $20k-$40k for a small one, each run of that UV dust can run you $200.

You got one hell of a deal if you got it for free.

It looks good too.

2k1Toaster · 09-11-2007, 04:21 PM

Although is there a reason to not putting the HD and the PSU internally? With the ABS you could have just printed mounting points for a really ellaborate design easily.

sebberry · 09-11-2007, 04:36 PM

The motherboard is a 3.5" SBC, or the same size as a standard desktop hard drive. The board has a CF slot on the back where I have a 4GB CF hard drive (actual spinning drive, not flash memory) tucked in there. The power supply was going to be a bit big for the case too...

Some printers make the models out of dust and cure it, others use a wax type substance, but this is good ole ABS plastic, can be sanded, painted, etc... Not sure what the materials cost...

sebberry · 09-11-2007, 04:37 PM

This is the underside of the motherboard. The bright orange strip you see is the back of the hard drive

Azaria · 09-11-2007, 04:45 PM

Very nice.

I'm about to start a carputer project for a friend's truck and the case is actually now in question so I was wondering:

Is your guy willing to do any more? What might he charge?

thanks.

monkeyracer · 09-11-2007, 05:52 PM

stereolithography? yah, talk about expensive stuff.

My college had one, and students could use it at a discounted rate, but that was still a pretty penny.

Sometimes it would be easier to just thermoform the same thing.

sebberry · 09-18-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Azaria

Very nice.

I'm about to start a carputer project for a friend's truck and the case is actually now in question so I was wondering:

Is your guy willing to do any more? What might he charge?

thanks.

I posted my design on another forum and he sent me a private message offering to do one up for me if I let him print one for his showroom (he sells the printers and likes to have new stuff to show off).

I had no idea who the guy was (other than both being members on a website) and he did ask me not to tell people who made it.

Sorry

sebberry · 09-19-2007, 08:58 PM

Added pic to first post