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Chonk_Master · 04-09-2020, 09:54 PM

Journal Entry 04/09/2020:

So, not much time for progress during the week but got some small stuff done.
Cuts for the vacuum molder were done by a good Samaritan on NextDoor.

It's funny how simple of a plan a vacuum molder is. If you've ever wanted to use one, here are the plans I'm using:Amalgamized: DIY Vacuum Former for Thermoformed Plastic in Your Home Shop

I'm scaling mine up to be a little bigger for the fogs but you can make them just about any size, assuming your vacuum source can do the thing.

Got a tracing of the mounting plate for the side mirrors. Should get me in the ballpark for a prototype. I'll print the prototype at, say 3% infill and just see how it fits. If it's the right size, I'll print the flight model from HTPLA, bake it, and starting mounting hardware.

If I'm lucky (I'm not), I'll be able to use that factory rubber piece to seal the interior up nice and neat. Otherwise, I can get some thin rubber sheet to do it with.

Quick plug for carbon HTPLA. Proto-pasta makes this stuff and it's very neat. It's an HTPLA you can bake in an oven to increase hardness and heat resistance. They claim temperature operating limits of 310 F after baking. I made a shift knob with this stuff for my old Toyota MR-S. I was able to cut a thread in it and leave it in the sun permanently with no deformation.

My limited memory tells me they formulated it to crystallize while baking to achieve the higher strengths and heat tolerances.

I would use some spray-on filler, black spray paint, and polyurethane to finish out the mounting plate for the side views.

This is also where the limitations of TinkerCAD are going to stop me short. TinkerCAD is a VERY rudimentary free CAD program. You can do a lot with it but it's more like putting together pre-assembled blocks that it is true CAD. You can't really make a triangle with specified face lengths. You can make a pyramid and a cone and a triangular prism. But not a triangle with specific length faces.

Anyways, there's plenty of more sophisticated, free CAD software out there I can use.

04-09-2020, 09:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chonk_Master EcoModding Lurker Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 63 Crosstour - '11 Honda Crosstour EX Thanks: 48 Thanked 29 Times in 25 Posts	Journal Entry 04/09/2020: So, not much time for progress during the week but got some small stuff done. Cuts for the vacuum molder were done by a good Samaritan on NextDoor. It's funny how simple of a plan a vacuum molder is. If you've ever wanted to use one, here are the plans I'm using:Amalgamized: DIY Vacuum Former for Thermoformed Plastic in Your Home Shop I'm scaling mine up to be a little bigger for the fogs but you can make them just about any size, assuming your vacuum source can do the thing. Got a tracing of the mounting plate for the side mirrors. Should get me in the ballpark for a prototype. I'll print the prototype at, say 3% infill and just see how it fits. If it's the right size, I'll print the flight model from HTPLA, bake it, and starting mounting hardware. If I'm lucky (I'm not), I'll be able to use that factory rubber piece to seal the interior up nice and neat. Otherwise, I can get some thin rubber sheet to do it with. Quick plug for carbon HTPLA. Proto-pasta makes this stuff and it's very neat. It's an HTPLA you can bake in an oven to increase hardness and heat resistance. They claim temperature operating limits of 310 F after baking. I made a shift knob with this stuff for my old Toyota MR-S. I was able to cut a thread in it and leave it in the sun permanently with no deformation. My limited memory tells me they formulated it to crystallize while baking to achieve the higher strengths and heat tolerances. I would use some spray-on filler, black spray paint, and polyurethane to finish out the mounting plate for the side views. This is also where the limitations of TinkerCAD are going to stop me short. TinkerCAD is a VERY rudimentary free CAD program. You can do a lot with it but it's more like putting together pre-assembled blocks that it is true CAD. You can't really make a triangle with specified face lengths. You can make a pyramid and a cone and a triangular prism. But not a triangle with specific length faces. Anyways, there's plenty of more sophisticated, free CAD software out there I can use.