3D scanning my 1-series for everyone to use

[pendragn]

Hi all.....I had a question to ask, and maybe not many on this forum would have an opinion, but here goes:

My company (a startup with myself and my wife) is a 3D printing company focused on education. We just launched a Kickstarter for 20+ hours of training on a free software program called Meshmixer, which is adept at manipulating dense 3D meshes.

We also have a pair of $20K 3D scanners. The software and the scanners are a great match, and we have announced a "stretch goal" if the campaign is funded for us to create 3D scans for people to adapt for tabletop gaming.

Here is my question:

I am not sure if there is enough interest in one specific model of car, but since I own a 2013 1-series, I have easy access to scanning various parts of the car, for others to take those scans to do cool things with. Would there be enough interest here for me to create another stretch goal just for this car?

For example, I could scan the back curved trunk of the car, and people could use that "template" to create dimensionally accurate logos/text/whatever that could attach to the car. Another thought is to scan various parts of the console next to the driver's right arm if people wanted to create cup holders, cell phone adapters, etc.....

I really do not know if there would be enough interest in this specific car, though, but I thought I would ask!

(Since my wife owns a Lexus SUV, I will also find some forum somewhere where there are Lexus owners and ask this there as well....)

Thanks,

Nick

[Yeineken]

Neat idea. If you can print the parts in carbon fiber you'll be gold with the car communities.

[pendragn]

Thanks....carbon fiber is not easily printable right now (the products out there are "semi carbon fiber" and would not withstand the rigors of outside life. But one could certainly print molds that could be used for actual CF processes, no problem.

[ShocknAwe]

What mediums can you print?

[Enovoc]

If you could somehow print side splitters for our cars youd make a fortune haha

[dtla1]

I think the question here is what we would liked scanned so I will add my thoughts.

A scan of the whole outside would be great so that people could use that as templates to create anything they wanted in terms of exterior parts. The resolution for this would not have to exceed a grid of say 1/4" or 1/8" in size.

Other than thought, I can't think of a scan I would need, although I am not too creative myself so there may be more thoughts out there.

Good luck!

[blank]

Can you scan the whole car? I've been looking for a model of a whole 1 series so that I can use SolidWorks to do a fluid simulation and find out how I can improve the aero.

[Martin VonMunich]

Nick,

Really awesome idea. I love 3D scanning/printing technology. I had just thought of using this approach for my 128i fog lights last week (I ended up not doing it, due to the lack of pre-existing scan/design work).

Here's what I was thinking.

1) Fog lights - I wanted to 3D print a plastic harness that was designed to fit in my pre-existing transparent fog light case/enclosure that was designed to fit these Hella lady flex 5 LED puck lights. (See the pic below of 128i fog lights/string of Hella LEDs/OEM fog light enclosure.)

This would let me use my factory OEM fog light cover, to make a modern looking LED strip of DRLs - Daytime running lights. The 3D printed harness would sit in the OEM fog light, accurately lining up and spacing the Hella lights, and orienting them properly to project/face exactly forward.

This would be awesome.

Another more universal project for 1'ers is:

2) Armrest organizer - this could be a customizable change/gas card/cell phone holder that could fit snugly in the otherwise open tray in the armrest. We typically have a bunch of change in there, and on cornering it all sloshes around. I haven't found any good organizers online, and certainly nothing designed to fit the 1-series exactly.

Anyway - really awesome idea Nick.

[Gray_Panther]

Why not 3d print console parts and then dip them in a carbon fiber paint. Its a neat process.

[Martin VonMunich]

Does carbon fiber paint give the look of the carbon ribboning?

I've not seen this effect before.

My experience with 3D printing is that the printed product requires some post printing sanding and smoothing, so unless you want to work it more it's not great for highly visible pieces. But this must be improving all the time.

[blank]

BTW have you guys seen this Carbon Fiber 3D printer? Only $8000 X)

https://markforged.com/mark-one/

[dtla1]

I think the carbon fiber paint being referred to above is the hydrodip process, pretty cool stuff.

[Martin VonMunich]

Originally Posted by dtla1

I think the carbon fiber paint being referred to above is the hydrodip process, pretty cool stuff.

Yeah.. Wow that hydrodip process is really cool.

Just watched this vid on it.

Looks like it puts a nice glossy layer over everything too, so might nicely smooth over rougher 3D printed material.

Do you know how well it wears?

[The Wind Breezes]

What kind of 3D scanners do you have?

[Solo_M_Tech]

This is really interesting. 3D printed aero peices, interior peices etc would make a good market here if the cost can be kept reasonable. subscribed!

[RedRanger]

Should 3D print the "year one of the one" start buttons. I already have one, but people seem to be really interested in that for later models. I personally could use some Aero kit plans

[pendragn]

wow....I thought no one was interested, since I received no emails...then I come back onto the forum and there are TONS of replies...apologies!

I can try to answer all:

-what scanners do I have? I have an Artec EVA and an Artec Spider, each about $18K, though they give you a good discount if you buy both EVA is for larger objects, and the Spider is for smaller ones. Look here under "Industry Applications" for lot of good car case studies.

-what mediums: for consumer printers, all sorts of thing...flexible material that could be used to create custom gaskets, PET (like in soda bottles) for stiffness with a little flex, ABS (like what legos are made from), as well as all sorts of other things. The same 3D model could be printed in steel/brass/bronze, or if you want to get expensive, titanium....but it is all the same model.

-yes a whole car can be scanned....but since the scanners use projected light, anything shiny will not scan well. The car would need to have some sort of dulling spray applied to the paint to make it not shiny, but yes, totally doable.

-3d printed start/stop surround.....yep, I thought of that one.....but I have less time than ability I don't have all that much time to remove the surround from my own car, but all that would need is a 3D model mode from it....I suspect just hand modeling that small part would be better than 3D scanning it....and since my car was in the last model year, I could put "last year of the one" on it......but since this is 3D printing, you could put any working you wanted on it, and print it in a gunmetal color so it doesn't reflect on the windshield

-foglights: same goes for above....if there is a scan of the area in which you want to put something, then it is not hard at all to model "to" that enclosure.


...I will try to re-subscribe myself to this thread, but if I can't, bear with me, I will come back

[AnthemX]

I love love to see a 3D model of the snap-in drink holder. I would use the lower section of it to build a snap-in iPhone holder.

[AGAV13]

Originally Posted by AnthemX

I love love to see a 3D model of the snap-in drink holder. I would use the lower section of it to build a snap-in iPhone holder.

Yes, even just a base with a snap or screw adapter to use multiple different accessories. iPhones, navigation units, different sized cup holders, hooks for bags/helmets, etc. I have been wanting something like this for years.

[pendragn]

That snap-in holder would be pretty easy to scan, but I don't have one...are they expensive, or is there anyone in the East San Francisco bay area who could lend me one?

[ChiBimmer]

Originally Posted by pendragn

That snap-in holder would be pretty easy to scan, but I don't have one...are they expensive, or is there anyone in the East San Francisco bay area who could lend me one?

I'e got the snap retrofit cup holder in my trunk. Haven't got around to installing it yet. DM me your address and I'll send it. I would like back though.

[pendragn]

I did a couple of quick 5 minute scans:

Here is the center console.....horribly incomplete, but the place where the cup holders snap into is intact (models OK to download):

https://skfb.ly/EJF9

...and this is the gas cover, since it was right there

https://skfb.ly/EJFF

(the gas cap is interesting because the curve of the car is very subtle...3D scanning is really the only way to accurately measure that part of the car)