3D Printed sPod Mount for Overhead Console

[cw360]

Hey everybody. First new thread. Massive thanks to everyone here. I have been lurking for quite a while. You guys have been extremely helpful from buying my 4Runner through several projects already.

I digress....

sPod. I wanted to mount the switches in the sun glasses compartment. But I also thought it would be dumb in they were facing down, so you could not read them. I designed and printed a mount that would take the place of the door and hold the switches at an angle.

The cable goes along the headlines, down the a pillar, thought the dash, through the firewall to "The Source" which is mounted on the fuse box.

Each print took 5-8 hrs so the project has been going for a while. Check my design in the evening, print revision overnight.

Pretty happy with how this came out. The mount does not block the rear view, which was a big design consideration. Also could do another revision since I had to do some really aggressive dremeling to get the final fitting right.

I also posted a youtube video if you are more of an audio/visual type person.

 

[thedamartini]

Are you worried about delamination on a print that's going to see years of hot/cold temps and stress from hitting the switches?

 

[cw360]

Are you worried about delamination on a print that's going to see years of hot/cold temps and stress from hitting the switches?

Yes and no. Its possible over a long time horizon. But I think the printer runs at something crazy like 230 degrees C. so outright heat killing the plastic is unlikely. I have yet to have that happen on any of my projects. If the PLA is getting tortured, so is all the other plastic in the 4Runner.

If it does I will either replace it with another print. Or I will have had a different idea by that time and want to change. My ham mount is a year old and I am already thinking about changing it.

I might put a test cube in my engine bay just to see what happens.

 

[aelarson]

Are you worried about delamination on a print that's going to see years of hot/cold temps and stress from hitting the switches?

Depends what type of 3D printer and material was used to create the mount. I have a ABS phone mount that was printed on a FDM printer. Been in two of my 4Runners for 5 years total, no issues at all. And that’s in MN with freeze/thaw climate!

 

[nglayton]

Are you worried about delamination on a print that's going to see years of hot/cold temps and stress from hitting the switches?

LOL, it would seem if you can 3D print your own, You could install a new one every week if needed.

I wouldn't even think twice given an unlimited supply.

 

[aelarson]

Hey everybody. First new thread. Massive thanks to everyone here. I have been lurking for quite a while. You guys have been extremely helpful from buying my 4Runner through several projects already.

I digress....

sPod. I wanted to mount the switches in the sun glasses compartment. But I also thought it would be dumb in they were facing down, so you could not read them. I designed and printed a mount that would take the place of the door and hold the switches at an angle.

The cable goes along the headlines, down the a pillar, thought the dash, through the firewall to "The Source" which is mounted on the fuse box.

Each print took 5-8 hrs so the project has been going for a while. Check my design in the evening, print revision overnight.

Pretty happy with how this came out. The mount does not block the rear view, which was a big design consideration. Also could do another revision since I had to do some really aggressive dremeling to get the final fitting right.

I also posted a youtube video if you are more of an audio/visual type person.

Very cool! I love the design! What type of printer are you using?

 

[Kashoggio]

Good job on this, like the design


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cw360]

Very cool! I love the design! What type of printer are you using?

Makerbot Rep 2. Think its about 4-5 years old now.

 

[04rnr]

Just wondering, why not make them inset, like the factory panel just above yours? just curious

 

[cw360]

Just wondering, why not make them inset, like the factory panel just above yours? just curious

Played with that idea. Did not like the way the designs were coming out. Also would have been harder to get it to blend. Copying a little bit from the way the crawl controls look. Those protrude.

 

[toppyjai]

where were you last summer??