Ari [APz] Sovijärvi1d ago

Just an update to one of my 3D printed part torture tests.

To recap the story, I switched to another brand van, but loved the VW T5 hubcaps. I modeled a version that fits my current van and use them for its winter tires, the summer set has more ornamental ones.

The idea was to see if they'd last at all, as many nay sayers considered it a hopeless idea. I printed them for the winter of 2024-2025 and as they were just fine that spring, I kept using them also through the last winter.

They aren't really skillfully designed and I'd do many things differently nowdays, but I'm glad to say they'll be going for their 3rd winter this year. The only damage to them is couple of them missing one or two segments of the parts that grab onto the wheel nuts. That appears to have happened when the tire shop guys had pulled them off.

#3dprinting

Show threadJohn Wilson1d ago
@apzpins what did you print them in?
Show threadAri [APz] Sovijärvi1d ago
@crazybutable You mean what van it is or what it was printed with?
Show threadJohn Wilson1d ago
@apzpins how did you know how to design the parts that fit over the lug nuts?
Show threadAri [APz] Sovijärvi

@crazybutable I got inspiration from the Volkswagen's design, which was not 100% compatible as they use different shape lug nuts.

I first made a piece that goes over one nut. After I got one that snapping onto it perfectly, I did a polar pattern on it and did a small ring to connect them so I could print a test piece that fit over all 5 of them.

Once I got the distance right, I just used Revolve tool to turn a profile onto the disc seen outside.

This was on #freecad 0.20 or whatever was out back then.

Apr 2 at 3:32pmWeb
Show threadJohn Wilson1d ago

@apzpins I looked it up and my CR-6 SE probably needs too many modifications to be able to do ASA (I would like to keep this printer as stock as possible)

Buddy of mine is giving me his old Ender 3 though so I might tinker with that

Show threadAri [APz] Sovijärvi1d ago
@crazybutable As with ABS and friends, ASA would prefer to be printed in an enclosure as it's prone to warp, especially if there's larger surfaces. Small parts print fine even with an open printer.
Show threadJohn Wilson1d ago
@apzpins folks are saying the ptfe Bowden tube gets too hot in the stock setup if you crank the front end hot enough for ASA
Show threadAri [APz] Sovijärvi1d ago

@crazybutable Yeah, it's problematic in setups that weren't really made to support high temperature materials. I get near perfect prints of ASA at 250°C.

I'm actually impressed that my quick prototyping machine, Prusa's Mini+ also prints it just fine.