Measuring to create 3D printed parts to fit things
I was wondering about your tips for measuring things so that you can create 3D parts that will print and fit with them. For instance, I have a hole in the dash of my car that has a strange shape, but if I could figure out how to measure all its various dimensions I could use Tinkercad to design a part that would plug into it and let me turn it into a phone mount. I don't know how to get an accurate measurement of it to make something that could "snap" into it. I have a micrometer but there are so many dimensional parts to measure (for instance, the depth of the opening has various facets), and the micrometer won't fit into the space in order for me to use it anyway.
And I often wonder about this in general. How do you produce an accurate measurement of objects in order to produce precision parts to fit with them?
I see some amazingly accurate fits for things in 3D model sites sometimes and wonder how people measured objects that they didn't have starter CAD files for, or whose shapes were quite irregular?
Re: Measuring to create 3D printed parts to fit things
A dial-caliper works wonders for measuring most anything that fits within its jaws. They even measure depth pretty well, no getting inside required.
A Dial-Caliper measures OD, ID, and Depth. One should be able to get you close enough.
Next step is the plastic properties of the material you print with: like how much force does a 2mm lip at the end of a 5mm tang require to 'snap in place'?
As for compound angles? No clue, but there are angle gauges for that purpose... and a little trig also works.
Re: Measuring to create 3D printed parts to fit things
My gear selector should have been a ring around a ball on the gear selector lever.
a section broke out and not surprisingly it stopped working.
I got the car home by lashing paracord around the selector and the lever, effectively tying them together.
gear selection was sloppy as hell...
when I got home, I got the vernier out, but there was no easy way to access the remaining parts with the gauge.
so I got a pencil and paper, folded the paper til it went in the hole in the centre console and marked the extremities on the paper.
then measured these marks with the calipers after I recovered the paper.
I made two copies of the part, one of the measurements was a bit tight, and I heard a crack as I pushed the part into place.
I couldn't see the crack, so I fastened the part in place with a cable tie, lubricated the ball joint with a little grease and road tested the car... gear change was slicker than it had ever been whilst I owned it (over 100K miles on the clock when I bought it). the mod lasted many thousands of miles,never needed the spare one. the car had a major oil leak, into the cooling water (head gasket) at twelve years old, and 160K miles on the clock... it donated wheels, headlights bumper, radiator, alternator and bonnet before being laid to rest with the local dismantler.
if you make paper patterns
then you can copy shapes onto paper, Black on white for a good contrast, photograph them, you can import the jpg files into inkscape, where you can use the Path/trace bitmap option to convert the picture into an SVG image, you may be able to import the svg into your 3d program, (I use 123D design, coz I am stoneage ...) here you can adjust the sizes to those measured of the original, to get a good analogue of the original shape, and use the shapes to help build a model to fit your aperture it will probably take a couple of test prints to get the exact fit.
good luck, Joan
I try to make safe suggestions,You should understand the context and ensure you are happy that they are safe before attempting to apply my suggestions, what you do, is YOUR responsibility. Location Halifax UK
Re: Measuring to create 3D printed parts to fit things
lots of great resources on youtube
and for creating a sketch off of a weirdly shaped item based off a picture this probably applies the most:
Re: Measuring to create 3D printed parts to fit things
lots of great resources on youtube
and for creating a sketch off of a weirdly shaped item based off a picture this probably applies the most:
Great resources. Thanks. Subscribed.
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Chuck H
3D Printer Review Blog
Re: Measuring to create 3D printed parts to fit things
I've shoved blu tack or plasticine into a weird shaped opening and then upon removal measured the impression.
Re: Measuring to create 3D printed parts to fit things
I measure all mine with verniers etc. to get the dimensions. I even copy profiles onto paper and trace the shapes on CAD. Mostly i have a part to copy but not always.
Some of my recent parts
This one is my venture into flexible (TPU)
