This is really cool...

[DesktopDave]

Just saw this little item for sale. I like the way he thinks. It's a marker light repair kit, created for 3D printing. Amazingly, it's only $4 despite the huge amount of technology that went into building it. Here's his blog post about it.

I love the way this tech is heading. Anyone have ideas for other commonly-failing plastic components? E36 window guides? I'd think an E30 replacement sunroof cable clip in metal might help, or perhaps components for replacement glove box latch.

[Slowered318]

Wish I had access to one of those. I would print a custom radio/hvac control pannel and VDO gauge cluster.

[DesktopDave]

They do it all, at least after you get them a framework. A gauge panel would be too large, but I'd bet a three gauge cluster might work.

Maybe I'll give it a spin?

Now that I'm thinking about it, wouldn't it be nice to have more modern buttons in the center stack? Or a media/GPS mount, perhaps even a virtual gauge panel?

[Slowered318]

They do it all, at least after you get them a framework. A gauge panel would be too large, but I'd bet a three gauge cluster might work.

Maybe I'll give it a spin?

Now that I'm thinking about it, wouldn't it be nice to have more modern buttons in the center stack? Or a media/GPS mount, perhaps even a virtual gauge panel?

Well I'm getting a bit tired looking for a mint M3 gauge cluster. Then doing all the trick mods only to have a lazy tach and vague water temp gauge. Center panel could easily fit 3-4 gauges across the top and an iPad mini to control your media/GPS http://shop.soundmanca.com. HVAC could be moved to in front of the shifter with a tray for the cell phone and coffee money. AutoMeter ES series would look great in front of the wheel.

Always wanted to do something like this but I didn't have much luck building aluminum panels to fit and then I priced out the gauges...

Currently working on a $10 voltage meter for one of the little pop out panels, this is what I will have to settle with for a custom dash. lol

[ryanjv]

I've got a friend with a 3D printer.  He modified it to make large items.  He made a full size one piece gravity hammer from Halo.

I should look into making some designs and seeing if he'd do it for me. 

[DesktopDave]

That's a big printer...is it an extrusion type?

That Shapeways site does a deposition print - they use a lift tray filled with powdered material. A laser traces the pattern, fusing the material into a model one layer at a time.

[ryanjv]

he picked up this guy http://seemecnc.com/collections/3d-printers/products/rostock-max-complete-kit
then did quite a bit of modification

[vpilarry]

So how big of a part can he do?