I’m working on fixing up my 1982 SR5 interior. I have both the plastic kick panels but they’re in rough shape. I’m looking into 3D scanning tech and whether it would work for these parts. I figure once scanned I can outsource either 3D printing or some sort of ABS moulding. Anyone here ever tried 3D scanning parts like these?

Thanks!
Jason

 

Have you tried sourcing the OEM parts? https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/ has a ton of hard to find and 'discontinued' parts that you can't find anywhere else. Their prices are also better than dealer prices. Give them a shot. I'm not sure if 3D scanned parts will fit correctly like genuine parts do.

 

I think its a cool idea. I know very little abt the technology or cost of process but if you could print a full dash for a reasonable market price, youd have a nice business on your hands.

 

factory ones are a pretty simple piece , there just flat , and easily cut out from material with scissors .
We build custom ones from FRP , for people doing engine swaps and such to hide computers and fuse boxes , ect .....

 

I heard Jay Leno has 3D printed a few interior bits for some of his cars and really liked how they came out. I know a few people in the Overlanding World that have 3D printed interior parts for there builds and have had good luck with them. All depends on which material one uses and the printer/ finish work. I, for one, would love to get some plastic interior bits printed for a non-Toyota vehicle I'm working on- and other people as well would love them- but the market is small and printer and material is not cheap.
One day I'll get a printer and have some fun marking bits.

 

Has 3-D printing technology come far enough where the factory part and the 3-D printed part become indistinguishable, including the factory texture?

If I am going to buy a reproduction plastic part, I want it to look like the original, with all the detail of the factory molded texture, and no print layer lines.

A good 3-D scan may be good idea, if the detail is there. I know most places don't do much mold making from an original part anymore. Most parts are designed in CAD, then made from the CAD design, and a good 3-D scan would be a huge help.

 

Well the local over 55/seniors centre had a class on 3D printing that I went to. You can reproduce anything if you have the time, skill and mostly patience to do it. I made a radio knob (not automotive) which after painting is indistinguishable from the others. Some of the other guys there were making parts for model airplanes/cars/trains which were detailed right down to tiny nuts and bolts.

As far as those kick panels I did the same as Slacker, just cut them out of hair cell ABS sheet and heat and bend where needed.

 

What thickness ABS did you use?

 

1/16", bought a 4' x 8' sheet for $40CDN at a plastic distributor. Get the black ABS, apparently its more UV resistant so the guy there said.