I am currently rebuilding an old motorcycle and am needing to come up with a way to make some new shock shrouds.
They were made using injection mold and I am not sure of their makeup but I think ABS would be the best bet. My only worry is that the parts are smooth and glossy and my idea of a 3D printed part is far from that.
I am new to this entire process however have created a 3D drawing of the part. I have looked online at other places for quotes but with so many different materials and techniques im lost when it comes to picking the right material and techniques to get what I am wanting without having to cut off an arm and a leg.
2 Likes
Enza3D
2
Hello there,
That would be a fairly easy part for most 3d printers to make.
In terms of aesthetics it is always difficult to match those of an injection molded part. Modern 3d printers have incredible vertical resolution so a part in its raw form might be good enough for your needs. If you want to make it even smoother or match the gloss level of the other parts you could prime and paint it with a rattle can. This would smooth out the layer lines and make it appear to be solid. Or finally if you print with an ABS material (good idea since this will be outside on a bike) you could vapor polish it which would make it look like an injection molded part. It’s worth a shot but the vapor polishing process tends to degrade the plastic a bit and can lead to some light warping. Your part is so thin I would advise against the vapor polishing.
All of that being said, where does this part sit on the bike? It looks like a spring from a soft-tail. How much distance is there from the exhaust/other hot bits once this is mounted on the bike? I am a little concerned about heat and the abs becoming soft but that all depends on where it is mounted while the bike is being operated. There are other material options available such as PC filament and even some reflective paints you would try but heat is definitely something to consider while deciding on material.
If you need any help getting this printed or just want to talk motorcycles feel free to check out my hub. I would love to know more about your project
The part is non functional and sits pretty high above the exhaust.
The bike is a 1983 Triumph TSX and Ive not been able to find the shrouds anywhere (others with this bike have also been looking for years).
The attachment isn’t my bike but the same model which shows you a little better where the part sits.
Xeno
4
If you want to have an exact replica, and have a undamaged one, you can make a solicone mould from the undamaged one,
then you can make multiple of copies, in a strong polyurethane black pigmented resin.
that would only work if it’s just a cover and not a functional part 
The part will have the same color and exact gloss/matt finished as the original, and the polyurethane is just as good as ABS.
I have done this a few times with really good results and the copy is undistinguishable from the original part.
Oh yeah, an ABS material would be fine for that, how thick is the wall of the part? If you want I could quote it for you, or you could find pretty much any hub on here with the capability to print ABS.
Molding it would give you almost an exact replica but its pretty labor intensive (read expensive) and that level of detail capture is rarely necessary.
Gorgeous bike style as well, I had the pleasure of riding a Triumph from the 80’s a couple years ago and it was a fantastic machine. I have never owned one though. I used to have a 1988 Honda Shadow and another 98 shadow Aero, the 88 was by far my favorite.
A high-quality printer should be able to replicate such a simple design with hardly any visible lines, especially (as noted by others) if finished with a resin such as XTC-3D or even just spray-painted. From your original comment, I suspect the prints you’ve seen to date have been fairly low quality.
Thanks for the resin recommendation.
I don’t really want to spray paint the parts because in due time the paint will fade and dissipate. I have placed an order for a few parts with a Hub and i ordered enough to experiment with so i can figure out which method has the best end result for my needs. If my first few tests don’t work ill order some of this resin it looks like it might have some good potential.
Hi Chase, Excellent work making your own replacement. I’ve done the same around home with a fair few broken bits and pieces. Keep an eye on the industry, mechanical / functioning parts will be able to be printed at reasonable cost soon! Theres a few plastic polishing methods available to you. Acetone polishing being the most popular with 3d printers. Although it does make the part gummy for a while and if not done appropriately can ruin the print. There’s a few plastic polishing products around. Google novus plastic polish. Taking to the part with wet/dry sandpaper at fine grits progressing to ultra fine can work. Head over to my hub and check out the pricing if you haven’t made a move on what you want yet. I’m happy to cover shipping (I’m in Australia). What else are you getting printed for the bike? Cheers, Sam.
Hi! I’d like to work with you on this project! I’d print in a material that would be both heat resistant and strong. Give me a call at your convenience to discuss!! Hope to hear from you soon!
860-916-4040
