formariz 11,988 #26 Posted January 30, 2021 Someone calling me? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,887 #27 Posted January 30, 2021 3 hours ago, formariz said: Someone calling me? You know anyone who can work with wood? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chestnut 315 #28 Posted January 30, 2021 8 hours ago, 8ntruck said: no reason that pieces to skin a steering wheel would not be possible. Glad you said pieces. The starter to mid range units all have a print cube of about 8"x8"x8". Steering wheel is about 12" diameter so a covering for the rim would have to be done in pieces. Also need to make sure the printer is capable of multiple materials. Entry level machines just process PLA. Some upgraded machines can process TPE, TPU, ABS, PETG and other materials Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chestnut 315 #29 Posted January 30, 2021 15 hours ago, Handy Don said: I'll start. Make a mold out of flexible plastic pipe like PEX that has an inner diameter of what you'd like the grip of the wheel to have, say 1.5" for a fat grip? Cut open lengthwise. Tape the ends together so it makes a circular trough that the wheel fits into without touching any side. Suspend the wheel in the trough centered all around and stabilized. Fill the trough/mold with a good epoxy. Remove the mold after epoxy has cured and grind/file/sand the epoxy where needed. I presume you'll leave the spokes as plain metal. It won't look pretty, but if you cover it or paint it, you should be ok. Another good idea. Here's another take on it. Pick a plastic tubing with the OD you want for the wheel rim and with a surface you like for the wheel. Split it as Handy Don said so it can be slipped over the wheel. Tape to make sure there are no surface wrinkles, etc. Fill the gap between the steel wheel and the tubing with the liquid resin of your choice (epoxy, polyester, etc.). Done. No need to fuss with any air holes in the resin or steel rim on the surface because it's encapsulated. May need to fill/seal the seams in the surface (cut lines). OD of the rim of the tractor in my garage is about 1", car about 1.5". https://www.mcmaster.com/flexible-tubing/uv-resistant-soft-plastic-and-rubber-tubing-for-air-and-water/ I also kind of like the more artistic ideas of wood or paracord. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
formariz 11,988 #30 Posted January 30, 2021 10 hours ago, ebinmaine said: You know anyone who can work with wood? I do. I know a guy that can make it out of toothpicks! 2 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #31 Posted March 18, 2021 On 1/29/2021 at 9:32 PM, Chestnut said: On 1/29/2021 at 7:30 PM, jabelman said: 3 d printer? I resemble that remark! Can easily model a torus and use it to subtract and leave a mold cavity. Of course id have to print in sections, maybe bolt the sections together around the wheel, and clamp on the spokes, inject into spaced ports around the perimeter whatever compund youd like? If i buit one we could make it a community resource and pass it around as needed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #32 Posted March 18, 2021 Heres another thought..3/4 .pvc, plywood form, heatgun, shape it onto a circle, then split like mentioned before. Or maype drill holes for the spokes before splitting then split it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #33 Posted March 18, 2021 If i had to 3d print a steering wheel covering itself id say a combination of 2 halves with beveled ends to fit int the adjoining section maybe 4 sections? use ABS and acetone weld together around the wheel. When that abs fuses with acetone ya gotta rip it apart, youre more likely to rip away surrounding plastic than break the weld. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #34 Posted March 18, 2021 Ill work on coming up with something, a rough draft we can apply specific dimensions to easily. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wheel Horse 3D 3,795 #35 Posted March 18, 2021 (edited) 11 hours ago, Wheel Horse 3D said: Ill work on coming up with something, a rough draft we can apply specific dimensions to easily. Modeled for a 14" steering wheel with 3 round spokes. Note the downward angle of the spoke holes. This is one 3rd ( 60 degree section) of the wheel. For a steering wheel like this with even spokes, you just repeat this pattern. 3x. Can definately be done even on my little printer, but a lot of print time. Something youd do for that one perfect steering wheel or something with custom embossed features. Can even model covers over the spokes and all the way to a new center. Edited March 18, 2021 by Wheel Horse 3D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
