ROG100

It has taken me about two years but I have finally found four brand new old stock bumper plugs for the OB cars.

I want to have exact copies made - what is the best way to reproduce plastic parts like this without massive set up/tooling costs.

Looking for ideas please.

3D printing possibly but will the part be resilient enough for the application?

polecat702

Roger,

I bought a 3D Printer. You have to select the proper polymer plastic, and specific color, if you choose.
My printer also has a scanner, so it's all in one. At 6 grand I thought it was a good price. But if you aren't going to run off enough pieces to justify the cost it isn't cost effective.

You can out source it to China, there are all sorts of short run companies willing to make the tooling required, for a reasonable cost.

giddyupp

Maybe this is a stupid question but did you try the guys at bumper plugs.com -

tailpipe

We have a company here called cap and plug they make stuff like that small orders the more you order the cheaper they get.

FLYVMO

Here in Jacksonville and also Orlando there are two companies that will scan the part and then provide you with the STL file for printing on a personal printer or you can have them print it for you. The one in Orlando also does work for NASA. A basic google search will probably find similar companies in Texas.

You can also check here with 3D systems and their Quick parts division: http://www.3dsystems.com/quickparts
Cheers!
Carl

Hold On

Hey Roger. Call Joe. I hear he just spent $6K on a 3d printer and wants to justify the price ! I here he can get the proper color polymer.

polecat702

I bought it for my own perverse enjoyment. That justifies the cost. Anyway, if things turn out as planned, it will be a cheap investment.

BTW, how ya doing Kevin?

The Forgotten On

You can 3D print in ABS which should be resilient enough for our use.

And from what it looks like most others are agreeing that 3D printing is the way to go for the small runs of parts our community requires.

kos_007

I assume these are the rare rear bumper plugs, right ? Anyhow I wonder if it would make more business sense to put together a Plug-and-Play kit consisting with a gag ball and the previously mentioned rare rear plugs ?
Just saying...

z driver 88t

Not a stupid question, but I checked with them before. They do not sell anything in our size. I was lucky enough to find a set of good used ones from 928 INTL after trying all kinds of variations of hole plugs that never quite fit right.

Roger, this is an excellent find. Kudos to you. Keep us posted on when these become available. I'm betting there will be surge of us OB guys that pick up at least a couple sets. I can't count how many OB 928s I've seen with missing bumper plugs.

giddyupp

Ok - another stupid question - why are the holes in the bumper anyway ?

Bigfoot928

are those for the headlight washer holes? If so I have a set of those new in the plastic Porsche bag with the part number on them.. now I just need to find them.

ROG100

On the OB cars 77 to 86 they give access to the tow eye threaded hole and tow eyes.

ROG100

Sterling no they are not.

Hold On

Just what I thought ! Perverse enjoyment LOL When you coming down to Phoenix to visit ??