» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | 08-19-2016, 06:55 PM | #16 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 281 | I dont think thats what they do, the titanium one talks about sintering with a laser. You take a look though you probably understand the process better than me. https://i.materialise.com/3d-printing-materials __________________ -Alex Last edited by Uber E30; 08-19-2016 at 06:59 PM. | | | 08-19-2016, 08:36 PM | #17 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | Hey, That technelogy is very awesome but very expensive. We nearly bought one of those 3D printers but the samples they sent us were not that strong and the cost for material is crazy expensive, something like $100 - $200 per pound for plastic. I just ran the gear in their pricing system and they told me $65 per gear for aluminum, so $130 a set + shipping. Steel was $376.00 a set. I wouldn't trust platic since the previous plastic gears we made fell apart, but they were $30 per set + shipping. Not awful if no other solutions exist. Even if they price was reasonable, nothing that is 3D printed has the same quality as a regular part. When they print by layers, sometimes the material does not bond to the lower levels. For most things, that is fine. But for small teeth on a gear, they will get torn up right away. We did not fully realize that when we printed the first gear in Nylon about a year ago but even nylon was wrecked after a few uses. Thanks for trying to help tho! One day the prices will drop on this sort of stuff. For now, it is a great tool for people protoyping and people who need a single gear (like this) but not for mass production. __________________ Check out our new website! https://soltechsolutionsllc.com/ Green Your Decor with the Aspect! Shop for the Grow Light Used by Interior Designers, Growers & People Like You! | | | 08-19-2016, 09:07 PM | #18 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Yup, two open, close sequences shredded the printed gears. This was on a clean, smooth operating top. (I am Mike's test pilot... ) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 08-19-2016, 10:10 PM | #19 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 281 | 250 seems like its going to be a struggle though. We have less than 200 active members and I'm guessing just a few of them are Cali tops. My top is sluggish so I'm in for whatever you do but I know moulding is $$$ and might leave you high and dry. __________________ -Alex | | | 08-19-2016, 11:57 PM | #20 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Diff note, have you cleaned and dry lubed your top mechanism? Makes a difference and relieves stress on all parts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 08-20-2016, 01:23 AM | #21 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 281 | Quote: Originally Posted by BlackBMWs Diff note, have you cleaned and dry lubed your top mechanism? Makes a difference and relieves stress on all parts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk | Planning to give the whole top a once over and readjust the straps, clean/lube everything etc pretty soon. Thats why I got pumped for gears, figured I would just throw new ones in there at the same time. __________________ -Alex | | | 08-20-2016, 02:37 PM | #22 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | Yeah, 250 gears might be tough, but I think the market exists. This site, eBay and word of mouth will be my friends for the next few months. Thanks for the help so far. Looks like new gears are coming in about 1 month. I will keep you all posted tho. __________________ Check out our new website! https://soltechsolutionsllc.com/ Green Your Decor with the Aspect! Shop for the Grow Light Used by Interior Designers, Growers & People Like You! Last edited by hotmilk400; 08-20-2016 at 02:44 PM. | | | 08-21-2016, 01:55 AM | #23 | Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Dodging potholes in SoCal Posts: 454 | Quote: Originally Posted by BlackBMWs Diff note, have you cleaned and dry lubed your top mechanism? Makes a difference and relieves stress on all parts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk | What's the best way to clean the channels Rich? I got some teflon based lubricant a while back, is there an amount that is considered "too much" to spray in there? I think I sprayed some in and worked the top a few times, scared it moved it all to the front. Also, really in for this gear. All the stock ones will disintegrate at some point! __________________ '96 318ti California Edition- Montreal blue '68 1600-2-Caribe blue | | | 09-02-2016, 12:46 AM | #24 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Hi All! I have to apologize, I think I may be holding up the gear creation as I spaced on sending a motor to Mike. I will do that by tomorrow afternoon. No good reason except very busy as of late. Thanks Andy for reminding me! Mike, Please PM me your shipping address. Thanks! Cheers! Rich __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 09-02-2016, 02:29 AM | #25 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | Will do, And no, you are not holding anything up yet. Thanks for reaching out tho __________________ Check out our new website! https://soltechsolutionsllc.com/ Green Your Decor with the Aspect! Shop for the Grow Light Used by Interior Designers, Growers & People Like You! | | | 09-04-2016, 09:45 PM | #26 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 2,451 | Mike, sent today via Priority Mail. Cheers! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ 1998 318ti Sport - "Cali" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, Cali top 1998 318ti Sport - "Max" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior, S52 1997 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Schwartz II/Schwartz sport interior 1995 318ti Active - "Blanca" Alpineweib III/Schwartz leather interior Other Current Bimmers: 2006 530i / 2000 2.3L Z3 / 1997 1.9L Z3 / 1999 540it 1997 318ti Sport - "Huera" - RIP 1995 318ti Active - RIP 1995 318ti Sport - "Tiny" Sold 1994 325i Sedan - "Jade" - Sold 1991 318ic - "Bert" - Sold 1985 635csi sold 1984 533i "Max" Sold 1984 318i sold BMWCCA #160411 SUPPORT 318ti.org! CLICK THE LINK ABOVE! Hosting a forum like this is not free. 318ti.org is one of the best BMW forums on the web because it is member supported, not vendor supported. The cost to become a Supporter is a nominal $10.00... A YEAR! DO IT! NOW! | | | 09-08-2016, 08:48 AM | #27 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Jenison, Michigan Posts: 6 | Just wanted to chime in. I am buying a California top model and my top does not work. I actually don't know if the motor works or not as the previous owner put some rubber sealant around it to keep it from leaking. I've been bouncing between restoring the top and putting in a glass top and I saw someone do and I think it's dope. However if I do need this part I will buy it. Also is there a general cali top thread? I do have questions as to where to get parts and how to replace them. Thanks! Sent from my VS415PP using Tapatalk | | | 09-15-2016, 05:03 AM | #28 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | Hey Rich, Got your package. Thanks again. Everyone, I am still waiting on the gear sample yet. I only requested a sample size of 4 gears for initial testing so the company is waiting for some downtime before they get me the sample. I am testing them first in the sunroof gear assembly Rich sent me. If all goes well, they get tested in an car. If it passes a real life test, pre-sales go live! If it fails, we change the gear material. Ralphy2011, I hope you go with restoring it but I am a little bias. haha. If it is honestly glued shut, it might be a nightmare so it depends on how much free time you have coming up. If the gears are bad, you should consider buying a set for future use. Maybe you will want to restore it for spring, or maybe it will help resale value. haha, just follow this thread so you can stay updated __________________ Check out our new website! https://soltechsolutionsllc.com/ Green Your Decor with the Aspect! Shop for the Grow Light Used by Interior Designers, Growers & People Like You! | | | 09-15-2016, 05:41 AM | #29 | Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Jenison, Michigan Posts: 6 | Quote: Originally Posted by hotmilk400 Hey Rich, Got your package. Thanks again. Everyone, I am still waiting on the gear sample yet. I only requested a sample size of 4 gears for initial testing so the company is waiting for some downtime before they get me the sample. I am testing them first in the sunroof gear assembly Rich sent me. If all goes well, they get tested in an car. If it passes a real life test, pre-sales go live! If it fails, we change the gear material. Ralphy2011, I hope you go with restoring it but I am a little bias. haha. If it is honestly glued shut, it might be a nightmare so it depends on how much free time you have coming up. If the gears are bad, you should consider buying a set for future use. Maybe you will want to restore it for spring, or maybe it will help resale value. haha, just follow this thread so you can stay updated | As it turns out restoring the top will be heaps cheaper than getting glass cut to fit. So I will be going the restoration route. I may start a thread so people can follow my "build" (more of a restoration but build I shall call it because build things will happen) Sent from my VS415PP using Tapatalk | | | 09-15-2016, 05:49 AM | #30 | Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bethlehem, PA Posts: 1,106 | I hope you do, that would be very awesome and much needed! __________________ Check out our new website! https://soltechsolutionsllc.com/ Green Your Decor with the Aspect! Shop for the Grow Light Used by Interior Designers, Growers & People Like You! | | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |