What have you 3D printed for your TJ?

I've printed front speaker pods and a host of custom parts/pieces like mounts for my tweeters, phone holder and tablet holder for the dash, end caps for the radio mounting cross bar I installed, license plate frames, mounting ring adapters for the rear pod speakers, tapered mounting ring for the subwoofer speaker among other things. I usually design them on Fusion 360, export the .stl files, slice, and print. Always looking for something I can custom build and print or fab on my CNC mill.
 
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Had a mount printed for my GMRS radio then attached it to an aluminum bracket.
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Apparition said:
Always wanted a 3D printer but haven't figured out anything I'd make with it.

One of the guys who worked for me at my last job had a 3D printer on his desk and would make parts with it, I never figured out anything he could make for me either.

Someday maybe.
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I was told that when you have it you will find more uses for it than you would think. Totally a true statement, if you have CAD experience.
 
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Jezza said:
I was told that when you have it you will find more uses for it than you would think. Totally a true statement, if you have CAD experience.
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Yeah I ran Pro E, NX, solid works and inventor for years. But I’d have to buy something now to use.
 
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Jezza said:
I was told that when you have it you will find more uses for it than you would think. Totally a true statement, if you have CAD experience.
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That's the biggest thing for me so far, the software to model what I want to print is 80-90% of the difficulty getting something out. But as I learn it I am printing stuff to learn the printer/filament/slicing settings side - mostly stuff for my kids or little useful things like wire organizers and such.
 
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Apparition said:
I was just looking at that after I saw it mentioned above. I should try the free version out
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I was a heavy Solidworks user for 10+ years. Switched to Fusion360 when I started my company several years ago and haven't looked back since. A bit of a learning curve with how it handles parametric modeling, but with the addition of easy direct editing of models (and not to mention the savings from the yearly maintenance costs) makes it completely worth it.
 
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nctj said:
I was a heavy Solidworks user for 10+ years. Switched to Fusion360 when I started my company several years ago and haven't looked back since. A bit of a learning curve with how it handles parametric modeling, but with the addition of easy direct editing of models (and not to mention the savings from the yearly maintenance costs) makes it completely worth it.
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I agree 100%. Problem for me Fusion is not ITAR/DEFARS compliant. So Solidworks and HSM or Mastercam it is.
 
Apparition said:
I was just looking at that after I saw it mentioned above. I should try the free version out
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I learned CAD on Solidworks 10+ years ago. When I first started using Fusion360 I hated it. Now I prefer Fusion over Solidworks.
 
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I use the free version of fusion 360. So far for basic modeling I haven't run into any shortcomings or blocked settings behind a paywall. They just recently changed it so you could only have something like 5 or 10 open projects at a time. Otherwise you need to put a project on hold or something but it's not terrible. Slightly inconvenient but it beats having to pay.

I haven't printed anything yet for my jeep but I plan to make some type of cup holder adapter so I can hold my nalgenes. PLA hasn't held up to these Florida summers so I've switched to PETG. I haven't tried ABS but have seen plenty of YT videos about ppl making heated enclosures for their printers and switching to all-metal hot ends. Too much effort to upgrade my Ender 3 Pro when PETG has done just fine!
 
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So far I've printed sun visor clips with a slide lock so they don't pop out from PETG. Printed the insert for the center console from PETG. Print new hood/fender bump stops from TPU. Print new 4x4 shifter bushings from carbon fiber PLA. Printed 4x6 front speaker conversion mounts. Printed a custom radio holder and mic clip for my UV-5R and added a metal bracket behind the grab handle for support. Printed a custom ball mount that clips in/on to the metal strap loop above the windshield for my GPS.

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Jezza said:
I was told that when you have it you will find more uses for it than you would think. Totally a true statement, if you have CAD experience.
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"If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail."

My first response to any problem is to ask myself what I could print to fix it. I spent forever figuring out the geometry of the fuel rail disconnect on my LJ so I could print my own tool. I was so proud to save $6, then I found the $6 tool I bought 20yrs ago in my tool bag. I started my printer phase during my immobile LJ phase, so I haven’t printed any parts, but I have printed tools to get it running again. Besides the fuel rail disco I printed tools to take apart and rebuild my Currie JJs. Plans include more tools and cabin air filter adapter/mount. I still have red Moab sand blasting out of the vents from years ago.
 
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rbronco21 said:
"If the only tool you have is a hammer, it is tempting to treat everything as if it were a nail."

My first response to any problem is to ask myself what I could print to fix it. I spent forever figuring out the geometry of the fuel rail disconnect on my LJ so I could print my own tool. I was so proud to save $6, then I found the $6 tool I bought 20yrs ago in my tool bag. I started my printer phase during my immobile LJ phase, so I haven’t printed any parts, but I have printed tools to get it running again. Besides the fuel rail disco I printed tools to take apart and rebuild my Currie JJs. Plans include more tools and cabin air filter adapter/mount. I still have red Moab sand blasting out of the vents from years ago.
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Sure, I get it doesn't work effectively for everything. It is just another tool in the box for solving problems. Mine more than paid for itself a few winters ago when Dallas was hit with sub zero temps. My pool/spa valve froze and was spraying water everywhere. I had to kill the pump and risk freezing plumbing. The o ring split and nothing was open for days. I printed the o ring out of TPU and it sealed good enough to run it. Probably saved me several thousand dollars.
I was going to draw up a cabin filter as well, but I couldn't find an element that would fit under the cowl nicely. I have a drawing of the flange for the vent inlet if you want it to get started.
Also worth noting that most of the everyday parts have already been modeled and are available for free download on sites like Thingiverse, Printables and GrabCad. I found your quick connect tool in about 30 seconds on GrabCad.

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Jezza said:
Sure, I get it doesn't work effectively for everything. It is just another tool in the box for solving problems.
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No argument at all, I agree 100%. I don’t weld or have any other tools to fab parts, so my printer is my go-to. Can’t read the numbers on the stove knobs? Let’s model one up and print it out. Kid’s dresser drawer won’t close smoothly because the wood split and the bracket’s loose? Print up a scab-on bracket to reinforce the existing bracket to solid wood.

Nice save during the freeze. That was a crazy bit of nature. Mine paid for itself when a friend asked about printing a window screen bracket that isn’t available anymore. I got her fixed up and realized if it was a problem for her, there must be others who could use one. Through the miracle of eBay I can help these guys out and keep my printer maintained and full of filament.

I’m an engineer who’s a little too good with PCs so they prefer I support the CAD users. This is my chance to play with CAD at home, so even after I find 2 or 3 examples I have to decide if I’ll try to mod one or start from scratch to make my own unique part. I never had any industrial design classes, but I like to pretend I can be creative and mechanical at the same time.
 
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