3D printing speedometer gears that are NLA

[hatzie]

I needed to replace the gears in the HVAC actuators in my Impala so I downloaded a 3D print file and fed them to my printer.

When I was fishing around for the actuator gear model files I decided to take a look and see if speedometer gear files were already available.
The gear that long ago got chewed up in the transmission of my 1984 Rabbit GTI popped up along with this Corvette gear.
Thingverse GM 25513043 TH700R4 VSS speedometer drive gear 
There are a couple of 3D print files of speedometer gear reduction boxes for MG and a couple of other vehicles.

I think it's a viable option to print these plastic gears and other bits as these pieces cease to be available but there are some things to consider.

I'm interested to hear people's thoughts on what stereolithography resin or filament material would not disintegrade in hot transmission fluid.
Possibly modified settings for the printer to enhance the durability of the final product.

I'm not trolling.
Hot transmission fluid and gear oil is a hostile environment for plastic parts.
We have a wide range of life experience and even professional experience in this forum.
I want to start a discussion on what materials and even print processes would be best.

If anyone has their own 3D model files for specific speedometer gears I'd like to see those posted here as well if you're willing to do so.

 

[EvilGenius]

I've dabbled in 3d printing and own a basic additive dual nozzle printer. It's from 2016. It's really finicky and I tend to spend more time setting it up than actually printing. And the prints are ok at best. Have a lot of limitations and I only have experience with PLA and ABS plastics. It's great for knick-knack stuff like board game pieces or hooks around the house etc.

That all being said, the technology has advanced a ton since then and I've been thinking about updating.

If you watch this video he actually goes over using an off the shelf printer for auto parts. There are loads of new filaments out there that can reproduce or improve on OEM plastic parts. If you wanted to seriously do something like this I would consider picking up a printer like this and start experimenting. Speedo gears and other small plastic parts are a no brainer if you can get good quality prints, which now seems possible with printers like shown in that video.

 

[legopnuematic]

I think that’s a swell idea.

Not sure with the resin printers, but for a FDM machine, nylon might be a good choice.

Truth be told, I’m pretty behind the times on 3d printing, I’m sure there are some filaments that are superior to nylon.

 

[hatzie]

I have an old Form 1+ & a reasonably new Bambu X1C.
I agree with your videographer. The cheap printers are kits that you need to fiddle with every time you use them. I want to print stuff and not fiddle with them.
The Form 1+ is an inexpensive SLI printer. It works but it's slow & messy & there are a lot more options for filament than there are for resins at the prosumer level.

I worry that the Bambu cloud dependence will eventually translate to a subscription fee to use my Bambu. Hopefully Prusa or another manufacturer will be mostly caught up to them if that happens.