Clips that hold cargo cover/shelf in place

[Renfield]

Originally Posted by Hedders

Renfield,

I know nothing about 3d printing but just found a site that will print that file for a charge.

It works out twice as much as just buying the ones in the earlier link!

Dang. Sorry to read that. I got into the 3D printing hobby as an adjunct to my R/C aviation hobby. Now I use it for all kinds of projects. Filament is cheap. Really cheap.

Might be time to make friends with the neighborhood nerd. If you lived next door, I'd make you one.

George

[Renfield]

Originally Posted by RobbiZ4

Requires some patience...

What about Rob's solution?
https://e89.zpost.com/forums/showpos...7&postcount=32
U could purchase the file and get it printed by a 3D print service provider.


By the way, I've printed mine with transparent ABS and integrated a bigger LED that got connected to the trunk light:
https://www.zroadster.com/forum/thre...3/post-3641544

Attachment 3416295
Attachment 3416296
Attachment 3416290
Attachment 3416291
Attachment 3416292
Attachment 3416293

I had so much trouble printing ABS that I gave up and went back to PLA. Clear with lighting is an excellent idea.

$17 for an STL file?

[Hedders]

Originally Posted by Renfield

Dang. Sorry to read that. I got into the 3D printing hobby as an adjunct to my R/C aviation hobby. Now I use it for all kinds of projects. Filament is cheap. Really cheap.

Might be time to make friends with the neighborhood nerd. If you lived next door, I'd make you one.

George

I am chatting with a fellow right now who is going to do it for me. He is even talking about modifying it a little to countersink the holes!

[Renfield]

Originally Posted by Hedders

I am chatting with a fellow right now who is going to do it for me. He is even talking about modifying it a little to countersink the holes!

Excellent!

Ya know, I DID try one with counter sunk hex heads on top. But I worried that it reduced the thickness at three critical stress points, so I took 'em out.

I had hoped to get some carriage bolts so the tops would be rounded, but the local hardware store didn't have them in the size required. They also didn't have the nylock nuts I wanted.

We live in a town so small there is no traffic signal at all. As such, our hardware store is kinda limited. Next trip to the city I may upgrade the hardware components.

Cheers!

George

[Hedders]

Thanks very much for the 3D file! I wouldn't be able to do this without it.

This chap is quite keen, he has apparently started the 'print' already!

I will put up some pictures when I get them.

[RobbiZ4]

Originally Posted by Renfield

I had so much trouble printing ABS that I gave up and went back to PLA.

Same with me of course. It took about 1.5 years to finally pimp my printer with a direct extruder and to get rid of all the warpings, stringings and so on. Now it is my standard filament.

More of this topic in the ZRoadster.com forum:

https://www.zroadster.com/forum/thre....70643/page-19

[Hedders]

Originally Posted by Renfield

Excellent!

Ya know, I DID try one with counter sunk hex heads on top. But I worried that it reduced the thickness at three critical stress points, so I took 'em out.

George

He said he will make them up and if they fail he will 'fix it'!

I have also found some nice black 'hex' nuts and bolts that should give it a nice finish. Good timing because i had a close look earlier and my one remaining clip is about to fail.

He is making them out of Black ASA. You guys think that is suitable?

[Renfield]

Originally Posted by RobbiZ4

Same with me of course. It took about 1.5 years to finally pimp my printer with a direct extruder and to get rid of all the warpings, stringings and so on. Now it is my standard filament.

More of this topic in the ZRoadster.com forum:

https://www.zroadster.com/forum/thre....70643/page-19

That's so good to know. Many thanks!

BTW, I see you hail from Bavaria. I was one of the journalists covering the introduction of the original Z3 at the brand new BMW manufacturing facility in Duncan, SC back in 1995.

Now all they build there are SUVs. But it was a really fun introduction. I could only afford a used Miata back then. And oddly enough, the Zentrum at that facility showcased a completely dismantled Miata on the wall. The guide explained that it was part of their research for the Z3.

That used Miata stayed with me for 25 years, and has been the best car I've ever owned.

This Z4 has some big shoes to fill.

George

[Renfield]

Originally Posted by Hedders

He said he will make them up and if they fail he will 'fix it'!

I have also found some nice black 'hex' nuts and bolts that should give it a nice finish. Good timing because i had a close look earlier and my one remaining clip is about to fail.

He is making them out of Black ASA. You guys think that is suitable?

I've only read about using ASA, but I think you are on the right track.

Looks like you hit the jackpot with this chap.

That's the great thing about 3D printing. So many ways to get the results you want.

All the best!

George

[RobbiZ4]

Originally Posted by Hedders

That is very cool!

In between, I got my red ones mounted in a red Z4:


https://www.zroadster.com/forum/thre...3/post-3644453

[Hedders]

OOh, snazzy

[Hedders]

Well, look at what just arrived in the post.







They look REALLY good!

It's horrible outside so I will fit them later.

ETA: I have just discovered there are little nubs on the metal bar that poke into the brackets. Do you guys just cut the nubs off as there is no allowance for them in the 3D print?

[Renfield]

Originally Posted by Hedders

Well, look at what just arrived in the post.

Attachment 3419802

Attachment 3419801

Attachment 3419803

They look REALLY good!

It's horrible outside so I will fit them later.

ETA: I have just discovered there are little nubs on the metal bar that poke into the brackets. Do you guys just cut the nubs off as there is no allowance for them in the 3D print?

Looking good mate!

I just discovered those nubs today. It messed with my off the cuff design big time.

Nub came off with a screwdriver twist, and you lot have me doing a redesign of my quick zip tie fix. So much for a 20 minute solution.

I'll polish the file a bit before posting, but now it's even simpler. Only two bolts counter sunk. Not new, but improved?

Observe, adapt, overcome.

Cheers!

George

[Renfield]

I like it so far.

If it still makes me smile in a week, the other side will match.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6554497

[RobbiZ4]

Originally Posted by Hedders

ETA: I have just discovered there are little nubs on the metal bar that poke into the brackets. Do you guys just cut the nubs off as there is no allowance for them in the 3D print?

These 2+1 rivets on the aluminium rod serve as a stop when the cover is pulled forward (and of course are responsible for the destroyed OEM's). Don't cut them off!

The two-sided cut-out is marked in red in the following picture. Similiar, but much smaller, on my 2nd bracket.


As stated before, Rob's design (@mopedmaster) covers all aspect's of the functionality as well as stability.

The latter is not given in your current design!

Originally Posted by mopedmaster

I created an alternative hinge design which looks very close to stock.

If you would like to just purchase the hinges, they are available on Treatstock (internationally):
https://www.treatstock.com/3d-printa...rtition-hinges

If you would like to purchase the 3D model and print the hinges yourself (or have them made from metal/other materials), it is available on Cults3D:
https://cults3d.com/en/3d-model/vari...artition-hinge

[Renfield]

Originally Posted by RobbiZ4

These 2+1 rivets on the aluminium rod serve as a stop when the cover is pulled forward (and of course are responsible for the destroyed OEM's). Don't cut them off!

The two-sided cut-out is marked in red in the following picture. Similiar, but much smaller, on my 2nd bracket.
Attachment 3421225

As stated before, Rob's design (@mopedmaster) covers all aspect's of the functionality as well as stability.

The latter is not given in your current design!

Yes, my aluminum nipple on the bar is history. Flat blade screwdriver took it clean off.

No doubt Rob's design replicates the original very well, and I'm sure it is worth what he's charging. But clearly the originals are failure prone. So it's a near perfect copy of a fail.

I didn't disassemble the working side for my copy, and the PO tossed the broken OEM bits. So I was designing blind and my old eyes missed that nipple on the underside.

All I needed was something better than 3 zip ties. Pretty sure that aluminum nipple did nothing but snap those, just as it kills the OEM brackets.

When the left side fails, I may consider modifying my simple, free clamp design. But this 2 bolt solution without the nipple is exceeding my expectations.

Just like this amazing car does every time I press START.

George

p.s. I've got a lighter socket plug design too. Enjoy!

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6463181