3D Printed Oil Filter Tool (Attached files)

[YoungEngineer]

For those of you with a 3D printer, or access to a 3D printer, you may find this useful.



With prices as low as $150, I believe we will see more and more 3D printers on the desks of everyday consumers.



This particular part is an oil filter wrench tool and was printed using PLA at 0.20mm resolution and 50% infill. Its more then strong enough for the job and cost around 0.30USD in plastic to print. Can't remember what BMW charge, but I'm sure its more then 30 cents.


I can see this technology becoming very useful especially in these type of communities where parts may no longer be available.  Ok so its nothing to get excited about, its just a oil filter wrench, but what interests me is the potential for other parts to be printed from more exotic materials such as flexible filaments used in seals. For the third time this year my clutch rod output seal has torn after the clutch cable snapped. At £20 a piece shipped, I think you could print several hundred of these with a single 1KG role of TPU filament.


Anyway, if this interests anyone I have attached the .STL file. I may design more parts/tools if the need arises ans share them here.

[jakgieger]

Beautiful application for technology...Thanks!

[The Dude]

Aspect ratio needs a tweak,there,young Engineer. :euro
You're not wrong about the technologies' future.Those odo gears could work at 0.2 mm res.
I hope they can make printers that can recycle their own products...

[YoungEngineer]

Yes indeed. tbh with a 0.2mm nozzle, one could print as low as 0.05mm. That would give an almost injection molded finish.
I think in the future we will see a database of parts on these type of forums. One would simply download the part files and print :)

[Chaos]

I foresee watching a 3D printer laboriously build a blinker lens rather than languidly sipping a beer waiting for the UPS truck.   

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Woefully ignorant of the technology, but now very impressed.  My only experience was in the early 90's when 3D printing was in it's infancy.  Back then, it was only used for prototypes because the materials used had no real strength. 

Off the top of my head, I would nominate the Gear Position Indicator switch body for a good part to reproduce.  I have one that is held together with a glob of epoxy and stops working any time the bike passes within sight of a puddle.

[milq]

Cool, our machine is a Stratasys ABS plastic unit. I'll have to give it a go.