Metal 3D Printing Knobs and Lever Covers?

w1jim

w1jim

I can fix it but good...
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I haven’t seen this discussed lately and I know the technology is rapidly changing.

I just picked up a Pioneer SX-850 receiver (a favorite midline unit for me) that is missing the 4 knobs and 13 lever covers.

The knobs I could substitute with something in my parts collection of a similar vintage but the lever covers have me stymied.

Now, I could go on eBay and buy replacements - but 13 pieces at $15-20 each is ridiculous!

I was thinking I could perhaps replicate something out of bar stock but I don’t think I could get the cuts clean enough to be acceptable. Although maybe I could figure it out with one of those mini-lathes

So, are there services that would scan a part for me (or an app to do it with my phone) and then would print them up?
And would they look decent?
 
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I believe there is a company out east called Shapeways that was one of the first ones in for 3D printing. Look ‘em up! But I can’t see it costing any less than the prices you mentioned for actual vintage ones from eBay.
 
You wont get the same finish with a laser-sintered 3D printed metal. And, as above, it won't be cheap. Conventional CNC may be cheaper.
 
w1jim said:
I haven’t seen this discussed lately and I know the technology is rapidly changing.

I just picked up a Pioneer SX-850 receiver (a favorite midline unit for me) that is missing the 4 knobs and 13 lever covers.

The knobs I could substitute with something in my parts collection of a similar vintage but the lever covers have me stymied.

Now, I could go on eBay and buy replacements - but 13 pieces at $15-20 each is ridiculous!

I was thinking I could perhaps replicate something out of bar stock but I don’t think I could get the cuts clean enough to be acceptable. Although maybe I could figure it out with one of those mini-lathes

So, are there services that would scan a part for me (or an app to do it with my phone) and then would print them up?
And would they look decent?
Click to expand...
Fabrication would be pricey, don’t think there’s currently a substitute for the real thing. You might find something adequate that will do for a while on AliExpress if you’re good with the search. Also depends on the switch type, I tried finding some for a Pioneer RTR a couple years back and couldn’t.
 
You need a 3D model of the part in some form of a CAD (to size with all the dimensions) in order to print it. Do you have this?
 
As others have said the cost of a metal 3D printed knob would be prohibitive. A raw SLS part would have poor surface finish, and while post processing could greatly improve it the costs would just go even higher. Having one CNC machined would also be expensive. Your most cost effective solution would be to buy them for $20/each on eBay or wherever. Just my opinion of course.

If you decide to go the printing or machining route you'd need a CAD model for either. I wouldn't bother scanning the knobs though. Any CAD modeler worth their salt could easily model something like that if given the item and a set of calipers. That's much easier than manipulating scan data; whatever the interwebs may tell you. Scan data is a better choice for complex non-geometric stuff.
 
I suspect my best alternative would be to find something kinda’ similar on AliExpress or McMaster-Carr that I could adapt for my use.
 
Sure, adapting something would be a good option.

Are metal knobs/levers the only acceptable solution? While metal SLS metal printers are very expensive and only available (to the best of my knowledge) as industrial machines, home machines that make plastic parts using FDM or SLA are pretty common.

There would be a learning curve involved but having a printer in your workshop is extremely useful. Given the choice of machining a part or printing it I'd pretty much always print it if that met the requirements. It's just so much faster and easier.

Just a thought. Good luck.
 
DDBCretin said:
Sure, adapting something would be a good option.

Are metal knobs/levers the only acceptable solution? While metal SLS metal printers are very expensive and only available (to the best of my knowledge) as industrial machines, home machines that make plastic parts using FDM or SLA are pretty common.

There would be a learning curve involved but having a printer in your workshop is extremely useful. Given the choice of machining a part or printing it I'd pretty much always print it if that met the requirements. It's just so much faster and easier.
Just a thought. Good luck.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of making the toggle switch lever covers out of wood.
I could use a wood dowel. Cut to length, drill out partially and then stain and shellac them.
 
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