Tesla Motors Club
So,
With the rebuild of the cosmetics/front-end on 531 I'm learning that Tesla Roadster parts can be absurdly expensive ($1000 for set of front hood hinges!!!) and with time I'd imagine they will become increasingly difficult to find and even more expensive.
With this in mind, I have an idea, one which I would like to employ across the spectrum of exotic vehicles out there as well; this is 3D printed parts!
I'm investing time and money now into learning the process of 3D printing, building my own 3D printer, SolidWorks modeling, etc. to help myself with parts I need and will need in the future and I thought it may be the case that other owners are interested as well?
My first attempt at a Tesla part was today and it is the Roadster Hinge (just the ABS plastic portion), I asked the Tesla Service center here if they would let me look at the hinge with a ruler so I could try to make it myself, they didn't mind at all, they even told me "yeah, if you can make these yourself, you should, they are way too expensive!"
I'm attaching the pdf drawing, over the next day or so I'll 3D print the actual part and I'll post an image of that as well!
So, my questions to you guys would be:
1. Which parts are annoyingly expensive (and can be made with plastic, ABS) that people would have need for in the future?
2. How much cheaper than the service center do I need to be for it to make sense? (From a buyers perspective, ie; at what discount would you say "I'll try the 3D printed part" rather than just going the Tesla route); I need this info to know if its worth the time, it takes many hours to make parts but for things like these hinges, its worth it!
Thanks all!
View attachment TeslaRoadsterHingeABS.PDF
With the rebuild of the cosmetics/front-end on 531 I'm learning that Tesla Roadster parts can be absurdly expensive ($1000 for set of front hood hinges!!!) and with time I'd imagine they will become increasingly difficult to find and even more expensive.
With this in mind, I have an idea, one which I would like to employ across the spectrum of exotic vehicles out there as well; this is 3D printed parts!
I'm investing time and money now into learning the process of 3D printing, building my own 3D printer, SolidWorks modeling, etc. to help myself with parts I need and will need in the future and I thought it may be the case that other owners are interested as well?
My first attempt at a Tesla part was today and it is the Roadster Hinge (just the ABS plastic portion), I asked the Tesla Service center here if they would let me look at the hinge with a ruler so I could try to make it myself, they didn't mind at all, they even told me "yeah, if you can make these yourself, you should, they are way too expensive!"
I'm attaching the pdf drawing, over the next day or so I'll 3D print the actual part and I'll post an image of that as well!
So, my questions to you guys would be:
1. Which parts are annoyingly expensive (and can be made with plastic, ABS) that people would have need for in the future?
2. How much cheaper than the service center do I need to be for it to make sense? (From a buyers perspective, ie; at what discount would you say "I'll try the 3D printed part" rather than just going the Tesla route); I need this info to know if its worth the time, it takes many hours to make parts but for things like these hinges, its worth it!
Thanks all!
View attachment TeslaRoadsterHingeABS.PDF