Company for replicating small plastic parts.

[firewalker]

Does anyone know a company that you can send them a small plastic piece (a lever of a carburetor) and replicate it?

Alexander.

[vk6zgo]

It may be a better idea to check similar carburettors,as there may be a similar lever,which will save you the trouble.

VK6ZGO

[firewalker]

No unfortunately it is for marine engines carburetors and there is no spare part. If you break it you have to buy a new carburetor.

The story is that a friend of mine owns a repair shop for marine engines. A very common issue is blocked pipes in the carburetor. There is a "special" liquid that the manufacturer suggest to submerge the carburetor in but it attacks plastic parts (there are couple of other liquids in the market but also attacks plastic). This little piece of plastic is very hard to remove. It breaks really easy. And there is no spare part for it. Other people that also owns repair shops for this type of engines face the same problem.

Alexander.

[bilko]

Is it a complicated part, do you have a photo ?

[firewalker]

It's the red one.

Alexander.

Is it a complicated part, do you have a photo ?

[Psi]

There are 3D printing companys which you can send a digital design for a part and they will 3D print it in plastic

I dunno what type of plastic they use or if its suitable but it might be worth investigating. Shouldnt be too hard for someone with CAD skills to create a model for the part.

[Hypernova]

Hm... Is it kosher for you to copy parts without license? This is not the Chinese wild east after all.

The "special" liquid is obviously just some strong solvents that attack anything polymer. If the plastic part is too weak you might as well consider machining one out of metal.

[djsb]

If you join this forum

http://www.david-laserscanner.com/forum/

and ask nicely someone may be able to scan the part for you.

Or you could make the part yourself in something like Alibre design, Blender, Wings etc.

The part can then be 3d printed by Shapeways (or any 3d printing service) by uploading your file (in STL format). I've had parts made recently in Alumide (a mixture of Aluminium powder and nylon) and it's strong and light. There are a wide range of materials to suit your application.

HTH.

[Mechatrommer]

looks like a simple part. if somehow its required to model it in AutoCAD, ask me sometime, i hope i'm not too busy during the time.

[Kiriakos-GR]

There are 3D printing companys which you can send a digital design for a part and they will 3D print it in plastic

I have see from close range an 3D printer that uses wax so to form the perfect prototype.
But there is more steps in to it, so to finally have an metallic or plastic copy of it, in your hand.

[firewalker]

Hm... Is it kosher for you to copy parts without license? This is not the Chinese wild east after all.

Yes, it is legal to make a similar part as long as I don;t sell it someone else.

Alexander.

[bilko]

Is the original part good enough to make a mould from ?
It might be possible to cast a part, or even machine one from brass using dremel tools

[firewalker]

Is the original part good enough to make a mould from ?
It might be possible to cast a part, or even machine one from brass using dremel tools

For someone that is familiar with such tasks it should be something simple.

I need ask my friend for the budget of this "project".

[firewalker]

looks like a simple part. if somehow its required to model it in AutoCAD, ask me sometime, i hope i'm not too busy during the time.

Thanks you very much. If I need something I will let you know!

I will search for a local CAD designer in Greece first.

[bilko]

Can you tell me the engine make, model number year and serial number. I know a company that can supply most engine parts including parts for carbs.

Hang on ...

Try these guys http://www.boats.net/parts/search/parts.html

[Kiriakos-GR]

It might be possible to cast a part, or even machine one from brass using dremel tools

No no no , forget dremel tools , this is an part for a carburetor, and needs industrial accuracy.
If it break apart when you are at the open sea, you are in major trouble.  ( the shit hits the fan etc etc ... )  

  

[firewalker]

If you join this forum
http://www.david-laserscanner.com/forum/

and ask nicely someone may be able to scan the part for you.

Or you could make the part yourself in something like Alibre design, Blender, Wings etc.

The part can then be 3d printed by Shapeways (or any 3d printing service) by uploading your file (in STL format). I've had parts made recently in Alumide (a mixture of Aluminium powder and nylon) and it's strong and light. There are a wide range of materials to suit your application.
HTH.

Thanks for the info.

Can you tell me the engine make, model number year and serial number. I know a company that can supply most engine parts including parts for carbs.

Hang on ...

Try these guys http://www.boats.net/parts/search/parts.html

Thanks you!

I will know the exactly infos on Monday. I think that this we looked that site and it doesn't have this part. Not sure though.


Alexander.

[firewalker]

It might be possible to cast a part, or even machine one from brass using dremel tools

No no no , forget dremel tools , this is an part for a carburetor, and needs industrial accuracy.
If it break apart when you are at the open sea, you are in major trouble.  ( the shit hits the fan etc etc ... )  
 

Yes that would be a problem.

The "good" thing is that it is for 4~5 Hp engines mainly used as secondaries engines for slow fishing.

[bilko]

A lot of carbs are generic, they are used by more than one engine manufacturer so if you don't find yours listed, check another manufacturer with the same size engine.
Good luck!

[bilko]

No no no , forget dremel tools , this is an part for a carburetor, and needs industrial accuracy.
If it break apart when you are at the open sea, you are in major trouble.  ( the shit hits the fan etc etc ... )  

  

Its only a lever, the original was plastic, any competent engineer should be able to make an 'exact' duplicate. I didn't say make it out of dremel tools.  

I have used dremel and hand tools to make parts within .002" tolerance.

[comox]

As suggested by the OPs, you need to do the following:

1. get a CAD monkey to model the part in a 3D parametric engineering package line SolidWorks or Autodesk Inventor.
2. e-Mail the CAD file to any number of 3d printing service bureaus who would then print the part for you, at a cost of course.

As the part will be used in a working device, you will need to print it using FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) for strength.  FDM printers from Stratasys are your best bet.  In fact, I would use http://www.redeyeondemand.com