3d Printed car trailer

The little college where I teach just got a 3d printer and I have been learning to design and print things. This printer prints in ABS plastic that is a relative of polystyrene. My first design and print project is this 16' car trailer.
This is the second iteration of parts assembled.

The trailer structure is made of 6 parts that are glued together using MEK as a solvent cement.
The third generation of parts before assembly.


The parts assembled. It will get painted and detailed and maybe weathered.


I haven't gotten wheels and axles yet but those may have to come from the parts box.

Nice that is really nice. I think 3D printing will really cut into the resin caster pocket books.

Very nice.

I don't think 3d printing will hurt the casters that much. The surface detail is not that great.

Nice looking trailer Are you going to make some more and sell them ??

I'd be in for two trailers.

Very nice indeed Dan. Is it possible to get a tight closeup? I've heard that there are ridges in 3D printing but I've never actually seen something really close and I'd sure like to.

Dave,
I can't get a good close up but there are ridges. This printer extrudes lines of hot ABS plastic and builds up layers to make the part. Each layer is slightly out of alignment and creates ridges. In designing the parts thought must be given to the orientation of the parts to minimize these ridges.

I think 3D printed has it's place, but will not replace injection molding or resin casting. The GSL awards we received were 3D printed, and yes they do gave ridges and limitations.

At the GSL, they had a big seminar on 3D printing, and it still has a ways to go. Plus it is no good unless you have, or can create the 3D data set. There are some pretty extensive internet sites that do have the 3D data, some even free. The printers are actually becoming "more" affordable.

As a "part time" retirement job, I conduct tours of the Freightler Test Center for customers, dealers and other groups. There we have a large, industrial size 3D printer. The platen is about 2 foot square, and it can do a part of about the same depth. It does a better job than the "hobby" ones, but still has finish issues on gently sloping surfaces, which come out with the "stepped" contours. They require hand finishing and filler to smooth out. But it is used for a lot for mockup and show truck parts. After finishing, the parts look just as good as injection molded ones, and are actually pretty strong.

The biggest part we have made is a truck automatic trans adapter, which is about 3 foot in diameter, about 18 inches deep, with lots of ribbing and other details. It probably weighs about 25 or pounds, and took about a week to produce. Pretty impressive!

Thanks Pete, good read. I have been interested in 3-D printing since I first read about it. You are right the printers are becoming more and more affordable, I think the one at Micro-Mark is about 700 dollars (US Dollars) now. And you do need to have the 3-D data to print the part or a 3-D scanner, not so affordable. I think like any technology the longer it's around the better it will get, but right now it has a ways to go. I think when the bugs are worked out of the system it will be a big boost to our hobby. Al least as far as After market parts go.