Gary Lewis Posted March 1, 2021 Share Posted March 1, 2021 Oh yeah, plastic is easy. It would cost about $1 in material and then whatever one wants to charge in machine time. Since it isn't really a business for me I wouldn't need much, if anything. I have a 3D printer for plastic sitting on the desk here near the computer. I'll print one sometime this week and post pictures. The inexpensive plastic machines don't have the same resolution as the laser machines (metal or plastic), but I bet it's still better than a broken lock :) I'll bet it is! And if it has the ability to take a screw to hold the back plate then the biggest problem with the locks would be solved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red1980F150 Posted March 2, 2021 Author Share Posted March 2, 2021 I'll bet it is! And if it has the ability to take a screw to hold the back plate then the biggest problem with the locks would be solved. Well, here it is. I think she looks a little better in person, the lighting in this picture does no favors. I think one change needs to be made, which is the lock and unlock lettering, it didn't come out. That should not be too hard to fix up though, I may put it in the slanted part of the bezel like the word NAMPros is right now. That's how it is on the stock part anyway. I have long been considering starting my own 3D printing and reverse engineering business for parts like this. I may finally do it. I any case, I can pop some of these out for you guys. This particular plastic isn't the best for longevity, but it is really cheap and the part is pretty strong. I didn't make a slider in this batch because I figured if it's plastic anyway the stock slider could be reused, but if it's broken or lost then making one is no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted March 2, 2021 Share Posted March 2, 2021 Well, here it is. I think she looks a little better in person, the lighting in this picture does no favors. I think one change needs to be made, which is the lock and unlock lettering, it didn't come out. That should not be too hard to fix up though, I may put it in the slanted part of the bezel like the word NAMPros is right now. That's how it is on the stock part anyway. I have long been considering starting my own 3D printing and reverse engineering business for parts like this. I may finally do it. I any case, I can pop some of these out for you guys. This particular plastic isn't the best for longevity, but it is really cheap and the part is pretty strong. I didn't make a slider in this batch because I figured if it's plastic anyway the stock slider could be reused, but if it's broken or lost then making one is no problem. Looks good, but you are right that the picture doesn't do it any justice. Anyway, you should consider making them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red1980F150 Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 Looks good, but you are right that the picture doesn't do it any justice. Anyway, you should consider making them. Hey guys, I've had some business developments over the past several months and now I own my own company for metal 3D printing. This means I don't have to rent time on a machine. So, I can pretty safely quote these parts in 316 Stainless Steel for $200 per complete set (both doors). Still expensive, but not too bad really, and we can customize the locks to have your name, the name of the truck, etc. inset into the lock, or whatever you want (like I did with NAMPros, above). I can also do plastic for a lot less $. It'll be less durable, of course, but probably still better than the factory solution since my redesign bolts together. I'll talk to my partner, he has more experience quoting plastic jobs, but I would envision it being quite a bit cheaper. I'm hoping I might be able to help as we find more parts on these trucks that are not sold anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Lewis Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Hey guys, I've had some business developments over the past several months and now I own my own company for metal 3D printing. This means I don't have to rent time on a machine. So, I can pretty safely quote these parts in 316 Stainless Steel for $200 per complete set (both doors). Still expensive, but not too bad really, and we can customize the locks to have your name, the name of the truck, etc. inset into the lock, or whatever you want (like I did with NAMPros, above). I can also do plastic for a lot less $. It'll be less durable, of course, but probably still better than the factory solution since my redesign bolts together. I'll talk to my partner, he has more experience quoting plastic jobs, but I would envision it being quite a bit cheaper. I'm hoping I might be able to help as we find more parts on these trucks that are not sold anymore. I'm creating a trailer queen and sparing few expenses, but $200/set for the lock sliders gives me pause. So I think the ones in plastic would be more likely to sell if you can get the price down quite a bit. Anyway, I'm glad someone is working on making things for these trucks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I'm creating a trailer queen and sparing few expenses, but $200/set for the lock sliders gives me pause. So I think the ones in plastic would be more likely to sell if you can get the price down quite a bit. Anyway, I'm glad someone is working on making things for these trucks! I dont have a trailer queen so the $200 is kind of out of my range too. I do under stand it takes time and the cost of the supplies and I know they should out live the truck LOL If you can get a quote on the plastic ones would be great. I do have a question: I dont have anything for my truck and I dont know how the factory one break? Is it they will not hold on to the door panels and pop out or the part the rod hooks to breaks off? Is there a way to mix n match parts (plastic n metal) to make the weak part strong but the plastic parts to keep price down? If so could there be 3 options All plastic Mix of plastic & metal All metal Thinking out side the box and not knowing how they all work & fit maybe it can only be plastic or metal? Thanks for offering this up to us Dave ---- edit: just went back over the post and I see you reused the rear part that looks to hold the front part to the door panel. If it is just a sheet metal part I guess I could bend up something that would work to hold it to the panel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salans7 Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I'm creating a trailer queen and sparing few expenses, but $200/set for the lock sliders gives me pause. So I think the ones in plastic would be more likely to sell if you can get the price down quite a bit. Anyway, I'm glad someone is working on making things for these trucks! I dont have a trailer queen so the $200 is kind of out of my range too. I do under stand it takes time and the cost of the supplies and I know they should out live the truck LOL If you can get a quote on the plastic ones would be great. I do have a question: I dont have anything for my truck and I dont know how the factory one break? Is it they will not hold on to the door panels and pop out or the part the rod hooks to breaks off? Is there a way to mix n match parts (plastic n metal) to make the weak part strong but the plastic parts to keep price down? If so could there be 3 options All plastic Mix of plastic & metal All metal Thinking out side the box and not knowing how they all work & fit maybe it can only be plastic or metal? Thanks for offering this up to us Dave ---- edit: just went back over the post and I see you reused the rear part that looks to hold the front part to the door panel. If it is just a sheet metal part I guess I could bend up something that would work to hold it to the panel. There's really three problems that I've seen. The part the rod connects to gets brittle and breaks, or wallows out. The plastic face detaches from the sheet metal backing plate (the face has nubs that are melted over the sheet metal, and those nubs break apart) The sheet metal backing plate doesn't stay in the door panel (the door panel gets brittle and crumbles where the slide lock goes). All of these can be caused by either plastic deterioration, or from the door latch getting tough to move and people forcing the lock assembly. Â Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FuzzFace2 Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 There's really three problems that I've seen. The part the rod connects to gets brittle and breaks, or wallows out. The plastic face detaches from the sheet metal backing plate (the face has nubs that are melted over the sheet metal, and those nubs break apart) The sheet metal backing plate doesn't stay in the door panel (the door panel gets brittle and crumbles where the slide lock goes). All of these can be caused by either plastic deterioration, or from the door latch getting tough to move and people forcing the lock assembly. I would hope the newer plastic will hold up better so the rod would not be an issue but time would tell. Well if I under stand how he is making them the sheet metal plate is now screwed to the main body so no more melted nubs to break off. Just need to reuse the old plate that I dont have I would also hope the newer panels would hold up better also. In my case I would replace mine as I did a quick fix to make them look some what good but would need more work and re-finishing again for me to keep using them and to me just not worth it for the work needed & cost of new. Also I dont know about others but other than if I take the truck to work or a show it is inside a garage where it is cooler than sitting outside baking in the sun ! Dave ---- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red1980F150 Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 There's really three problems that I've seen. The part the rod connects to gets brittle and breaks, or wallows out. The plastic face detaches from the sheet metal backing plate (the face has nubs that are melted over the sheet metal, and those nubs break apart) The sheet metal backing plate doesn't stay in the door panel (the door panel gets brittle and crumbles where the slide lock goes). All of these can be caused by either plastic deterioration, or from the door latch getting tough to move and people forcing the lock assembly. I would hope the newer plastic will hold up better so the rod would not be an issue but time would tell. Well if I under stand how he is making them the sheet metal plate is now screwed to the main body so no more melted nubs to break off. Just need to reuse the old plate that I dont have I would also hope the newer panels would hold up better also. In my case I would replace mine as I did a quick fix to make them look some what good but would need more work and re-finishing again for me to keep using them and to me just not worth it for the work needed & cost of new. Also I dont know about others but other than if I take the truck to work or a show it is inside a garage where it is cooler than sitting outside baking in the sun ! Dave ---- Dave, You are correct. I redesigned the bezel (face) so it has bolt holes instead of the plastic nubs, so now that cannot break. I personally hadn't experienced the other two failures but I could see those happening. What funny/sad is after I made this thread, showing the replacement of my passenger side setup, I lost the backing plate for the driver side So, I either need to hit up the local junkyards or come up with a backing plate solution anyhow. If anyone has any ideas I'm all ears, otherwise I'll go out and look at it, make measurements, and think of something. I'll make some plastic parts for you guys. So start letting me know what you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramttocs Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Hey guys, I've had some business developments over the past several months and now I own my own company for metal 3D printing. This means I don't have to rent time on a machine. So, I can pretty safely quote these parts in 316 Stainless Steel for $200 per complete set (both doors). Still expensive, but not too bad really, and we can customize the locks to have your name, the name of the truck, etc. inset into the lock, or whatever you want (like I did with NAMPros, above). I can also do plastic for a lot less $. It'll be less durable, of course, but probably still better than the factory solution since my redesign bolts together. I'll talk to my partner, he has more experience quoting plastic jobs, but I would envision it being quite a bit cheaper. I'm hoping I might be able to help as we find more parts on these trucks that are not sold anymore. Congrats on owning your own company! Looking forward to seeing what all you create. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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