3D Printing

[michaelnyc]

I am in the process of renovating the sliding cabin doors on a 1985 Senator (CHB). After years of neglect (by the former owner) I am doing a full replacement of the inner door Teak trim, new 2 x laminated glass, sliding hardware (all but completed) but am hitting a road block in finding a replacement for the Outside Window Trim.

The Trim was original Teak but has deteriorated to such a degree, and as I suspect not the greatest weather shield and most likely the reason for the inner door water damage.

Because of the dimensions (22 1/1 x 25 1/2) not something that West Marine has on the shelf. I am looking into the possibility of having the trim 3D Printed but having problems finding a company that can print bigger dimensions.

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience getting "Hard To Find" parts and Trim 3D Printed and if there are any company that specialize in marine applications.

Almost thinking of purchasing a printer myself.

 

[Comodave]

Is this trim or the whole panel? Those size are pretty big for trim. Maybe use some other wood? A photo of what needs trimming would help.

 

[michaelnyc]

Its the Trim ring around the window on the outside

 

[Comodave]

It looks like it was painted. If so you could use a lesser wood and epoxy saturate it and then paint it.

 

[lwarden]

That can be machined from a sheet of Starboard as long as you don't want it painted. If you want to paint it, it can be machined from ABS sheet. Most plastic shops with a CNC router can do it but I've had some nice Starboard pieces done by Boat Outfitters in FL and they were good to deal with. You don't want to go the 3D printing route for that part.

 

[BCRyan]

That would be an extremely large piece to 3D print as one piece. I suspect that the best you would find is to get someone to print the corners and then connect them together with straight pieces of wood.

I agree with the other suggestions. Making it out of wood should not be that difficult for a decent cabinet shop, for example.

 

[michaelnyc]

Thanks guys, yes thats what I suspected would be the case. Get quotes now in the $200/$300 per window with a local cabinet maker, still not convinced though that wood is the best medium to create a water tight seal given the current modern composition and plastic materials available, also getting quotes from my local machine shop to CNC in plastic. My inner (classic Car restoration) voice says look at it as a RESTO MOD and do in aluminum with a rubber gasket.

 

[KnotYet]

Since you have the original piece you could use it to make a pattern on a sheet of
wood or the plastic of your choice.
Cut it to size on a table saw and trace the inner and outer corner patterns.
Jigsaw out the pattern and router the edges with a bit that matches the original.

Your cabinet shop will probably do something similar.
A metal shop could do the same thing in aluminum, as could a plastic fabricator.

 

[AquaDestiny]

I have sent your requirements to my
3D guy (my son) who has made numerous parts for me. Some that were no longer available and some that didn't exist till I dreamed them up. If it is within his dimensional capabilities I will let you know.

 

[michaelnyc]

UPDATE : After looking at all options I decided to stay with the original trim and rather than try to reconstruct it I used the outer plastic rim, got rid of the inner teak core as it was totally shot and fill the outer core with quick set Epoxy to the rim/sanded flush and ready for paint. This created an incredibly strong Trim ring and seal that now is flush with the new glass and door frame, no more leaks around the window !!. I would recommend this procedure for anyone who has the same issues (CHB Trawlers especially)