3DPrinter d00ds?

Anyone try printing taillight lenses?  

I wonder how difficult/expensive it would be.   Thought about molding with Alumilite, as well, but both of these are completely out of my wheelhouse.

Are you trying to print tail light lenses directly or print a mold and cast with an epoxy of sorts?  My initial thoughts would be it is more economical just to buy the lenses.

In reply to Ram50Ron :

The lens is unobtainum.   Used examples are going for over $100, and it is a incredibly simple part compared to most. (Motorcycle taillight)

I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to make something functional and somewhat original appearing.

Looks like it should be relatively easy to print them once your printer can work with a translucent filament:

https://www.makergeeks.com/collections/translucent-filament

Also you have to worry about how UV stable the plastic is.

Not to say it's not possible but it's likely not economical to do so if the price to be is only $100.  I'd check with shapeways or 3D Hubs on pricing but I can imagine you would spend at least $100 worth of time polishing even and SLA print to the clarity that is needed for a tail light lens.

I think there are too many variables for it to be worth while. UV resistance, weather resistance, and ability to handle heat/cold being concerns for the plastic, but also getting the design into a printable state in the first place. 

ABS could work, but how translucent can you get it? At least with ABS, dialed in print settings and some acetone could get it water tight and polishable.

A lot of work for a $100 lens. OTOH, if you could figure out how to do it, there's a huge market out there. Was looking at an old Ferrari lens the other day. Elegant, but not very complex. $1,000. The return might not be huge on the first one, but the second......... 

Do you have one to copy ?

Do you have someone to make the 3d file ?

Also understand that your 3d printed part will have a rough surface as the part is printed in layers so there are tiny steps for each layer....

Best thing is buy the $100 one , 

Got a pic and approximate size??? I'd like to have a look-see

My friend says you can probably order it on shapeways today, the best plastic to use would be a translucent ABS or polycarbonate.  Put a UV clear paint coating on it.

In reply to DrBoost :

It's about 5" by 2"  

However, as I was checking eBay for all the variations of listings for it (I have had an alert set for well over a year)  I realized someone has found a cache of them and is selling them for $75ea new. That seems to be a better idea at this point .

Sorry I only 3d print metal :(

This is what I was running into previously. And since they are on dirtbikes, they get beat up, cracked, and smashed and tend to rattle the two screws loose that hold them on.