3D printed Suspension part!! ??

[dbrannon79]

Hey guys, I just watched a video where they 3D printed bushing and motor mounts out of TPU and they held up perfectly fine. TPU is thermal poly urethane, a form of rubber that is widely used on a lot of things. I was amazed at how things held up and wondered if others have heard of this. gives me thought about making a set of sway bar bushings for my son's 68 chevy and see how they hold up.

I don't think I would try it on any critical components that if they fail, it could cause damage or an accident, but it is an interesting thought.

3D Printed Car Parts | Rear lower control arm bushings for 88-91 Honda crx the bushings file I took from a del sol 95a tpu 100% infill | Facebook

Rear lower control arm bushings for 88-91 Honda crx the bushings file I took from a del sol 95a tpu 100% infill

www.facebook.com

Even found a couple of files where folks are sharing their designs of functional bushings.

Parametric TPU Custom Suspension Bushings - Free 3D Print Model - MakerWorld

Download this free 3D print file designed by CUBEIFY. Parametric Bushing ToolThis is a parametric tool designed to create custom suspension components.It can create standard round bushings, flat sided sway bar bushings with side cut outs and engine mount style bushings. It also allows you to...

makerworld.com

TPU Bushings for car suspension - Free 3D Print Model - MakerWorld

Download this free 3D print file designed by Meggotina. This approach is still under testing This is a custom 3D-printed bushing designed for the Toyota Hilux. It has an outer diameter of 40mm and an inner diameter of 14mm. The bushing was printed using 100% TPU A95, a flexible yet durable...

makerworld.com

 

[BoostN]

As a 3D Printer owner and a box of TPU next to me, I'm intrigued.

 

[Twisted Steel Performance]

I print also, tpu printed bushings aren't as strong as real poly bushings...

 

[dbrannon79]

Most 3d printed parts have the weakest point between layers. printing in the right orientation is key to strength depending on what it is. most of the parts I have done in the past with TPU I really haven't see separate between layers "yet"

I would think if we increase nozzle temps some along with little to no cooling from the part cooling fan you would get the optimal layer adhesion. But there is a point at which overhangs and bridging will be effected and supports are needed. My H2D can run two materials at once for easy supports.

I may try to print something like a round bushing with a large top and bottom lip and try to rip it apart and crush in my vice just to see what happens.

 

[dbrannon79]

informative video and and forum thread on this very subject

3d Printed Bushings

I have been pushing the limits with what I can do with my printer. First I made some sway bar end bushings when whiteline couldn't find a replacement to sell me. Material is tpu and has a hardness of 95a, which is close to polyurethane that energy suspension uses. Now upper rear links. I have...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[SnowDrift]

Print up some lower control arms

 

[ak diesel driver]

There's cars with plastic ones now

 

[dbrannon79]

Print up some lower control arms

Wish I could LOL. My truck wouldn't make it out of the driveway.

 

[Will L.]

Wish I could LOL. My truck wouldn't make it out of the driveway.

Oh, I bet it would make it OUT of the driveway. Down the road and back INTO the driveway might be difficult! Haha

 

[dbrannon79]

Well, today I decided to pull apart the sway bar and get what was left of the crumbling bushings on my son's 68 C10. there wasn't much left of the bar bushing but I also pulled one of the link bushing out as well. took measurments on the bar and the area the bushing lives and came up with a design.

printed a couple of the link bushings already, decided to make them solid so they won't have much squish to them, but they came out great. Just need to finish printing them all and then install and see how they work out. the truck isn't being driven much so idk how a good way to test them will be. we will see....

 

[JayTheCPA]

Printing parts is a neat idea. Personally, I'd wait a while and see how this plays out as there are news articles in the aviation world where current technology for printed parts is not exactly the greatest thing for all applications. Especially for critical locations.

 

[dbrannon79]

Yeah I wouldn't put it on a critical component right away. at least for my testing. technology is advancing rapidly in the 3d printing field though. they recently came out with a material that is supposedly as strong as mild steel and is tolerable much higher heat. I looked it up just to see the cost factor on it, it's high dollar.

I still wouldn't consider anything from a 3d printer to be used in structural components, but for the odd random part that can't be reproduced it might be well worth it. like reproducing the K47 air filter box. that might be a worth the effort part!

 

[JayTheCPA]

FWIW, structural is not the only critical area for concern:

3D-printed part failure causes light aircraft crash after plastic air intake melts during flight — pilot escapes with minor injuries

Using the wrong materials and design in 3D printing airplane parts led to a crash in the U.K.

www.tomshardware.com

While this event falls into the generous "good landing" classification, it serves as a costly lesson.