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 Black plastic wheel covers
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 05 Apr 2018 :  13:38:56 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I’m trying to remake the black center wheel covers for the steel wheels, those used in the latest years model that covers the hub.

My idea is to make the 3D model and then print it in plastic, sand it, primer and paint it for a good finishing, but I don’t find pictures of it on the web, do you have any detailed pictures or even better one piece that could be photographed?

I’m not going to replicate it exactly, I want to make a personal version but any information would be useful. Specially on the fitting.

It would be nice to have a set of alloy wheels but as it looks as they cost a fortune and are specially difficult to find I don’t see a bad option to keep the wheel original with its black plastic covers.

Thanks

Héctor

melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 05 Apr 2018 :  21:30:59 Show Profile Reply with Quote
The originals are fairly thin plastic, I think vacuum forming would be my preferred production method for replicas. I'll take some pics and measurements tomorrow or Saturday.

www.saabv4.com
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 06 Apr 2018 :  13:30:53 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Ok, thanks.
I never thought on vacuum as an option.
The 3D printing disadvantage is the high price for big parts and the needed of finishing.. But it permits to make everything
We'll see

Héctor
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 07 Apr 2018 :  21:01:51 Show Profile Reply with Quote
The originals are injection moulded, material thickness is about 2mm I guess. I'll do a quick CAD/ dimension drawing for you tomorrow, if you send me your email address and preferred file format at saabv4[at]saabv4[dot]com I'll send it over.


Hope this helps for now:









www.saabv4.com
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 08 Apr 2018 :  08:57:40 Show Profile Reply with Quote


www.saabv4.com
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 09 Apr 2018 :  20:00:31 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Great help and pictures Melle, as usual, thanks.

It seems that the cover fits inside the lip of the wheel. I see that as a weak point.

I have made something more complicated without any reference of the real cover, recreating the logo in a different part that can be clipped and that permits easily to paint in a different color or chromed. I also added a ring that can be chromed or clear coated for stylish purposes. But of course gives more work and maybe its complexity doesn't fit with the rest of the car.

I like the original, it's simple and one important point, fits very well to the shape of the volume saving material. I will rebuild the model following a similar section.

I don't know what to do with the logo. A solution would be to glue a badge like the original, maybe it is possible to find one with that dimension in the Chinese market. Or make it in 3D and paint it. I think that adding volume to the logo looks nicer.

Héctor
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 09 Apr 2018 :  20:07:38 Show Profile Reply with Quote


Héctor
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UK_Sub
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
2555 Posts

Posted - 09 Apr 2018 :  21:19:03 Show Profile Reply with Quote
That looks pretty neat and a bit more up-to-date than the original.

Would the older Saab aeroplane logo look out of place?
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 09 Apr 2018 :  22:21:50 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Looking good Héctor! I've had the originals on my 96 for years now and I can assure you they stay in place really well. Sometimes they're a pain to remove from wheels, that's how firmly they're held in place. Happy to send you the CAD file should you find it useful; if you feel like sharing your design when it's finished I could add some centre cap CAD files to my website? I also drew up the original Ronal centre cap a while ago:



www.saabv4.com
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 10 Apr 2018 :  19:38:16 Show Profile Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by UK_Sub
That looks pretty neat and a bit more up-to-date than the original.

Would the older Saab aeroplane logo look out of place?


Yes, the old aeroplane logo is always a good thing, but we have to decide which one to put on it, I don't see place for both.

Héctor
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 10 Apr 2018 :  19:40:43 Show Profile Reply with Quote
No prob. Melle, it's great to share it on your website.
I would need the wheel dimension of the center wheel to adapt the cap, I'm far from the car now and I cannot mesure it.

Héctor
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melle
V4 Guru

United Kingdom
3830 Posts

Posted - 10 Apr 2018 :  19:47:13 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Wheel centre bore is exactly 130mm.

www.saabv4.com
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 29 Apr 2018 :  18:10:22 Show Profile Reply with Quote
I've made a couple of samples.

but I've continued with the only saab logo as the airplane comes badly on the 3D printer.





I'm sorry, Uk_Sub, it would be nice to have the ariplane on it.

Héctor
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 29 Apr 2018 :  18:24:49 Show Profile Reply with Quote
Instead of printing four caps, I'm going print one, use it as a mold and duplicate the copies with resine, it is cheaper and permits to work on the mold for giving a good definition, the copies will have better quality.

The first attempted come with this part in two pieces because a failure during the printing, I glued both together and gave a kind of plaster and afterwards primer and a lot of sanding to cover the grooves of the plastic printed.








Héctor

Edited by - x96 on 29 Apr 2018 18:26:39
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 29 Apr 2018 :  18:34:36 Show Profile Reply with Quote






Héctor
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x96
V4 Fanatic

Spain
415 Posts

Posted - 29 Apr 2018 :  18:37:15 Show Profile Reply with Quote


Héctor
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