youngengineer Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 (edited) I found that the standard Series 3 air grille was ineffective over 30mph as low pressure on the side of the vehicle woulld work against the already asthmatic blower motor. I spent a couple hours a few weekends ago creating a 3D model of the series blower grille with a scoop modification. The scoop allows air to be funneled into the blower motor and increase the output of the heater blower. Edited January 10, 2021 by youngengineer 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 That looks pretty good! It's amazing the kind of stuff it's viable to 3D Print these days with the materials now available. Si 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 Good stuff but, I can foresee a problem, but only if you off road. Your scoop will be susceptible to damage off shrubs, branches, bankside etc I wonder if it is possible to 3D print a piece that sits flatter to the side of the wing then follows the contours of the wing so that you scoop the air from the top of the wing where it is more protected or alternatively go out the top of the wing instead of the side but only if you were happy to cut a hole in the top of your wing still excellent work too technical for my abilities I would have to hammer form something regards Stephen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 The nice thing with a 3D Printed part though, is if it breaks, a few hours later you have a new one! Many of the things I've printed have gone through an itterative design - find a problem or weakness, then print a better one! This is a good example of such - a little reduction box with a BLDC motor in the middle. It needs to be small and very light - and has gone through many iterations. It's still not good enough though! It powers this, also mostly printed with the addition of Carbon Fibre spars and Foamex board: An Ornothopter. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngengineer Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 15 hours ago, Stellaghost said: Good stuff but, I can foresee a problem, but only if you off road. Your scoop will be susceptible to damage off shrubs, branches, bankside etc I wonder if it is possible to 3D print a piece that sits flatter to the side of the wing then follows the contours of the wing so that you scoop the air from the top of the wing where it is more protected or alternatively go out the top of the wing instead of the side but only if you were happy to cut a hole in the top of your wing still excellent work too technical for my abilities I would have to hammer form something regards Stephen It protrudes less then the mirrors, the plastic itself is fairly thick. I made the walls from solid 4mm ABS but they could be printed even thicker at 6mm or more. The design could be modified so the scoop would have less protrusion. I made it this way to maximize airflow but I admit its slightly overkill! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Isn't that going to make you mildly moist in the rain? And especially with the tyres sticking out well past cheeky, water/salt/stones/mud/small children will be chucked right in there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stellaghost Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 15 minutes ago, youngengineer said: It protrudes less then the mirrors I get that only the mirrors will give or twist out of the way and only need repositioning, nit picking really, however like your skills I don't have a 3d printer but I would struggle switching it on let alone using it, that's the dinosaur in me regards Stephen 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paime Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 A great example of what you can do with a 3D printer and some know-how. What programme did you use to design the part? Is it glued on or screwed from the inside? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Poore Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Perhaps a slightly flatter profile (such as the snow cowls people fit to Defenders) might offer the same benefit but less protrudy. Or you could add a little motor so that it retracts at the push of a button 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missingsid Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 I know it's not the pedestrian side but it does seem like it would skin any that it encounters, also it will pour water in very effectively I would imagine? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted January 11, 2021 Share Posted January 11, 2021 Its a good point. Dont want to scooping a lump out of any pedestrians ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngengineer Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 13 hours ago, paime said: A great example of what you can do with a 3D printer and some know-how. What programme did you use to design the part? Is it glued on or screwed from the inside? I used Fusion 360. Its not to hard to learn and I beleive there is a 12 month free license for Hobbyists/DIY'ers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngengineer Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) 12 hours ago, missingsid said: I know it's not the pedestrian side but it does seem like it would skin any that it encounters, also it will pour water in very effectively I would imagine? I think you may be right about the water factor, thats not something I considered. It could be made with a less agressive profile I suppose. I think if you actually hit someone with a series land rover the vent would be the least of worries. Edited January 11, 2021 by youngengineer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngengineer Posted January 11, 2021 Author Share Posted January 11, 2021 (edited) One thing that I am considering doing is desining/3D printing an adaptor kit which would allow use of widely available generic blowers. I think there would be quite an appetite for that since the smiths blowers are getting rare. Edited January 11, 2021 by youngengineer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landrover17H Posted January 19, 2021 Share Posted January 19, 2021 (edited) Don't suppose it'll be subjected to MOT, hence you'll going to get away with it. Less so today, but the general view used to be that we have social-responsibility. Edited January 20, 2021 by Landrover17H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Qhriss Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 On 1/10/2021 at 5:35 PM, simonr said: The nice thing with a 3D Printed part though, is if it breaks, a few hours later you have a new one! Many of the things I've printed have gone through an itterative design - find a problem or weakness, then print a better one! This is a good example of such - a little reduction box with a BLDC motor in the middle. It needs to be small and very light - and has gone through many iterations. It's still not good enough though! It powers this, also mostly printed with the addition of Carbon Fibre spars and Foamex board: An Ornothopter. Astonishing work , mate - god when I was a kid it was Airfix and rubber bands K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landrover17H Posted February 11, 2021 Share Posted February 11, 2021 (edited) Ho, hum, if Plod sees it, and sends that down for vehicle inspection I'd be surprised if somebody doesn't take umbrage. They will have seen 3D printers and be less easy to impress. Someone would explain why a pedestrian already cleared for take-off over the bonnet, or looking to land down the side, needs to be swiped by that as well? Mayhaps, they'd be reading printer instruction manuals at the time? Could we expect instructions to remove sharpish? As my other post, our 15YO boy got a printer for Xmas from his mother, and welding-kit from me. Now dubbed the 'shonk-printer' he's been knocking out tosh supermarket-trolley tokens, and the irony of ironies, 3D Airfix kits... the message that finds the lot on eBay for under a tenner, seems lost. Edited February 12, 2021 by Landrover17H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 12 hours ago, Landrover17H said: Ho, hum, if Plod sees it, and sends that down for vehicle inspection I'd be surprised if somebody doesn't take umbrage. While that's generally a worthwhile consideration, the printed parts are fairly weak compared to Injection Molded parts - so I suspect would just shear off before doing much damage to a pedestrian. Also, Land Rovers in general are not exactly pedestrian friendly. I'd sooner be hit by that than say the wing mirror, door hinges, gutter, rear capping, exhaust, bumper etc...etc... A reasonable solution would be to print it in Flexible material - which has the hardness of rubber. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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