Back in 2017 during our first trip out after winter, our dash air was stuck only heat. I had it checked and it turns out that there was a clamp of sorts that held a cable which opens/closes the flap to allow (or not) hot air in. Mine was broken in the heat position. There is a body shop in my town that works on pretty much anything and so I asked them to check on fixing it. They came back and said the part was $400 which I hesitatingly said to go ahead and do. It turned out that Fleetwood didn't have any in stock so I told them to just hold and we will revisit. I had them set it in the cold position for summer driving/camping.
Today, I was checking things in the RV and decided to have a look at that control. I am an avid 3d printer hobbyist and as I looked at the plastic case, I realized I could design and print something. It took me about 30 minutes to design what I wanted and about 20 minutes to 3d print the part which cost about 3 cents in plastic.
It was a success and so for a little bit of my time, maybe a total of an hour along with printing the part that cost me 3 cents in PLA plastic and 32 cents in screws, I saved about $399.65 fixing it myself!
If anybody thinks they could use this part, I can send you the STL file for you to print or for you to find someone to print....or I could print it for you as well...just PM me.
This is the unit:
This is the design I came up with:
This is the rear of that unit with my part dry fitted:
My part installed...note the crack on the original unit. Cheaply made and in my opinion not worth $400!
Installed and clamped in place with my 3D printed design:
Today, I was checking things in the RV and decided to have a look at that control. I am an avid 3d printer hobbyist and as I looked at the plastic case, I realized I could design and print something. It took me about 30 minutes to design what I wanted and about 20 minutes to 3d print the part which cost about 3 cents in plastic.
It was a success and so for a little bit of my time, maybe a total of an hour along with printing the part that cost me 3 cents in PLA plastic and 32 cents in screws, I saved about $399.65 fixing it myself!
If anybody thinks they could use this part, I can send you the STL file for you to print or for you to find someone to print....or I could print it for you as well...just PM me.
This is the unit:
This is the design I came up with:
This is the rear of that unit with my part dry fitted:
My part installed...note the crack on the original unit. Cheaply made and in my opinion not worth $400!
Installed and clamped in place with my 3D printed design:
2112 wrote:
I am an avid 3d printer hobbyist as well. I really enjoy developing creative solutions. The T-handle on my garage door broke last week, so I replaced it with a round knob using ABS.
Here's my printer. I made the enclosure from two cheap end tables and plexi-glass. All the mounting brackets and handles were 3D printed of course
Very nice setup! I have been doing 3d printing for about 3 years, I currently own 6 printers and I do make a bit of cash on the side printing little articulated toys. My son and I also do Star Wars costuming (501st and rebel legion) and I print parts for the various costumes as well. And then there are miscellaneous things I design and create.
These are my 'published' things on a site called Thingiverse: Stugpanzer's Designs
Here are 3 of my printers:
I am an avid 3d printer hobbyist as well. I really enjoy developing creative solutions. The T-handle on my garage door broke last week, so I replaced it with a round knob using ABS.
Here's my printer. I made the enclosure from two cheap end tables and plexi-glass. All the mounting brackets and handles were 3D printed of course
Here's my printer. I made the enclosure from two cheap end tables and plexi-glass. All the mounting brackets and handles were 3D printed of course
