If it's anything like the cable guides I got from shapeways, the "plastic" that comes out is layered together and porous. Very easy to wear down. Might work for a minute in a derailleur but grind down fast. But maybe they've made an improvement in the past year or so...

Now those are good ideas. Providing they're durable, that is.

Yes, you're probably right. I have used Shapeways in the past but it was always for less demanding applications. Their least expensive plastic material is not as hard as the Simplex Delrin. Their Alumide material may be more durable but they say it's more brittle. Of course there are metal options but the costs are too high at this point.

Les.

Continuing with the Simplex theme ...


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4264/...9697a3d7_o.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4254/...5ee7a5c7_o.png


Not an exact duplicate but it's fairly close.

Les.

Same folks are working on one-piece aero bars, custom handlebar/stem combo's.
Want that 92.459mm stem/41.628mm bar combo, with tops and drops fitted to your hands?

Here's how the wing nut turned out. The printed wing nut is on the right with an original on the left. Since the printed plastic has a dull, rough finish, I applied some black paint.

It's not an exact copy but it's better that the broken one that it's replacing.


https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4094/...79b9bc0f_o.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4234/...8dafbccc_o.jpg


Les.

The brass nutsert looks different, so the questions would be, yes? or new part and added after or deposition around an existing brass part?
(an interesting positioning task in the stereo tank frame.)

Actually, that's the original brass nut. Originally, the brass nut was molded into the piece and an indentation around the outside of the nut is what held it in place. For the repro, the nut simply gets pushed into the opening at the top of the plastic body. You could apply a drop of glue to hold it in place but it's not altogether necessary since it holds itself in place once it gets tightened down.


Les.