Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

As pertaining to obsolete parts such as the LT5 thermostat housing, a few of us have discussed the idea of 3D scanning components to at least have digital renderings which could be stored in the Registry server. Possibly in the future the Registry could even work to manufacture some of these items.

Does anyone have the knowhow, ability, or equipment to 3D scan to CAD or the like?

Also, what obsolete/rare parts do you feel we need to help keep these cars on the road into the future? I would like to make a running list.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

Bear in mind that 3D scans or any reverse engineering effort will lack original design details such as material properties, performance requirements, build tolerance, etc.
Some of this risk can be mitigated if several known good samples are used to scrutinize during the reverse engineering process. One should scrutinize the part and anything it interfaces with.

C2 and C3 spare and repair parts are a disaster already given that NOS parts are scarce and old tooling is worn out. I have to buy minimum three of anything to get one that mostly fits or works.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

This is a good idea, however, the Registry tried this with Windshields, which were supposed to be out in the wild now, yet here we are over a year later and nothing, how about some updates and finish out that other project before getting involved in more that may or may not see the light of day

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

Hi Jeff, I empathize with your frustration. Please know that I am new to the Registry (10 months), brand new as a Board member, and not aware of past projects. This is yet another reason why I am soliciting the help of all of you!

Frankly though, a lot of people are venting but few are stepping up to help. Ex., more than 100 people have viewed my new/updated stickies yet I haven't received a single response with updates from the community. I cannot do this alone, I have to have help from the community.

Who was involved in the windshield project? I will try and speak with them and see where we are at. With as many members as we have though, we should be able to work on simultaneous projects at once.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

I appreciate those tips Mike. That is exactly why I posted this for all to see. I need help working these issues/ideas.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

The previous board to my knowledge..



As for volunteering, I get it, I was a Boy Scout leader from the time my son was a Bear in Cub Scouts until 4 AFTER he earned his Eagle and aged out.. I recently stepped down from helping there and now I am on the Board for the Local club, why? because no one steppe did and I did it 20 years ago.


Yes I saw your posts and such, but I have not had enough time to respond to many of them. Give me time and I will go through them..

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

A former member Dave Johnson procured some new windshields a few years ago but I don't know if he has more or exactly how successful his efforts were. Dave still has a large collection of ZR-1s although he is no longer affiliated with the Registry due to some past feuds with some here. Marc might have info on that, as he stays in touch with Dave. Marc also might be a help on vetting parts and repair suppliers you have listed as he has used many over the years, although he might want to keep some close to his vest for business reasons. --Bob

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

I have the "ability" to 3D scan parts. I own a Miraco from the company Revopoint.

https://www.revopoint3d.com/pages/st...scanner-miraco.

This is "just" a 1300 USD scanner and it certainly doesn't compete with the professionnal ones in term of scan quality (from 10k$ up to 100k$ and more).

I have attempted to scan and reverse-engineer the CHMSL from the ZR-1 (high mounted stop lamp) as a starter for a little project,

The scanning process is tedious and requires a lot of experience and attempts to get a decent result. It's a learning journey.

If you want to reverse-engineer the part afterward, it's even more difficult.

You basically need to recreate the part by modelling shapes around the scanned data. If the part is symetrical and has very few features, it's quite OK.

I'm pretty good with Solidworks, and god, I had the worst time of my life doing this.

This was my first reverse engineering attempt. I should have tried with a much easier part, like the LT5 oil pump seat which is also on my scanning project list. I'll get better by practising for sure!

I have seen that some companies specialized in scanning and reverse-engineering parts, here's an exemple : https://3dscanningservices.net/profe...e-engineering/

It could be interesting to get a quote.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

You are the main player in regards to this site and you have no knowledge of these windshields? This is in no way any criticism towards you but it seems the people running this site should have divulged this in the very beginning. As far as somebody making new content thermostat housings there are several cast parts and several pipes,all aluminum and welded together. My suggestion is have one 3D printed,disassemble this and find a foundry to make the cast part,source the aluminum pipe and find a machine shop to do any machine work and weld everything together. My Brother is a tool and die maker by profession with a full service shop. Hes getting ready to retire,just out of curiosity I'm going to ask him about this.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

I just bought a thermostat housing,when I get it I'll see exactly what's required to make these. I do know that have some of the parts cast is the biggest challenge and then machined.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

People have parts I have a thermostat housing but no one has asked to buy it yet.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

Jeff,

What exactly is the issue with people needing a thermostat housing? Poor coolant maintenance, being a gorilla with it when replacing the thermostat? I am just asking because I have never had an issue with it despite I have a spare just because I have spare everything.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

Long story short, my ZR-1 unknowingly came to me with a JB-welded fitting going into the thermostat housing. That fitting severed and almost caused a min-disaster and we were not sure if we could save the housing. When I went looking for a replacement housing on the open-market, none could be found. Fortunately the damage was minor and Phil Wasinger is an excellent engineer.

So, that got the wheels in my head turning about what parts we made need to help manufacture in order to keep these cars on the road.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

Here in lies one of this community's current, enduring issues. A lot of people have parts tucked away in their garages and only they know those specific parts are there. You literally have to "know a guy" to find those rare parts.

I don't know you. We've never met or even spoken. So let's say I needed that housing after all and I'm aware of our Forum; I throw a "WTB" post up in the Parts for Sale sub, but what if you don't login and see it? Who all knows you have that part who might see it and tell you I'm looking for it? Heck, I have found parts in member's garages that even they didn't remember they had.

It also has to be recognized that there are a good amount of ZR-1 owners out in the ether who don't even know about the Registry or the Forum. They need help with parts too. A lot of "car people", especially those under 30, have never even heard of a "car forum" let alone ours. We're trying to change that but it's actually difficult to sell something people don't understand, especially when they see how dated and broken the site it.

We really need everyone's help. If each member did just a little, it would help A LOT!

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

Thanks for telling your story! I too understand it is quite difficult and recognize I'm not suited for it yet I see car guys on social media doing it alllll the time to fab custom parts to do things like mate an LS engine to a Porsche transmission. I'm looking to tap into that base of knowledge to at least get some models on file. I will note the company you found and will add it to my to-do list.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

I realize this thread didn?t intend to be t-stat housing specific but I?ll offer two observations at this point

1) a database of for sale parts could be helpful. For sale ads get buried over time and search function only returns useful results if you use the same spelling or lexicon as the original poster of the thread you hope to find.

2) the demand on parts is very low. Fabrication and machining is often the only way to overcome supply problems when no business case exists. I had a t-stat housing fabricated for a different car because I couldn?t find anything off the shelf. I inquired about additive manufacturing (3D printing) one but even if I supplied the model it was going to cost $2,500. That?s not a typo and I can?t say I fully understand why but several of the well known vendors who offer printing services were all in that range.

Bottom line, there is probably a collective knowledge of how to solve parts problems and maybe we should start a sticky titled ?You fixed it how?!?? so that lessons learned can be shared. Cuba kept cars from the 50?s and 60?s running for more than half a century with no access to supply chain due to the embargo. It?s a true grassroots gearhead story that is truly inspiring although they did it for survival.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

Ha! I always think of the Cubans as well! Many developing countries function in the same manner as the Cubans and it's rather incredible. I'm also trying to think of potential future owners who could be easily deterred from owning these cars if they think it's going to require that level of effort though. For years I heard the FUD in the Corvette community that only a select few could work on these cars and that parts were obsolete so don't buy one. And I have to say, this car has been a royal PITA but I've cherished the community it has brought me.

I really like the idea of some sort parts database and have actually floated that to some members so thank you for putting it out on the forum. Hopefully others will mull it over.

Regarding 3D scanning and one-off development, you may very well be right, producing obscure parts may just be too cost prohibitive. However I would like to at least look into the option of 3D scanning to CAD renderings of some of these obscure parts. Maybe they will help us in the future.

Re: Anyone Skilled or Able to 3D Scan to CAD or the Like?
 

The best ZR-1 parts database is probably in Jerry Downey's head, but a close second is his entire Jerry's Gaskets website and operation. I trust you have been in touch with Jerry for his insight into this issue. While many in our group have a large amount of collective knowledge about many parts, he is the most knowledgeable guy in the ZR-1 world when it comes to parts.

And for those interested in how the Cubans go about maintaining cars, there is a series that was filmed in 2015 called Cuban Chrome on the Discovery channel that documents the life of Cubans trying to keep their cars running and in some cases in "show" condition--in Cuba, that is of course a relative term. i've been recording it lately and it is fun to watch. --Bob