Engine control/instrument panel replacement

[Loren Beach]

Panel and gauge protection & covering...

O34 - UV & Rain Protection for the Engine Panel

We just added a rain and UV cover for the instrument panel. ** Refer to Prior blog entry : 8-3-18. :cool: This canvas was made by the guy that did our recent dodger and used the same color and trim scheme. He does very good work. I gave him a...

ericsonyachts.org

O34 - New panel cover for engine gauges

The new engine panel fits differently than the old Universal one with its recessed gauge and switch molding. There was never any plan to reuse the old panel even if we had chosen to repair the old engine -- wiring harness was shot and all the...

ericsonyachts.org

Other solutions just as good, and this was ours.

 

[Bumbugo13]

I might be a little late to this party but I wanted to share the solution we found for replacing the ignition panel on our 1986 E 32-3.

As the pics indicate the original panel was pretty rough. It was cracked around the glow plug and start buttons. When you pushed the glow plug button the panel moved. Combine that with a really old button and starting was an adventure. I started using a small tool that looked like a dental pick to pull the panel forward while simultaneously depressing the button. Not easy.

The panel was beyond repair so we set about searching for replacements. Even used panels on E-bay were outrageously expensive. Then I looked up 3-D printing and found a guy close to home. I sent him a pic of the panel and he said he could fabricate one. So, we removed the old one from the boat and took it to him. He used it to develop the replacement in autocad. Then printed a new one. It fit like a glove. It's actually a bit thicker and stronger than the old one. And the guy who made was great. Very professional and very passionate about his work. His business is FreeDimension LLC. I highly recommend him.

I'm showing the old panel. The new one on his printer bed. The new one alone. And the new one installed.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

. . . Then I looked up 3-D printing and found a guy close to home. I sent him a pic of the panel and he said he could fabricate one. So, we removed the old one from the boat and took it to him. He used it to develop the replacement in autocad. Then printed a new one. It fit like a glove. It's actually a bit thicker and stronger than the old one. And the guy who made was great. Very professional and very passionate about his work. His business is FreeDimension LLC. I highly recommend him.
. . .

Nicely done! Do you know what kind of resin he printed with?

 

[Bumbugo13]

Yes, BSA. Which is what he thinks the old one was made from.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Yes, BSA. Which is what he thinks the old one was made from.

Is it possible he meant ABS?

 

[bigd14]

Wish I had more info about this technology when I built my panel replacement out of fiberglass. Hours of mold-making and glassing and painting… This seems like it is the way to go.

 

[Bumbugo13]

Is it possible he meant ABS?

I was told BSA, which is bovine serum albumin. Commonly used in 3-D printing. From what I understand. Maybe ABS, BSA are the same thing? I don't know enough about it. But the link to guy who fabricated it is there. He would know for sure.

 

[paulrtullos]

my old panel before

 

[paulrtullos]

after

 

[Prairie Schooner]

I was told BSA, which is bovine serum albumin. Commonly used in 3-D printing. From what I understand. Maybe ABS, BSA are the same thing? I don't know enough about it. But the link to guy who fabricated it is there. He would know for sure.

I was just curious about the material's properties in the elements. I wrote Fri and he replied quickly, saying that the body is made of PETG, similar to what water bottles are made of. Cool solution Bumbugo. Thanks for sharing!

 

[JohnW]

I might be a little late to this party but I wanted to share the solution we found for replacing the ignition panel on our 1986 E 32-3.

As the pics indicate the original panel was pretty rough. It was cracked around the glow plug and start buttons. When you pushed the glow plug button the panel moved. Combine that with a really old button and starting was an adventure. I started using a small tool that looked like a dental pick to pull the panel forward while simultaneously depressing the button. Not easy.

The panel was beyond repair so we set about searching for replacements. Even used panels on E-bay were outrageously expensive. Then I looked up 3-D printing and found a guy close to home. I sent him a pic of the panel and he said he could fabricate one. So, we removed the old one from the boat and took it to him. He used it to develop the replacement in autocad. Then printed a new one. It fit like a glove. It's actually a bit thicker and stronger than the old one. And the guy who made was great. Very professional and very passionate about his work. His business is FreeDimension LLC. I highly recommend him.

I'm showing the old panel. The new one on his printer bed. The new one alone. And the new one installed.

How's the 3d printed panel holding up?