Derek Posted October 2, 2010 Share Posted October 2, 2010 (edited) Allrighty then. Since i had so much fun doing my Kick panel speaker pods I decided it was time to start my pillar pod mount. I started out making a drawing of the pillar profile with a contour gauge. I then cut a test piece of the contour and pushed it in place. It took 5 tries to get a fit I was happy with. I then carved out a piece of plastic that was the length of the pillar. Here is a shot of the 5 profiles and the finished pillar blank. I heated the blank and clamped it to the pillar. Here is the piece after it cooled. It had a lot more twist in it than I thought. The I used an epoxy clay to pick up the top and bottom details. The top section will go up behind the sun visor mount. This will be the top attatchment. I'm hoping for friction and pressure to serve as the bottom mount. Then I carved a couple of basic pods just to use as visuals to get the placement. The finished mockup You can see the mount holes for the visor in the clay. This will come in handy down the road. Tune in to my next installment and you'll see how I turn this lump of plastic shizit into a thing of beauty! Thanks Derek Edited October 2, 2010 by Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LanceVance Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Look forward to seeing this as it progresses. Any chance you might make a steering column clamshell with a pod for a boost gauge? I've been looking at making one, but I don't have the know-how or equipment that you do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MREDDLE Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I love everything you do. Do you mind me asking what you do for a living? Your fab skills are the best I have seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted October 3, 2010 Author Share Posted October 3, 2010 I love everything you do. Do you mind me asking what you do for a living? Your fab skills are the best I have seen. Thanks guys. Well technically this is what I do for a living. I'm a pattern maker for the sand casing industry. The vacuum form patterns are very similar to the foundry patterns I do. Also this type of prototyping is an area that I work in as well. Before I was a pattern maker I did very high end stainless steel and aluminum fabrication for very wealthy people.... I'm much happier now! As far as the steering column covers. Maybe. I'll have to see how demand goes for some of this stuff. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 Had to do a little 3D scanning today so I figured I'd do the pillar mockup. Well actually I wanted to scan the pillar mockup so i came up with some other stuff to scan while I was at it! Here is my scanning rig. It's a Nextengine 3D laser scanner. It's a two part method in that it takes a picture and has a laser scanning device. It attaches the picture to the mesh as a texture. Here it is shooting the "Freekin LAser" on to the model. The model is on a turntable. It takes 360 degrees of scans and weaves them into one. Here is another angle. This is 18 scans done at 2 different heights with the texture applied. Just the mesh. Next I'll bring that mesh into my 3D design program and use it as a reference to create the surfaces that will be the pillar pod mount. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Posted October 5, 2010 Share Posted October 5, 2010 Looking good as usual! Looks like you're going to make along term buyer out of me. I haven't had a chance to install the kick panel yet, but when I do, I'll post pics to vouch for the awesome craftsmanship. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mario_82_ZXT Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Why not scan a stock pillar with your 3D setup and add pods to that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted October 6, 2010 Author Share Posted October 6, 2010 Looking good as usual! Looks like you're going to make along term buyer out of me. I haven't had a chance to install the kick panel yet, but when I do, I'll post pics to vouch for the awesome craftsmanship. Thanks Tyler. I'm the Pusher man! I hope your interior looks better than nullbounds and mine Why not scan a stock pillar with your 3D setup and add pods to that? Cuz the cars too big to fit on the turntable! The scanner uses multiple scans to get all the data and then stitches them together. I had thought about trying to position the scanner on an arm inside the car but quickly came to the conclusion that it would suck. This method allowed me to manually place the pods and really get a decent feel as to how it will layout. It will still probably take a couple tries to get it right but it's going to be close. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mario_82_ZXT Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Oh I meant the stock Z A pillar plastic. Zs do have one right? (I haven't had mine running in 3 yrs so I don't remember ='( ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19762802+2 Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Oh I meant the stock Z A pillar plastic. Zs do have one right? (I haven't had mine running in 3 yrs so I don't remember ='( ) S30's have vinyl with foam backing placed over the metal frame. I think the 280zx's had plastic but at least the earlier s30's don't have plastic a later 78 might have plastic I'm not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
datsun723 Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Definitely subscribed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelsonian Posted October 6, 2010 Share Posted October 6, 2010 As far as the steering column covers. Maybe. I'll have to see how demand goes for some of this stuff. Derek I have been trying to get many members on here with the materials,skill and know how to do just that, for awhile now. I will soon try and make my own by floral foam carving, then fiberglass, But, if it was made by someone eith this type of expertise, Hint, Hint???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZT-R Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 subscribed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slownrusty Posted November 14, 2010 Share Posted November 14, 2010 Wow awesome work Derek! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLY280Z Posted November 15, 2010 Share Posted November 15, 2010 subscribed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calpoly-z Posted November 17, 2010 Share Posted November 17, 2010 I know at least 77-78 280z's have a plastic a-pillar cover not sure about earlier years or if this piece is something that could be used on earlier years. Interested though if the currently designed parts will fit on later cars... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted November 17, 2010 Author Share Posted November 17, 2010 I know at least 77-78 280z's have a plastic a-pillar cover not sure about earlier years or if this piece is something that could be used on earlier years. Interested though if the currently designed parts will fit on later cars... Well I wish I had known this before but I'm so far in now I might as well keep working with what I have. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZT-R Posted November 21, 2010 Share Posted November 21, 2010 (edited) how is she comming along derek? i did go look at my 280z and it does had a plastic panel would this be difficult to ad another gauge to it? maybe offer a 2 and 3 gauge pod? Edited November 22, 2010 by boostedh23a1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Posted November 22, 2010 Author Share Posted November 22, 2010 how is she comming along derek? i did go look at my 280z and it does had a plastic panel would this be difficult to ad another gauge to it? maybe offer a 2 and 3 gauge pod? It's going slowwwwwwww! This is going to be a bit of a tricky piece to form. I'm kind of waiting until I have some more experience with the vacuum former before I proceed. But i've had enough requests that it will happen. Derek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speeder Posted November 22, 2010 Share Posted November 22, 2010 (edited) Add me to the "interested" list plaese. Definitely want one if available in a 3 gauge version. I have some 280Z plastic inner pillar trims if you need one. Edited November 22, 2010 by speeder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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