Custom Pininfarina Emblem

[Austenp405]

I can work with nearly anything but something as simple as a good jpeg looking at it from straight on is probably best.

[georgeramos]

Can you adapt this font somehow? Maybe draw a little line that connects the letters?

[georgeramos]

i hand drew the little image I had posted earlier to somewhat dismal effect but i like this style and if it is do-able from my sketch I'd certainly be into it. I'm trying to do something like the amazing stuff Lancia did. check out the original Fulvia logo, i mean that is amazing stuff.

[Austenp405]

[georgeramos]

I think i like the boxy one better but maybe id buy a set of each. How much would they run? What kind of material is it made of?

Have you attached yours yet? Love to see pics and hear about the process.

[Austenp405]

I did finish mine but I wasn't real happy with the letter spacing so I redid it. I'll smooth out the finish, give it a splash of chrome paint, and just use 3m double sided tape like they use for factory emblems.

While I had the machine set up I went ahead and did one each of the Fiat designs. For scale, each is about 3" across.

[georgeramos]

Sweet! could that material handle the heat of the engine bay? For some reason I thought you could make them in metal...

[Austenp405]

Our printer uses ABSplus material. The spec sheet lists its transition temperature as 226°F, which I can't imagine the valve covers reach, not to mention the insulating properties from the adhesive. 3M claims the ability to withstand 600° when using its gasket maker as an adhesive. Even after a long drive you can touch the valve covers on my truck without any problems.

Metal would be a much larger undertaking involving making a mold and then casting from that. Not that it couldn't be done, but, frankly, it'd be more trouble than it's worth unless something is being mass-produced.

[urbom]

I realize that this is an old topic, but I just read that PLA from a 3d printer can be used in place of wax in the lost wax process for casting aluminum (or other things) Lots of jewelers use lost wax for producing jewelry. Each PLA part would only produce one aluminum part, so it would not be fast.

[Austenp405]

I realize that this is an old topic, but I just read that PLA from a 3d printer can be used in place of wax in the lost wax process for casting aluminum (or other things) Lots of jewelers use lost wax for producing jewelry. Each PLA part would only produce one aluminum part, so it would not be fast.

Thanks for the information, lots to look through. For others interested, here are two pages I found:

PLA Casting:
http://3dtopo.com/lostPLA/

ABS Casting:
http://jason-webb.info/2012/11/lost-abs ... m-casting/

The difference between the two plastics: ABS is your typical chemically derived thermoplastic while PLA is created using sugar. Therefore ABS (which I have access to) gives off toxic fumes when burned out without a vented kiln, where PLA smells like baked goods.

There is also a substantial investment involved with all the necessary equipment to cast molten aluminum.

Great thinking outside the box, though. All my projects have been put off until after finals but maybe I'll look around to see if someone local wants to experiment collaboratively.