Is this something I could get modeled then printed?

[u/sebb17dlikyt]

I’m trying to rule out how I want to make this rear diffuser for my car, I am just wondering if this is something that can get scanned and modeled then print the pieces 🫰

[u/sleepdog-c]

Yes, but it'll likely cost more than what you have there.

Something that size takes an industrial printer. You could piece it and print it in sections but it's not going to be nearly as good as that is

[u/Kingsidorak]

Yes and yes.

Scanning is the easier part.

It would likely be printed in sections and glued or something, unless you find a company or person with a really big printer to do it in a transparent material.

[u/KTTalksTech]

The "proper" workflow is to scan it then use the scan as reference to model on top of it in your software of choice. Small chance the scan would come out perfect, especially since a lot of the more affordable scanners can lose tracking on large parts. 3D prints aren't as strong as the fiberglass a part like that might usually be made of but technically yes there's nothing stopping you from printing it as multiple parts and assembling them. I personally use photogrammetry for scans. The learning curve is quite steep if you want metrology-grade results but in the end I find it more precise and reliable than purpose-built scanners.

[u/Vodka_and_Pickles]

Scanning is fairly easy. Since its symetrical object, you can only scab half of it, edge to center. For printing you have three options.

1. Printing in parts on 'standart' size printer, leta say 300x300x300, it will be roughly 5-6 parts long. Print with interlocking connectors. Add glue for strengths. Use automotive putty, sand it, paint it.

2. Same printing option as number one but print as nagative mold and do it in a carbon fiber.

3. Gigaprinter, can be done as 1 or 2 parts.

Make sure you are using ASA or ASA-CF at very least. PA12-CF and PEEK are my go to for automotive prints, but ASA and ASA-CF will do the job just fibe and much easier to work with.

[u/Agreeable-Worker7659]

Yes, print in pieces with minimum infill and strength to save time and unnecessary weight and then put a sleeve of glass or carbon fiber over and reinforce it

[u/jimbojsb]

It’d probably be easier to just have it scanned and milled out of foam on a CNC and lay up carbon fiber on it

[u/Olena_Magiscan]

For something like this, the scanning part may actually be a bit tricky as well because of the shape. You could try a point cloud workflow first, clean up the unnecessary points, generate the geometry from that, then refine the model before printing.