Thread Number: 69699
/ Tag: Member Selling Item(s)/Non Professionally
Gauging Interest in a Parts Reproduction service. |
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Post# 926201 , Reply# 1   3/11/2017 at 09:10 (2,574 days old) by TrainGuy (Key West, FL)   |   | |
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Josh, One of the items a lot of us would like would be a set of rings for the unimatics, especially the coral and yellow rings. Thanks, and good luck, Rich
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Post# 926224 , Reply# 2   3/11/2017 at 12:12 (2,574 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Hello Josh, and a warm welcome to Automatic Washer.
As soon as the 3D printer was launched, many of us here were so relieved that finally, at long last, we would have access to the out-of-stock parts for our beloved washing machines that we have yearned for, for years, never thinking we'd find them again. The promise of what 3D printing could provide was literally miraculous, and a dream come true. We waxed ecstatic for days wondering when. Now you have arrived to bring it home. Thank you. How did you find us? In addition to the rings Rich mentions, the agitator caps would be on my list, the black ones of the early 50's and the green ones atop the coral and yellow ringed modeis of 58-62. Let us know if you can make them, as well as what other members request, and the orders will be immediate! |
Post# 926275 , Reply# 5   3/11/2017 at 19:06 (2,574 days old) by duke ()   |   | |
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Post# 926306 , Reply# 7   3/11/2017 at 21:18 (2,574 days old) by duke ()   |   | |
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Post# 926360 , Reply# 8   3/12/2017 at 08:39 (2,573 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Wow! This sounds wonderful!! For years, several collectors have been hoping someone could do this. The elusive Westinghouse door boot would be a great candidate for this process. The trouble is finding a boot to use as the model. Would a damaged one be a good source? I would also be interested in the cap and coloured rings for Frigidaire washers (the 1958 to 1960) style. Can't wait to hear more about this! I am already imagining GE transmission boots and filter- flo flumes!! Good luck with your venture! |
Post# 926492 , Reply# 9   3/13/2017 at 04:52 (2,573 days old) by vacbear58 (Sutton In Ashfield, East Midlands, UK)   |   | |
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I would endorse Paul's request for a Westinghouse door boot - although in the UK we had machines based on the Westinghouse Spaemates and I am sure we could use at least a dozen units. Like wise with the Hoover Keymatic, not a machine you had, but there are a number of these needing boots. have you any idea what would make an economic quantity for production?
Al |
Post# 926537 , Reply# 10   3/13/2017 at 09:30 (2,572 days old) by brainardcooper (Columbia, SC)   |   | |
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What about water & oil bellows for Frigidaire Rollermatics & 1-18s? Would they be something that could be reproduced? |
Post# 926542 , Reply# 11   3/13/2017 at 10:00 (2,572 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
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I can echo those who have expressed interest in the lint chaser and cirulator rings for the 3 ring Frigidaires. I'd also add that the caps are also drying up and can be difficult to find.
While I cannot speak for everyone, at this point just having fresh, good rubber for the caps and the rings is probably weighs in a bit higher than the actual colors. I wish I had good examples of the rings to use as examples, but without good examples that are pliable and a the agitator column to do test fitting, it will be difficult to recreate these.
Bellows still turn up for Frigidaires, while these rings have been almost impossible to find for decades.
Ben |
Post# 926546 , Reply# 12   3/13/2017 at 10:15 (2,572 days old) by jkbff (Happy Rock, ND)   |   | |
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Hobart made KitchenAid detergent compartments? Upper 'yibble' spinner? The lower wash arm support (I'm sure someone could reproduce the metal shaft pretty easily, but could that be made of a very hard plastic or a nylon hybrid?).
Ideally, the detergent compartment could be designed in a way that there could be a channel for a liquid gasket of some sort to be used to seal the unit against the door. Anyways, just my random thoughts for this Monday morning. |
Post# 926556 , Reply# 13   3/13/2017 at 11:16 (2,572 days old) by joelippard (Hickory)   |   | |
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I'd certainly be interested in this too. The possibilities are great! I'd like to see the oil and water bellows reproduced for the pre 1-18 Frigidaire line. They were all the same part from Unimatic up through the Solid Stub Rollermatic and you don't see those for sale as often as you used to. I have a 1-18 bellows around here but I've never heard tell of one failing because the rubber is so thick. Please chime in on this guys... |
Post# 926562 , Reply# 14   3/13/2017 at 11:57 (2,572 days old) by turquoisedude (.)   |   | |
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Post# 926570 , Reply# 15   3/13/2017 at 12:23 (2,572 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Nice to hear from you. Still have those two Energy Rings you so generously donated, one in use, one in storage. They are a bit smaller than the originals, but they fit perfectly AND,"No more tangles!" (That's only if you don't know how to load a Frigidaire properly, LOL.)
Think you said these are for the Rollermatics, even though they work in both Unimatics and Multimatics. How thoughtful of General Motors. How we miss their Appliance Division. JOSH~ Are these too big to make at this time? |
Post# 926574 , Reply# 16   3/13/2017 at 12:35 (2,572 days old) by Unimatic1140 (Minneapolis)   |   | |
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You can't copyright physical parts, only patent them, however patents only last 17 years so they would be long expired. So that's a non-issue.
These parts being shown are mostly made out of neoprene rubber, I'm not sure that the technology for 3-D printing can print in rubber yet, however I could be wrong. But if the 2 rings were made of hard plastic, that would work just fine. That would not work fine unfortunately as you wouldn't be able to get the rings to fit onto the gray detergent column without them being able to stretch. |
Post# 926658 , Reply# 19   3/13/2017 at 20:21 (2,572 days old) by kb0nes (Burnsville, MN)   |   | |
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The Unimatic rings and cap would really be best reproduced by molding them from a silicone or other pliable rubber material.
All one would need is a really nice original and a mold could be made. It is simply a matter of casting replacements. Once the mold was made multiple rings could easily be cast. A molded replica could be nearly identical, although color matching may be tricky. Even the lettering would transfer. 3D printing a part like is not desirable. First you will need a scan and secondly you will see the grain that most all 'affordable' 3D printers leave behind. They just aren't all that accurate yet. Finally you would be limited to the materials that a 3D printer can melt and print with. |
Post# 926787 , Reply# 20   3/14/2017 at 12:22 (2,571 days old) by mickeyd (Hamburg NY)   |   | |
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Post# 926791 , Reply# 21   3/14/2017 at 12:31 (2,571 days old) by swestoyz (Cedar Falls, IA)   |   | |
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The tricky part of the pulsators/energy rings are the metal collars inside.
Years ago I contacted an outfit to see if they could "rebuild" the pulsator using a method this company had in place to recondition typewriter platens and rubber rollers for printers, etc. They would first strip down the pulstators by removing all of the old rubber from the metal collar and vulcanizing new rubber over the collar and turning it down to shape using a lathe.
Life distracted me and I never got around to sending a sample in. I should pick up the pieces and see if the outfit is still willing to look at this.
Ben |
Post# 926802 , Reply# 22   3/14/2017 at 13:12 (2,571 days old) by classiccaprice (Hampton, Virginia)   |   | |
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I'd love a Westinghouse door boot and a clear/white Kenmore agitator detergent cap. Maybe an older style Kenmore for a spare as well.
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Post# 926855 , Reply# 23   3/14/2017 at 17:16 (2,571 days old) by Gyrafoam (Wytheville, VA)   |   | |
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Ben,you are correct. That would be the challenge. |
Post# 927008 , Reply# 25   3/15/2017 at 11:49 (2,570 days old) by sfh074 ( )   |   | |
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Josh, I sent you an email a few days ago. Please call me. Bud |
Post# 927019 , Reply# 26   3/15/2017 at 13:45 (2,570 days old) by Dubis7 ()   |   | |
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In regards to the part you're looking at, Joel, I believe we can make that work. It's large, but it's fairly thin. If you'd like to talk about reproducing it, please shoot me an email. |
Post# 927180 , Reply# 27   3/16/2017 at 12:07 (2,569 days old) by joelippard (Hickory)   |   | |
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Those pulsators are an original equipment replacement part from Frigidaire that I purchased in a parts lot from Ebay. I sold most of them to fellow club members but kept a few in case I needed them. I have them with the "D" hole for the regular Frigidaire's and the large round hole for the 1-18 Models.
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Post# 929285 , Reply# 28   3/27/2017 at 21:23 (2,558 days old) by TrainGuy (Key West, FL)   |   | |
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