Vintage Motorcycle - 1964 Norton Atlas Featherlastic seat latch cover

[adbuch]

I recently had occasion to design and print a seat latch cover for one of my vintage motorcycles. I modeled it with Fusion 360, and printed the final version using matte black Hatchbox pla filament using my FlashForge Creator 3 Pro 3d printer.
David

This is the bare seat latch bracket before the cover was installed.

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Here it is modeled with Fusion 360.

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Norton Seat Latch Cover 1.jpg

Here it is in the slicer ready for printing.

Norton Seat Latch Cover 2.jpg

This is what it looked like after printing.

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And here it is installed onto the bare latch.

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[weldguy]

That is slick! Well done.

[acourtjester]

Ah yes another 3-D printer to the rescue, nice design

[adbuch]

Thanks guys! It was fun to do. The most challenging part was getting the curve right where the cover mates up to the fender.
I used an adjustable profile gauge pushed up against the outside of the fender to get the profile, traced it onto a piece of paper and cut it out with scissors for fit check, and then put it on a flat bed scanner to create a jpeg image. Then I used Inkscape to auto trace to create the dxf. Then I imported the dxf into Fusion 360 where I had created the model and used it to trim the bottom of the latch cover to match as shown in the screen shots below.

Originally this was intended to be a model for proof of concept and I had intended to machine the final part from steel and have it chrome plated, but I think I like the matte black just fine. It matches the seat, and keeping it will save me lots of machining time as I really have many other unfinished projects to attend to.

My intention is to use a small screw to attach the cover to the seat latch, and I installed a threaded insert visible in the photos at the original post above. One of the first samples I printed was white and here you can see it installed with a small stainless steel button head screw. For the matte black cover I ended up with, I will eventually drill a hole and use a black button head screw.

David

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[plasmanewbie]

Thats pretty rad David. A lot of effort for such a small trim piece but its those little details that make the difference. I love it, beyond a great job!

[adbuch]

Thats pretty rad David. A lot of effort for such a small trim piece but its those little details that make the difference. I love it, beyond a great job!

Thanks Plasmanewbie! I appreciate your kind words. And I agree, it is amazing sometimes just how much effort goes into some of the detail parts on some of these jobs.
David

[acourtjester]

Way to keep the mind in gear, showing the thought process will inspire others with their projects. Showing how to adapt different softwares to complete a project.

[adbuch]

Way to keep the mind in gear, showing the thought process will inspire others with their projects. Showing how to adapt different softwares to complete a project.

Thanks Tom! I've got another non-motorcycle project involving the 3d printer that I will share soon. This one has to do with developing an apparatus for retrieving a broken pipe/pump assembly from a water well. I did the conceptual mock-up using 3D printed parts for proof of concept, then fabricated from steel for the real deal.
David

[acourtjester]

Great to have the tools to go off on a tangent for a little variety to you work week.

[adbuch]

Great to have the tools to go off on a tangent for a little variety to you work week.

Yes Tom - I agree! It gets old just standing in front of the cnc machining centers spitting out the same old parts. But I've gotta pay the bills.
These little "side projects" are fun to do and sometimes offer a chance to learn some new things.
David

[adbuch]

well pipe extraction tool.jpg

[acourtjester]

Not to mention custom parts for a customer is a real help in solving their problems. I know the standing in from of a lathe is boring at times. I have supplied over 1200 of the concentric bearing studs used on the table I developed.

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