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Author Topic:   Sidelight Lamp Lens from 3D Printing

Landlocked posted 05-19-2014 11:57 AM ET (US)
Is there anyone on CW who has had experience with the new 3D printers who could comment on their suitability for making replacement lenses for the old style combined sidelight lamps? I've glued the two halves of mine back together twice now with epoxy. I'm afraid it is not long for this world. From what I've seen, looks like this might be the perfect way to produce a limited run of these things if the feedstock used can stand up to the heat of the bulb.
Ll.
dfmcintyre posted 05-19-2014 12:39 PM ET (US)
Would an LED light fit in the light? Brighter and less heat.
Don
SJUAE posted 05-19-2014 12:40 PM ET (US)
I had a quick look at these a few months back for prototyping some ideas
As for your application although you could probably use a material that is less prone to heat distortion and UV stable etc
I would say your biggest problem would be getting something that would be translucent to not limit the range of the light
The CAD software for prototyping is normally free too download and you can draft your design and send it of to many print shops at relatively little cost
As for buying your own printer and leaning how to use it, is not cheap unless you have other ideas you wish to explore
An alternative I would suggest contacting a local machine shop who could CNC a small block of acrylic or similar from your design or a layered approach is too find a school or enthusiast who could laser cut sheet acrylic say 1/8" thick in layers to make the lens after bonding each layer together
Regards
Steve
SJUAE posted 05-19-2014 12:44 PM ET (US)
P.S. You could use the printer to make a male and female mold and cast a lens from resin
Landlocked posted 05-19-2014 12:46 PM ET (US)
I would definitely be looking to hire someone to do the work. Depending on price would probably try and produce enough to sell and recover my costs. Looking through old posts, they seem to be in high demand.
Just in idea I was knocking around last night. We've got both AutoCAD and Micro Station at the office. I can probably get a tech to setup the design file for me.
Ll.
Landlocked posted 05-19-2014 12:47 PM ET (US)
I found an LED light that would fit but Tom Clark pointed out that it might not function well as an all around light as most of the light goes up from the base.
Ll.
SJUAE posted 05-19-2014 01:21 PM ET (US)
Ll--Could the lens be cut from say for example 1" thick glass ie it only has to be cut/profiled shape around the perimeter or is it's shape more complex ?, as it could be cut using an industrial water jetting company with a hole cutout for the bulb.
Can you post picture or link of the lens and fitting
Regards
Steve
Chuck Tribolet posted 05-19-2014 02:26 PM ET (US)
Do these take a festoon bulb (tubular with contacts on the
ends) like my '97ish Montauk? I've seen an LED festoon bulb
with Red LEDs on one side and Green LEDs on the other for
this application.
That doesn't solve your lens problem, but is an LED bulb
solution to keep the heat down.
Chuck
Landlocked posted 05-19-2014 03:45 PM ET (US)
No, not festoon it's an old style single pole bulb....
As to shape I guess best description I can come up with would be something about the size and shape of an upside down shot glass...
I think I have a pic of the thing clamped together while I was gluing it Saturday night. I'll look on my phone.
Ll.

SJUAE posted 05-19-2014 04:13 PM ET (US)
Pictures from Landlocked:
http://s707.photobucket.com/user/SJUAE/media/Stern%20and%20misc/light2. jpg.html
http://s707.photobucket.com/user/SJUAE/media/Stern%20and%20misc/light1. jpg.html
Regards
Steve
SJUAE posted 05-19-2014 04:17 PM ET (US)
Ll
try this:
http://www.marinepartdepot.com/rebowlilefor.html
Regards
Steve
Landlocked posted 05-19-2014 04:35 PM ET (US)
Thanks so much Steve! I'm ordering one now. Will report on fit when it gets here. Would have never imagined being able to find this after reading all the posts from folks looking for them...
Ll.
Landlocked posted 05-19-2014 04:55 PM ET (US)
At 7 bucks with free shipping I don't believe 3D Printing is going to be necessary. Buy 'em while you can.
Ll
Jeff posted 05-19-2014 05:17 PM ET (US)
Those domed lens are easy to find. The difficult one to the find are the lens for the Wilcox Crittenden Outrage lights.
The Marine Part Depot lens is a perfect direct replacement.
Another source for all kinds of old lens is A&A marine in Manistee Mi. Here are their stocked lens. They at time also have random lens but you have to call them and see what they have in the store.
http://www.classicboating.com/parts/bow-lights-and-lenses

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Author	Topic: Sidelight Lamp Lens from 3D Printing
Landlocked	posted 05-19-2014 11:57 AM ET (US) Is there anyone on CW who has had experience with the new 3D printers who could comment on their suitability for making replacement lenses for the old style combined sidelight lamps? I've glued the two halves of mine back together twice now with epoxy. I'm afraid it is not long for this world. From what I've seen, looks like this might be the perfect way to produce a limited run of these things if the feedstock used can stand up to the heat of the bulb. Ll.
dfmcintyre	posted 05-19-2014 12:39 PM ET (US) Would an LED light fit in the light? Brighter and less heat. Don
SJUAE	posted 05-19-2014 12:40 PM ET (US) I had a quick look at these a few months back for prototyping some ideas As for your application although you could probably use a material that is less prone to heat distortion and UV stable etc I would say your biggest problem would be getting something that would be translucent to not limit the range of the light The CAD software for prototyping is normally free too download and you can draft your design and send it of to many print shops at relatively little cost As for buying your own printer and leaning how to use it, is not cheap unless you have other ideas you wish to explore An alternative I would suggest contacting a local machine shop who could CNC a small block of acrylic or similar from your design or a layered approach is too find a school or enthusiast who could laser cut sheet acrylic say 1/8" thick in layers to make the lens after bonding each layer together Regards Steve
SJUAE	posted 05-19-2014 12:44 PM ET (US) P.S. You could use the printer to make a male and female mold and cast a lens from resin
Landlocked	posted 05-19-2014 12:46 PM ET (US) I would definitely be looking to hire someone to do the work. Depending on price would probably try and produce enough to sell and recover my costs. Looking through old posts, they seem to be in high demand. Just in idea I was knocking around last night. We've got both AutoCAD and Micro Station at the office. I can probably get a tech to setup the design file for me. Ll.
Landlocked	posted 05-19-2014 12:47 PM ET (US) I found an LED light that would fit but Tom Clark pointed out that it might not function well as an all around light as most of the light goes up from the base. Ll.
SJUAE	posted 05-19-2014 01:21 PM ET (US) Ll--Could the lens be cut from say for example 1" thick glass ie it only has to be cut/profiled shape around the perimeter or is it's shape more complex ?, as it could be cut using an industrial water jetting company with a hole cutout for the bulb. Can you post picture or link of the lens and fitting Regards Steve
Chuck Tribolet	posted 05-19-2014 02:26 PM ET (US) Do these take a festoon bulb (tubular with contacts on the ends) like my '97ish Montauk? I've seen an LED festoon bulb with Red LEDs on one side and Green LEDs on the other for this application. That doesn't solve your lens problem, but is an LED bulb solution to keep the heat down. Chuck
Landlocked	posted 05-19-2014 03:45 PM ET (US) No, not festoon it's an old style single pole bulb.... As to shape I guess best description I can come up with would be something about the size and shape of an upside down shot glass... I think I have a pic of the thing clamped together while I was gluing it Saturday night. I'll look on my phone. Ll.
SJUAE	posted 05-19-2014 04:13 PM ET (US) Pictures from Landlocked: http://s707.photobucket.com/user/SJUAE/media/Stern%20and%20misc/light2. jpg.html http://s707.photobucket.com/user/SJUAE/media/Stern%20and%20misc/light1. jpg.html Regards Steve
SJUAE	posted 05-19-2014 04:17 PM ET (US) Ll try this: http://www.marinepartdepot.com/rebowlilefor.html Regards Steve
Landlocked	posted 05-19-2014 04:35 PM ET (US) Thanks so much Steve! I'm ordering one now. Will report on fit when it gets here. Would have never imagined being able to find this after reading all the posts from folks looking for them... Ll.
Landlocked	posted 05-19-2014 04:55 PM ET (US) At 7 bucks with free shipping I don't believe 3D Printing is going to be necessary. Buy 'em while you can. Ll
Jeff	posted 05-19-2014 05:17 PM ET (US) Those domed lens are easy to find. The difficult one to the find are the lens for the Wilcox Crittenden Outrage lights. The Marine Part Depot lens is a perfect direct replacement. Another source for all kinds of old lens is A&A marine in Manistee Mi. Here are their stocked lens. They at time also have random lens but you have to call them and see what they have in the store. http://www.classicboating.com/parts/bow-lights-and-lenses