• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


3D Print file

Messages
41
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
Sarasota
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
#1
Does anyone know if there's a 3D print file out there for something like the Zeus hitch cover? I know it would need to be printed in sections but I'd like to try.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,640
Reactions
5,543
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#2
I doubt it…they’re in the business of selling parts, not files.
 

OP
S
Messages
41
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
Sarasota
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
Thread Starter #3
I doubt it…they’re in the business of selling parts, not files.
I'm not expecting it to be from Zeus or one of the other manufacturers. It would be from someone who saw the product and reverse-engineered it to print their own for $10 or less.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,640
Reactions
5,543
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#4
$10 or less…yea that ain’t happening either. lol
 

OP
S
Messages
41
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
Sarasota
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
Thread Starter #5
$10 or less…yea that ain’t happening either. lol
A spool of carbon fiber filament is about $26 or I can cheap out and get a regular spool for about $13. Based on the size of the print it might take half a spool, even if it takes the whole spool $13 to $26 is better than $200. You're the expert in 3D printing though so I guess I'll just throw in the towel and forget about it.
 

BrooseDaMoose

1000 Post Club
Messages
1,038
Reactions
590
Points
162
Location
East Freetown, MA
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST, Silver Spruce Metalic
#6
He's pretty much much the expert on everything ST related so I'd take his advice. He just tells it like it is.
 

Messages
376
Reactions
235
Points
37
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#7
A spool of carbon fiber filament is about $26 or I can cheap out and get a regular spool for about $13. Based on the size of the print it might take half a spool, even if it takes the whole spool $13 to $26 is better than $200. You're the expert in 3D printing though so I guess I'll just throw in the towel and forget about it.
Spend $1500 on a 3D Printer.
 

OP
S
Messages
41
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
Sarasota
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
Thread Starter #8
Spend $1500 on a 3D Printer.
More like a $300 printer I bought for $80 off Facebook Marketplace 6 month ago, that works well enough to do this. And has already paid for itself with other projects I've done.
 

Messages
376
Reactions
235
Points
37
Location
Houston, TX, USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#9
More like a $300 printer I bought for $80 off Facebook Marketplace 6 month ago, that works well enough to do this. And has already paid for itself with other projects I've done.
Hitch cover not going to fit on the build plate.
 

OP
S
Messages
41
Reactions
18
Points
2
Location
Sarasota
Vehicle
2021 Explorer ST
Thread Starter #10
Hitch cover not going to fit on the build plate.
Holy crap! I’ve never seen so many people fight to be right about something so meaningless only to be wrong. Please see my original post where I acknowledge it would have to be printed in sections because of its size. A few well-placed seams, some Crazy Glue, and nobody would know it was printed in 3 or 4 pieces. I just printed an Autobot hitch cover for a buddy with a 2-inch receiver. 5 inches deep, 5 ½ in x 5 ½ in. in one piece with room to spare on the print bed so I think I can handle it.
 

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
Messages
4,640
Reactions
5,543
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#11
Holy crap! I’ve never seen so many people fight to be right about something so meaningless only to be wrong. Please see my original post where I acknowledge it would have to be printed in sections because of its size. A few well-placed seams, some Crazy Glue, and nobody would know it was printed in 3 or 4 pieces. I just printed an Autobot hitch cover for a buddy with a 2-inch receiver. 5 inches deep, 5 ½ in x 5 ½ in. in one piece with room to spare on the print bed so I think I can handle it.
You can do what you want but consider that your 3-4 piece estimate is way short. The Zeus covers are quite large…guesstimating off your last post I’d say you’re looking at more like 12-15 pieces. It wraps under the bottom of the car quite a ways in addition to the part you see from behind.
I’m not saying you can’t do it…I’m saying you’re underestimating what you’re getting yourself into. Hard to put any scale to these pics but I’m 6’7” and wear a size 16 wedding ring…so my hands aren’t exactly small. IMG_4686.jpeg IMG_4687.jpeg
 

Last edited:

powerboatr

Active Member
U.S. Navy Veteran
Messages
645
Reactions
400
Points
82
Location
Texas
Vehicle
2023 Explorer ST
#12
You can do what you want but consider that your 3-4 piece estimate is way short. The Zeus covers are quite large…guesstimating off your last post I’d say you’re looking at more like 12-15 pieces. It wraps under the bottom of the car quite a ways in addition to the part you see from behind.
I’m not saying you can’t do it…I’m saying you’re underestimating what you’re getting yourself into. Hard to put any scale to these pics but I’m 6’7” and wear a size 16 wedding ring…so my hands aren’t exactly small. View attachment 25535 View attachment 25536
Ohhh great
Now the little people will have ring envy
As a tall person...I just want counter cabinets at 42 tall...
 

Ryno12

New Member
EMT
Messages
16
Reactions
11
Points
2
Location
Wisconsin
Vehicle
2020 Ford Explorer ST
#13
This has been something that’s been on the back burner to design & print. Just been too busy with life to really take the time out of my day to finish.

I did a quick mockup in Inventor 25. I was able to fit it in two parts on our FX20 at work.
I’d have to split it in 3 parts to print on my X1C at home. It was about ~1200 CC’s for this design, so slightly more than one 1kg spool. I calculated it based on printing with Bambu ASA CF ($36/spool)
 



Top