Does anyone know where to buy these latches?

[sisu22]

abl111 if you got some from them recently let me know , upgaded sounds good

[jonbrush]

Originally Posted by sisu22

Contacted American Marine they said no longer available . Flexpat was nice enough to offer to produce cad /programming for them , to use with a 3D printer . So i mailed him an old one . He is going to email me the programming (don't even know if that is the right term) so when i get that ,i will have some made, if they work out good I will get more ,than I need made and offer them to anyone who needs them

Great idea. Mitch (flex pat) made some clips for my ladder, they are strong and fit perfectly. I could use 3 of those windshield latches if it works out.

[SailorChlud]

I could use 4 if they are available. I could even pick them up from Sisu in Red Bank, NJ. Thanks.

[FLexpat]

The originals were injection molded and they did not have 3D plastic printing in those days. I think a printed one will be strong enough if printed in the right kind of plastic. I think the best plastic to use will be black nylon - if I recall correctly that is UV stabilized. Guessing on that - I'm not a plastics guru and there are a zillion different types of plastic - some better, some worse.

I will draw it up in Solidworks - it's a 3D CAD program. Typically places that do 3D printing use .step files and I can save the design in that format. I would like to find a place on CSC where I can upload these files along with a text file for recommendations on plastics to use etc. That way anyone could just download the file and print whatever small part they need. I also have the file for the female side of the ladder clip that I did a while back for Jonbrush. Unfortunately I can't remember what kind of plastic we used for that but it was a harder plastic than nylon. Here is a .jpg of that:

[jonbrush]

Mitch, those ladder clips were purple lol, if that helps. I painted them white and they are holding up well.Your son did the printing.

[abl1111]

Ask American for the handle conversion - they're far superior. If you're replacing your OEM handles, it means you have the glass out so you might as well go with the black handle style. Did this 12-13 years ago - AWESOME UPGRADE.

[jonbrush]

Originally Posted by abl1111

Ask American for the handle conversion - they're far superior. If you're replacing your OEM handles, it means you have the glass out so you might as well go with the black handle style. Did this 12-13 years ago - AWESOME UPGRADE.

Hi
What is the handle conversion you refer to?
Thanks
Jon

[McGillicuddy]

We have a cool biz in SD called MakerPlace.

Its a DIY Shop that provides access to fabrication tools and machines like CNC, and 3-D printers that the avg joe might not have access to, or space for. They offer membership and per use access.

FLexpat, am I correct in my understanding that numerous plastics can be used in a 3-d printer?

[FLexpat]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

We have a cool biz in SD called MakerPlace.

Its a DIY Shop that provides access to fabrication tools and machines like CNC, and 3-D printers that the avg joe might not have access to, or space for. They offer membership and per use access.

FLexpat, am I correct in my understanding that numerous plastics can be used in a 3-d printer?

That sounds pretty cool - I need to check them out for several things in addition to boat stuff! I have Russian made target rifles that use a plastic magazine and the mags are really hard to get. I am almost done with the designs for 6 round replacement mags - probably some weird law in CA that I can't, but it may be worth a try.

3D printers as a broad family can print with a whole lot of different plastics and even metals but I think individual printers are a bit more limited. Somehow it is probably going to get back to the more expensive ones being able to do more/better. My son thinks he used ABS for Jonbrush's ladder clips - ABS needs a UV inhibitor but Jonbrush painted them so that isn't a problem - obviously he used a paint that does not attack the ABS. For the latches I think nylon would be a little better but since paint would not stick well they would need to use UV stabilized nylon.

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by FLexpat

That sounds pretty cool - I need to check them out for several things in addition to boat stuff! I have Russian made target rifles that use a plastic magazine and the mags are really hard to get. I am almost done with the designs for 6 round replacement mags - probably some weird law in CA that I can't, but it may be worth a try.

Zdrattvooyte Komrad,
6 shooters ar still ok, thanks to Reagan, Autry and Rogers.
but now I must bleach this from my pryvate server...

dasvidaniya,

mkgyl