1999 Toyota Corolla Clock Panel Replacement

thingiverse

I designed a custom panel for my '99 Corolla to accommodate USB ports and an audio jack, upgrading its trim level features without changing the interior layout. In this project, I discovered a blank space above the radio in the center console where a clock would have been installed in other trim levels. Upon inspecting the area during a stereo installation, I found that a plug for the clock remained intact along with an unswitched 12v power supply. Given the inconvenient location of the cigarette lighter under the drink holder, I decided to use this space for a 12v-USB charging connector. The addition of newer radio installs brought a rear-mounted USB port and an AUX in port, so I chose to replace the panel with one that would snap into place where the old one was. This new panel needed to offer the ports I required. To achieve this, I selected high-quality USB ports that transferred insertion force to the panel they were mounted in, even though they came at a steep price. The 3.5mm/1/8th inch audio jack for AUX in was more reasonably priced and had specific measurements available online. Some prototype photos show an earlier version of this design. UPDATE 17 JUNE 2016: After beginning to deform due to heat, the part no longer clips into the dashboard. This occurred during relatively moderate Toronto spring temperatures. I recommend avoiding PLA for this project and instead printing it with high-temperature PLA or ABS. To print this panel, I used my MBot 3D Cube Dual printer with the following settings: Printer: MBot 3D Cube Dual Rafts: Doesn't Matter Supports: No Resolution: 0.30mm Infill: 25% Notes: The raft depends on your printer model. When printing without a raft, I achieved a very smooth finish that matches other surfaces in the car but may not have the desired pebbled texture. I plan to re-print it using blue tape and evaluate the outcome. This design holds significance for me because it was my first real-world item created from scratch using a modeling app, modified to print with accurate dimensions.