300ZX 3rd Brake Light stud retainer

thingiverse

I'm back at it again, tackling another 300ZX part! This is a stud retainer for the 3rd brake light bar on my trusty 1996 Nissan 300ZX. I was in the process of replacing the broken bar, a common problem on these models, when I ended up twisting the stud inside the plastic retainer. To get the nut removed, I had to destroy the original retainer. Figuring it would be more convenient than ordering another one and waiting for it to arrive, I decided to design a replacement instead. There are only two of these studs on this part, so I printed multiple copies in case I messed one up while reassembling it. Fortunately, the stud fit perfectly without any need for glue or additional support. To print this part, I used my MakerBot Replicator 2 with settings of 3 shells, a layer height of .2, no support, and an infill of 85%. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Hopefully, this will come in handy for someone else too! Print Settings: * Printer Brand: MakerBot * Printer Model: MakerBot Replicator 2 * Rafts: Doesn't Matter * Supports: Doesn't Matter * Resolution: .2 * Infill: 85% * Notes: I printed this part without support or rafts. To avoid the need for support, I simply flipped the model on its end. Post-Printing: The only cleanup required was removing a couple of sagged strands from the bridging section. Design Process: To design this part, I used Blender and the Boolean function. I took precise measurements with a digital caliper from the original stud retainer that still functions properly on my vehicle.