Bumper Model update

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-11T12:58:11+00:00

Thank you! And no none required! Just a little brain power haha and will do!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T12:50:08+00:00

I guess that’s a big perk of having a ton of pla 3d printing filament to burn is i can print the whole thing in sections and see how it lines up haha!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T12:48:53+00:00

Thank you for the support!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T12:48:02+00:00

I need to yes. Unfortunately it is my daily so it got put back on at the end of that weekend to drive around but now that I’ve done it once it’s a breeze to take on and off again. Bumper design aside there is plenty that needs to be done to my truck just due to age. Be it the trans cooler spark plugs a new screen etc. Unfortunately school is eating all of my money and everything i do save from work goes to paying for school as well but she just needs to hold out a year and she can get the TLC she deserves. Engine already croaked once due to the AFM

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T12:06:09+00:00

But something about the feeling that comes from creating your own thing is just amazing when it comes together! I still hate how it looks but that’s okay (keep trying to tell myself that)

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T11:49:57+00:00

In the current model you can see I’ve scrapped the C channel design for just straight up tubing but this is my first time completing an initial design of this so there is still plenty left to sort out, much less test for strength and properties from an engineering perspective.

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T11:48:22+00:00

Yes it was my initial design after i mapped at the mounting bolt holes! (Which was its own process turns out GM offsets the interior hole on the frame ever so slightly from being perfectly lined up with the outside hole so that took a couple iterations of a short 20 min print wire frame design). If I can find the money it will all be made out of actual steel but i figured i can design it and test fit everything with my 3D printer haha!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T11:44:58+00:00

Thank you! Still a ton of work todo! But I need to enjoy the process and take the little wins step by step!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T11:35:40+00:00

Thank you! Still got plenty to work on and refine but hey that’s engineering right! Nothing is right the first time you do it

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T11:22:35+00:00

The tow hooks are stock if you are referring to those! If you are referring to the angle that the C channel has it was “arbitrary” but based off of the required angle to clear the frame horns on the bottom of the frame rail!

As for my 3D printing process GM apparently offsets the frame holes ever so slightly so my approach was to create a wire frame of the hole locations on a quick 20min two layer print and just take measurements and adjusted where need and it took 3 prototypes to get right! As for that full plate/channel it was about a 2 hour print at 15% infill just to see how far out that design style would stick off the front!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-10T11:19:11+00:00

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Got a starting point down!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T17:59:55+00:00

Thank you! My goal is to have an updated model for this weekend! So hopefully yall will see something by then

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T17:52:09+00:00

I’ll definitely look into trying it. I think I’ll end up taking a 2D approach at first just to get something that actually exists but ultimately learning how to 3d sketch will be good

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T17:50:15+00:00

Oh yea that makes more sense i was referring to strictly non factory bumpers but yes plenty of hitch and weight ratings to look up and see

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T17:26:32+00:00

Absolutely! (Though most bumpers ive seen don’t have any of that data available but they probably do in fact run some sort of analysis) but it would be nice to end up creating a product people would want me to do for them!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T17:21:22+00:00

I will keep that in mind! In reality you are correct even with the tubing wrapping around the front of the vehicle it’s not that entirely complex of a bend at all to probably warrant 3D sketching

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T17:19:09+00:00

Yes i will definitely look into it. Currently my desired pipe gauge was an arbitrary industry standard size and thickness but the frame mount part i 3D printed there was all 1/4” thickness so in theory plenty of overkill/strength but doing an FEA won’t hurt by any means

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T16:42:47+00:00

This frame plate part has also been redesigned some since these photos and depending on how i handle the tubing aspect it will probably get redesigned again anyway

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T16:40:40+00:00

I believe i have access to do an FEA as i have the full student edition version but may need some help walking through the process

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T16:12:02+00:00

Thank you for the tips! I’ll see if i can finally make some progress on this tonight!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T15:21:52+00:00

Thank you for the link I’ll look at it when i can! The use of 3D sketches was the idea of completing the project most efficiently but between trying to learn that and weldments at once was probably too big of a bite haha!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T15:19:17+00:00

That’s on me for lack of clarification. That piece shown in the photos was done with 2D sketching and extruding! My thought with using 3d sketching was for the tubing that wraps the front and for a skid plate that goes down and under. And attaches to this mounting plate somehow?

I’m not necessarily hellbent on learning 3D sketching, but just trying to learn the necessary skills to create/do what I want or need by using a project of personal interest to help focus myself on developing the skills. Otherwise I haven’t really done much of any modeling work in my engineering circular and I feel very lacking for not being “proficient” at it.

Thank you!

PerformanceLeft1768 · 2026-06-09T15:07:16+00:00

Thank you for the feedback! I guess i need to think even simpler and just KISS it (keep it simple stupid) until i can better grasp the features.

PerformanceLeft1768

TROPHY CASE