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Tailgate Comfort Mod - Foam Inserts

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by vecdran, May 31, 2020.

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  1. Jun 1, 2020 at 9:46 AM
    #21
    tonered

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    tonered bartheloni

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    There is a method called urethane casting:
    https://www.stratasysdirect.com/technologies/urethane-casting

    I wonder if something like that could work to kick out these parts at a lower cost than metal mold?


    Nice work, @vecdran !
     
    tonered, Jun 1, 2020
    #21
    Tullie D and vecdran[OP] like this.
  2. Jun 1, 2020 at 9:52 AM
    #22
    5nahalf

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    5nahalf I build dumb things

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    I have a ton of alginate at home (used to make dental molds) I might order some more silicone and see about making a mold of these channels that I can then cast in a foam rubber.

    I can pour the alginate into the surface, then when its set pull it out and use the silicone to make a mold of that. Then I would have a silicone mold of the channels that I could make new ones with. I might have enough silicone at home now to make a hard mold with (thin layer of silicone with a hard shell)
     
    5nahalf, Jun 1, 2020
    #22
    DAS Taco, COS_TACO, tonered[QUOTED] and 1 other person like this.
  3. Jun 1, 2020 at 9:55 AM
    #23
    tonered

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    tonered bartheloni

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    Nice!

    This could get interesting.

    :cheers:
     
    tonered, Jun 1, 2020
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  4. Jun 1, 2020 at 10:03 AM
    #24
    rskinz

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    rskinz Well-Known Member

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    I like it!
     
    rskinz, Jun 1, 2020
    #24
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  5. Jun 1, 2020 at 10:05 AM
    #25
    BigBeej

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    BigBeej Well-Known Member

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    BigBeej, Jun 1, 2020
    #25
    Tullie D likes this.
  6. Jun 1, 2020 at 10:26 AM
    #26
    5nahalf

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    5nahalf I build dumb things

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    Thinking about this, I bet I could just take the tailgate panel and dump the foam rubber right into the channels.... they are slick enough already that I bet the parts would just pop right out.
     
    5nahalf, Jun 1, 2020
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  7. Jun 1, 2020 at 10:32 AM
    #27
    tonered

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    tonered bartheloni

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    With some VHB on the bottom, that might have them being just proud enough.
     
    tonered, Jun 1, 2020
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  8. Jun 1, 2020 at 2:02 PM
    #28
    SpeySquatch

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    SpeySquatch Function over Form

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    Yah... I was wondering similar with how much rubber silicone would be needed to fill and let dry in each one. Then you just sell the rubber pieces/get them made.
     
    SpeySquatch, Jun 1, 2020
    #28
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  9. Jun 1, 2020 at 2:09 PM
    #29
    tonered

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    tonered bartheloni

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    The process that I linked is not quite that. It is where you make a less expensive urethane mold for casting parts versus a metal die for injection molding.


    But, what you are thinking is what @5nahalf is going to try. With how slick the TG surface is, you probably don't need mold release. :D
     
    tonered, Jun 1, 2020
    #29
    SpeySquatch[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Jun 1, 2020 at 2:49 PM
    #30
    jwctaco

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    jwctaco Victim of a well spent youth

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    Great idea, “ why didn’t I think of it “, somebody needs to run with this.
     
    jwctaco, Jun 1, 2020
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  11. Jun 1, 2020 at 2:57 PM
    #31
    fatboyfirebass

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    fatboyfirebass Well-Known Member

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    OV Tuned, S&B Intake, MBRP Dual black Cat-back, accumulator delete, URD SS, 2LM, SSO Hybrid bumper/Warn 10kSynthetic, Custom Car Grille, MESO Ultimate Turn Signal in KTJO Power Folding Mirrors, Genesis Dual Battery, BHLM with LED upgrade, Fog delete, Geko Bed & Underhood lighting, Rear camera anytime, Nav Block Override, 400W anytime w/ interior outlets, USB charging stations, DE-badged, TVD blackout kit, HiLux interior door handles, Hybrid SS/Delrin Shift Knob, Cali-Raised bed Stiffeners, Ultimate Tailgate Seal, "El Dorado" Dual-quad horns, Diamondback HD cover, Mobtown engine/trans skid plates, RCI control arm skids, JLT oil catch can, Meso overhead Hex rack.
    OP, What are you using to span the gap between the bed and the tail gate? I already have the ESI ultimate tailgate seal that helps keep out dust and such. But that extra piece of seal you have in there looks like a great way to make sure stuff doesn't fall down and get wedged between the bed and the tail gate, along with being an extra layer of protection against water and dust infiltration.
     
    fatboyfirebass, Jun 1, 2020
    #31
  12. Jun 1, 2020 at 4:00 PM
    #32
    vecdran

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    vecdran [OP] Barely-Known Member

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    $36 ESI ROK BLOCK Tailgate Gap Cover 4.25" width
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BPE4AP6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Cool little bonus, this was the kit I got my 3M Primer 94 pen from, and those are $14/ea on Amazon.
     
    vecdran, Jun 1, 2020
    #32
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  13. Jun 1, 2020 at 4:04 PM
    #33
    fatboyfirebass

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    fatboyfirebass Well-Known Member

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    fatboyfirebass, Jun 1, 2020
    #33
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  14. Jun 1, 2020 at 5:03 PM
    #34
    awynne56

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    awynne56 Well-Known Member

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    Thank you op Great idea
     
    awynne56, Jun 1, 2020
    #34
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  15. Jun 2, 2020 at 9:09 AM
    #35
    pianoman8t8

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    pianoman8t8 Active Member

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    As far as mold making goes, I may know someone with Solidworks (3D modeling) and a full machine shop at his house. (me) LOL...
     
    pianoman8t8, Jun 2, 2020
    #35
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  16. Jun 2, 2020 at 9:12 AM
    #36
    slowlane

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    slowlane Well-Known Member

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    What're you doing here?! Get busy!
     
    slowlane, Jun 2, 2020
    #36
    Skydvrr and pianoman8t8[QUOTED] like this.
  17. Jun 2, 2020 at 9:23 AM
    #37
    pianoman8t8

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    pianoman8t8 Active Member

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    Bilstein 5100's, 285/75-16's, big steel front bumper, Jeraco mid-rise camper shell with rain gutter rail roof rack mounts 4ft cross bars, adjustable front upper control arms, small lift, cab corner delete, bed stiffeners, bed mat, yoga mat foam in tailgate grooves (knee saver), 84" roof cargo rack, uniden 980ssb with firestick antenna, wood sleeping platform on bed rail notches, led cab lights, chrome delete, 140mm computer fan on front camper top window.
    Would the mold be something just like a cavity you pour liquid material into, let harden, and pop out? Or, a 2-halves mold you pour material in via sprue? A split mold like that would allow a textured top as well, of virtually whatever texture you want milled into the mold.
     
    pianoman8t8, Jun 2, 2020
    #37
  18. Jun 2, 2020 at 9:25 AM
    #38
    YF_Ryan

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    YF_Ryan Well-Known Member

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    Where do I order? :spending:
     
    YF_Ryan, Jun 2, 2020
    #38
  19. Jun 2, 2020 at 9:31 AM
    #39
    pianoman8t8

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    pianoman8t8 Active Member

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    Bilstein 5100's, 285/75-16's, big steel front bumper, Jeraco mid-rise camper shell with rain gutter rail roof rack mounts 4ft cross bars, adjustable front upper control arms, small lift, cab corner delete, bed stiffeners, bed mat, yoga mat foam in tailgate grooves (knee saver), 84" roof cargo rack, uniden 980ssb with firestick antenna, wood sleeping platform on bed rail notches, led cab lights, chrome delete, 140mm computer fan on front camper top window.
    At least the shape of this is very simple. Last one I machined was for these scale wind turbine blades, several yrs ago. (see link for photo of blades: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.656.7987&rep=rep1&type=pdf )
    Granted this one was a bit fancier, allowed for an air bladder to force the carbon fiber/epoxy weave to be pushed against inner walls of mold, making the blade mostly hollow also. We did a few molds for blades of this rough size back in the, for both air and water mediums. Mater medium blade molds were solid molds though, trying to recall the material we used to mold the blade. Want to say it was a Plasti-dip product, I'll have to do some digging.
     
    pianoman8t8, Jun 2, 2020
    #39
  20. Jun 2, 2020 at 9:34 AM
    #40
    pianoman8t8

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    pianoman8t8 Active Member

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    Bilstein 5100's, 285/75-16's, big steel front bumper, Jeraco mid-rise camper shell with rain gutter rail roof rack mounts 4ft cross bars, adjustable front upper control arms, small lift, cab corner delete, bed stiffeners, bed mat, yoga mat foam in tailgate grooves (knee saver), 84" roof cargo rack, uniden 980ssb with firestick antenna, wood sleeping platform on bed rail notches, led cab lights, chrome delete, 140mm computer fan on front camper top window.
    Also disclaimer, I made these while at a previous employer, not my home shop. But I now have very similar machines of my own.
     
    pianoman8t8, Jun 2, 2020
    #40
Page 2 of 4

Products Discussed in

3M VHB 100x200mm~ (4" X8") Double Sided Foam Adhesive Sheet Tape 5952 Automotive Mounting Industrial Grade Very High Bond 5952 (1 Sheets 100x200mm)
$7.89
ESI ROK BLOCK Tailgate Gap Cover 4.25" width
$35.50
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