3d printed intake for N/A NA miatas
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 792
Total Cats: 143
From: durham NC
Either of those are probably good locations. When the car is not moving, the air in front of the radiator gets about 10 degrees hotter. Also, I think it would help to move the sensor to the edge of the filter cap.
The bigger air filter with the silicone reducer just barely fits:

Also, I had a version printed as a two piece mold and was able to get the part out without the mold breaking this time. SLS nylon is so porous that the silicone doesn't like to come out cleanly. Im going to print another version as 3 peices (two sides, center section) which will help with release and allow me to paint and polish the inside surfaces to make them nice and shiny.
The bigger air filter with the silicone reducer just barely fits:

Also, I had a version printed as a two piece mold and was able to get the part out without the mold breaking this time. SLS nylon is so porous that the silicone doesn't like to come out cleanly. Im going to print another version as 3 peices (two sides, center section) which will help with release and allow me to paint and polish the inside surfaces to make them nice and shiny.
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 18,643
Total Cats: 1,870
From: Beaverton, USA
Because it helps with things like hot restarts and whatnot. And like alec said, the air in front of the radiator gets hot when sitting. Speed density is more touchy with AIT than MAF.
Right but if you put it in a spot that wont get heat soked then you'll be fine. AKA through the firewall into the wiper area or the fender. Hell with the stock sensor its all plastic, you wont even need a filter on it.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 792
Total Cats: 143
From: durham NC
One thing I love about 3d printing is that you don't pay for complexity. Also, shapeways likes smaller models so it was actually about $10 cheaper to get this 4 piece mold printed than the two piece version:
Probably should get an efficient production process nailed down before developing for the NB.
I had to bail on the first run due to unforeseen circumstances. Hoping to get in on the next one.
I had to bail on the first run due to unforeseen circumstances. Hoping to get in on the next one.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 792
Total Cats: 143
From: durham NC
I don't really have plans for an NB version. However, next time I have one in front of me I will look around for areas to draw external air from. My understanding is that there is a hole near the fender.
Also, fwiw there are no runs on this. I can still make people the gen1 carbon versions I have posted a few pages back but I am finishing up tooling for the new design which will be superior in every way (flow, strength, cosmetics...). Each part is made one at a time by me, so no batches or anything resembling mass production.
Also, fwiw there are no runs on this. I can still make people the gen1 carbon versions I have posted a few pages back but I am finishing up tooling for the new design which will be superior in every way (flow, strength, cosmetics...). Each part is made one at a time by me, so no batches or anything resembling mass production.
I don't really have plans for an NB version. However, next time I have one in front of me I will look around for areas to draw external air from. My understanding is that there is a hole near the fender.
Also, fwiw there are no runs on this. I can still make people the gen1 carbon versions I have posted a few pages back but I am finishing up tooling for the new design which will be superior in every way (flow, strength, cosmetics...). Each part is made one at a time by me, so no batches or anything resembling mass production.
Also, fwiw there are no runs on this. I can still make people the gen1 carbon versions I have posted a few pages back but I am finishing up tooling for the new design which will be superior in every way (flow, strength, cosmetics...). Each part is made one at a time by me, so no batches or anything resembling mass production.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 792
Total Cats: 143
From: durham NC
Hard to say. I need to finish up some details first, and my day job has had me working overtime lately. I am hoping to get the cad files finished this weekend, then get quotes for machining. If all goes well, June?
If it turns out to be cost effective to make parts with this tooling, and there is demand, I am looking at devoting a set number of hours/days per week to making parts and then scaling that to how much demand there is.
If it turns out to be cost effective to make parts with this tooling, and there is demand, I am looking at devoting a set number of hours/days per week to making parts and then scaling that to how much demand there is.







