A
company called Creative Repair Solutions are offering 3D-printed repair kits
for headlamps with cracked or broken mount tabs. The makers say headlamps might
be just fine after a minor collision, except for mount tab damage, so the
repair kits allow expensive headlamps to be put back into service rather than
scrapped. The Certified Automotive Parts Association, a U.S. aftermarket-parts
industry advocacy group, say they’ve “certified” the tab repair kits.
CRS developed their additive manufacturing process for the repair parts in
house, and have a patent on it. Nevertheless, they keep quiet about the details
of their process. CRS Vice President Steve Arnone calls it “not a typical
3D printing process”. However it works, the process simulates the same
grain structure of the original injection-moulded parts. The tabs are made out
of nylon, and CRS say a repaired headlamp can deliver “exactly the same
fit” as originally.
The range
presently consists of 14 kits covering the various mount tabs on Jeep Grand
Cherokee and GMC Sierra models made since 2014. The repair tab covers the
original (or what’s left of it) like a glove. The installer attaches the tab
with screws specifically designed for plastics; an adhesive is applied to the
mating surfaces before the screws are tightened.
