For Sale: Autopilot replacement parts - 3D printed

[Waveform]

I sell a large variety of autopilot replacement parts including levers, brackets, planetary gears, rollers etc for the Autohelm/Raymarine line of autopilots. All 3D printed in industrial strength plastic. Many of these parts are obsolete and are no longer available from the manufacturer or anywhere else. The parts I sell include:

Autohelm 3000/ST3000:

• Clutch lever - redesigned to improve strength.
• Clutch bracket

Autohelm 4000/ST4000:

• Clutch lever (in both plastic and stainless steel)
• Control head mount bracket
• Planetary gears for motor gear box
• Rollers (there are 7 internal rollers)

I also sell other parts for wind vanes, Lewmar hatches, etc and I'm always designing more parts. Contact me if you'd like further information on these parts or if you have a part you need designed and printed. I enjoy doing this as I feel it is beneficial to the environment as sailors are often faced with replacing an entire autopilot system because one small plastic part has failed and is no longer available.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Jim Cate]

Rick, no need just now, but it sounds like a very useful service. Good onya, mate, and good luck with the biz.

Query: how is the relative strength of your printed parts compared to the OEM bits? Didn't some of them have some glass fibers included in the molding?

Jim

[Waveform]

I've sold hundreds of these and many people have commented that they're stronger than the original parts. I redesign them in ways that you can with 3D printing, removing strength compromises because of injection moulding design constraints, or just from plain poor design. I've tried to break my parts, and I'm a pretty large guy, and I can't with my hands. So, they'll outlast an autopilot I think.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Waveform]

Oh, and one of the levers - the super common Autohelm 4000/ST4000 lever - I have actually printed in stainless steel as well! Virtually indestructible!

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by Waveform

Oh, and one of the levers - the super common Autohelm 4000/ST4000 lever - I have actually printed in stainless steel as well! Virtually indestructible!

Way cool! Actually didn't know you could do that! How about the gears for the planetary gear sets? They were one of the weak points in the A/H pilots that I've owned over the years.

Jim

[Waveform]

Yeah, I'm also getting the eccentric cam/shaft that the lever went on all printed in ONE PIECE in stainless - something you can only do with 3D printing. That parts been a real weak point too.

The gears seem to be just as strong as the originals. I'm still trying to get them to print in nylon, but nylon is very difficult to print something that small in. But, the plastic I use is incredibly strong and about 20 people have used them so far with no complaints yet.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Jd1]

Originally Posted by Waveform

the plastic I use is incredibly strong and about 20 people have used them so far with no complaints yet.

Can you tell us the actual name and type (I assume it is not PLA) of the plastic you use ? Do you print theses yourself or are the designs sent out to a commercial printer ?

[AKA-None]

This sounds like a good business model. While I don't need anything yet it would be handy to get and keep your contact information.

[jefndeb]

Yes, I bought a replacement Wind Vane Transducer Tube Connector and it was a perfect fit!!!

[Valmika]

Originally Posted by Waveform

Oh, and one of the levers - the super common Autohelm 4000/ST4000 lever - I have actually printed in stainless steel as well! Virtually indestructible!

Hey rick if you can print in stainless. I have a handrail standoff on the Beneteau 38 that I am having a hard time finding Any chance you can do a couple of these. I will try to get a photo later but you may have the same on your boat. It is just a rod that screws into the ply on the bottom and has a ring on the top for the round companionway handrail.

[SierraHiker]

This is very good news.

As a possible new line of parts, have you considered replacement toilet (head)
flush units that integrate screw-on plungers and handles? It seems like the threads on the screw-on handles area easily stripped and are difficult to replace.

How could I order a set of these for my Lagoon 380 manual toilets?

Sierra-Hiker

Serenity, now in Antigua

[SailtheWind]

I have bookmarked this link so I have it when my AP cause some issues.
I have a Raymarine Autopilot ST6002+S3G Type 2 short stroke and Linear Drive. Do you supply parts for that model as well?
Does your wireless fit my model?

I see you live on Salt Springs, I love the Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands. I cruised that area extensively 1996 - 2001 with my prior boat a beautiful Gerald Stevens 34ft ketch.

[Waveform]

No, I don't have any parts for the ST6002 or S3G. So far, not a lot of parts have been breaking as they are fairly new. I'm sure, as time goes on, I'll start making parts for them. Then only thing I did make for a while was sun covers for all the Raymarine instruments. But, they got to be too much of a pain to print so I stopped selling them. Always came out with some small defect in them and since they need to be cosmetically perfect, they weren't worth my time and expense.

Yes, my AutoBuddy remote control works for the entire ST series of Raymarine and Autohelm pilots. That's what it was originally designed for - a ST6002. I have an ST7000.

Hopefully I can be of service to you someday!

Cheers,
Rick.

[Jimbo747]

Hello can you print me some of these gears please?

[Capt Gill]

Rick, are you still printing parts?