56mm Wheel Center Cap Mazda 3
Description
This model was created to solve a dilemma. I bought a set of wheels from a 2006 Mazda 3 that I want to use on my 2013 Mazda 3. The wheels are in rough shape and had no center caps with them, but they were cheap. I tried buying replacement caps from the jungle site, but the were wrong, and wouldn't clip in. OEM clips are still available for these wheels, but they cost between $12 and $20 a piece! So I decided to make my own. What you're seeing here is version 3.1 of my designs. At first I tried to copy the OEM design with 5 or 6 little clips that would snap into the ridge inside the wheel hub. These didn't work very well because the tabs snapped off… This is also a problem with the injection molded ones you get from Mazda. They “fixed” it using a metal ring that expands the clips to make them stay in place. My design uses 7 small bumps on a thin rim at the correct depth to lock them in place correctly. To remove them just tap from the inside of the wheel gently with a flat tool, I recommend a hammer handle. I don't know how long these will last in use, but they are very cheap and easy to print. (Each cap weighs about 8 grams.) After I get the wheels refinished and use them for a while I'll update the model with any improvements. If you have a glass build plate you could probably get a sticker or something to add to the top of the cap. My PEI coated steel bed plate leaves a neat textured finish, so I'll probably just roll with that for now. I also shared this on other sites.
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