Ownership
Form Factor DRI | Contributors | Project DRI |
---|---|---|
Latch+Handles
Research
Latch Assembly/ Handles From previous researches
Sketching
CAD Concepting
File links or locations
Screenshots
Door Panel
Research
Functional Requirements:
Allow for easy access to and operation of the interior handle / latch
Should not touch seats or other components of the car
Should not interfere with opening/closing of door
Lightweight: should not be too heavy for hinges to handle
Non-functional requirements:
Aesthetically pleasing
Easy to manufacture
Should not cause injury if bumped against (want rounded edges, soft material)
How To (general idea)
There’s a surprising amount of youtube video of people diy-ing their own door panels
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr9CGT3BQGo
https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/door-panel-tutorial-145092.html → nice written tutorial w pics
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDUPNrOKk-RF5x4L6ft7bPJao3loGOYf4 → a whole playlist!
this guy uses ABS, so will need to figure out how PVC foam board is worked
Materials
PVC foamboard and ABS plastic sheets seem to be the most common materials
PVC Foamboard | ABS |
---|---|
Cheaper | More expensive |
Lighter | Heavier |
… consensus seems to be PVC | |
Easier to work with | Overheats very quickly (melts), needs higher temp to shape |
https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/interior-door-panel-material-393769.html
https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/abs-vs-pvc-66825.html
List of benefits of PVC foamboard
is completely waterproof.
is easily cut, shaped, drilled, and sanded with regular wood working tools, and there are no splinters.
is easily stapled, accepts contact adhesive with no problems, can be heat formed, sewed, and glued together.
will never warp, rot, or absorb liquids.
is completely smooth, and tough enough to allow you to install and remove your panels numerous times with no problems.
is lightweight (1/2 the weight of solid PVC and 2/3 the weight of ABS)
is less expensive than solid PVC and ABS. One $30 sheet of PVC foamboard should do your door panels and kick panels, which also makes it less expensive than waterproof panel board and about the same price as good quality luan plywood.
Things to look out for
Excess heat can warp the plastic: as in leaving the car out in the sun can cause issues.
The package tray (horizontal surface right under the window) is especially prone to overheating: might be best to use plywood on those surfaces
Procurement/Cost
“None of this stuff is a building product, and it will never be available at a home center, it is used in the upholstery trade and in the sign making trade.”
https://waterfalldecor.com/products/pvc-foam-board-embossed-wood-grain-4x8-sheets
About $90 for PVC Foam Boards - Celuka - 12mm - 0.55 to 0.9 density - 48" x 96"
Manufacture
PVC can be glued together
It can also be sewed together with a regular sewing machine
More links
https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/door-panels-230613.html
https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/door-panels-230613.html
https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/interior-door-panel-material-110094.html
https://www.hotrodders.com/forum/interior-door-panel-material-393769.html
Sketching/Play-doh concepting
Green outline represents housing panel (1 pc): placed over latch/cable system, other features we want to hide edges of panel → panel made of pvc foam board
Slightly raised so that components we want to hide can fit under it
Mounting points around panel edges can be raised (on the side facing the door) → use layers of foam board strips to build up raised edge lip
Need ways to attach panel temporarily: Screws? Velcro? Clips?
Pink: interior handle to control latch system
Yellow: armest + grab feature (one piece) → top of arm rest: how to make comfy? fabric?
Mesh storage (bottom right)
armrest + grab handle feature
yellow outlines = mounting “tabs” (where adhesive will applied to attach armrest feature to the door) → will be covered by panel
CAD Concepting
Outlined sections act as “housing” to cover latch system, handle system, and to make the panel less flat/1-dimensional
They will be hollow/raised to have a gap between them and the door itself to allow components to fit underneath it
The outlined sections will all be removable (ie attached with velcro) to allow access to the covered components
The armrest/grab handle feature (not outlined) will be permanently attached to the door as securely as possible to allow for weight to be leaned on it without breaking
Next Steps:
CAD passenger door
Add some molding/sculpting onto green panel to make it less flat and more visually interesting
Add mesh storage feature and figure out how it will be attached while still allowing door panel to be removed
Figure out materials, aesthetics, colours, etc