3D printed wheel center caps are actually a pretty easy custom design project! While some part designs would normally take a bunch of measurements and likely a 3D scanner, this typically just involves a few cylinder alignments and a few approximate cuts to make the retainer tabs. If you do your own automotive repairs and have a 3D printer, custom wheel center caps are a great project for all 3D printing skill levels!

In this video, Steve shows you the process that's involved in designing and testing a custom 3D-printed car part, which should help you design your own. Note that this video doesn't go over material and printer settings, since that will have to be tuned based on your particular 3D printer, filament, and other factors.

This design was made to fit the stock 17-inch GTO wheels and if you happen to have those and a 3D printer, you're in luck! I've made the .obj and .stl files for the center caps available here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:473...

3D models were designed in TinkerCAD: https://www.tinkercad.com/

0:00 • Intro and First Steps
Explaining what's going to happen in this video. We are designing a 3D model of a wheel center cap to replace the stock ones, and adding a logo to the face to make it personalized.

0:47 • Gathering Measurements
Taking the needed measurements from the original part to know how to build the 3D model in TinkerCAD later.

4:26 • Designing The Part in TinkerCAD
Using browser-based 3D modelling to create a center cap design from scratch.

8:55 • Checking The Design Before Printing
Taking a look at the design before sending it to the printer can save you from needlessly consuming filament and 3D printing time.

9:32 • First Prototype Test
Taking the first prototype off the print bet, examining it, and testing it out. This proof-of-concept checks for potential unforeseen problems by having the part go through what it would normally encounter during service.

10:51 • Changes on the Second Prototype
The second prototype adds some stiffness to the retaining legs and a thick center so the whole thing can be easily printed with the design face-up.

11:19 • More 3D Model Design Changes
Improving the design for print quality.

12:03 • How to Center Your Design over the Cap
If you are designing a center cap with a custom logo like mine, this is how you center the logo on the wheel cap itself!

13:18 • PETG Prototype Near Final Version
Printing a PETG prototype for the first time!

13:36 • Final Version 3D Printed & Inserted into Wheel
The final version of the center cap is printed, inserted into the wheel, and admired. Do you think it would look better if the wheels were black?

14:19 • How to Not Break Your 3D Printed Center Cap
Insert your center cap straight in to prevent retainer breakage.

14:54 • Where to Get My 3D Files & Ending
I've made the .obj and .stl files for the center caps available here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:473...

I know I sound a bit boring in this video; there was a lot of work in this video and I was drained in a lot of it. I'll have more energy in future YouTube videos! Also, a lot of middle footage got lost because my microphone battery died during about half an hour of model design.

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