Motorcycle parts
March 21, 2026
I really enjoy working with metal! I prototyped a holder for my motorcycle’s navigation system, with a combination of 3D-printed parts and MDF. The 3D prints might someday find their way into aluminum versions, if they don’t hold up, but so far they are doing fine. The MDF, however, was never intended to be more than a temporary part – it would dissolve into mush in the first rainstorm!
The MDF is very easy to modify, and it’s cheap, and we can cut it accurately on the Chinese Laser Death Ray… so I just kept modifying it until I had the holes in the right spot. Yesterday, I layed out the pattern on 3mm aluminum plate and cut the outline on the bandsaw, and drilled all the holes, then scuffed the surface with Scotchbrite, cleaned with acetone, and sprayed a few coats of flat paint.
Today I assembled everything again, and it really looks much more professional, as well as bring significantly stiffer than the MDF! I have high hopes for this.
