Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Tokheim bonnet 3D printing

Hello,

I have been in need of a Bonnet for a Tokhiem 620 pump. Does anyone know of any company that may be able to make an exact replica by 3D printing them? I don't know if 3D printing would even work... I know tons of members are in need of the same bonnet. Any help appreciated. Thanks!

I was going to have one made but the folks doing 3D Printing around here that I talked to would not return my call for a quote. Call them back and they act like they don't care about doing business. So I put that project on the back burner. Here is a suggestion. I would make it 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch thick and then then send it off to a foundry and have it cast in Aluminum. I know there was never a cast top for these pumps but I think it would be better than trying to make a new top from steel and much cheaper than trying to get a die made. The cast will last much longer than steel would and not sure how long the 3D printed top will hold up out side in the elements for those that want to display it outside.

Wow. The cast idea does intrigue me. Thank you for your idea=)

Has anyone ever made a cast aluminum bonnet from a mold of a steel bonnet??

They are a combo of a couple different parts that I've noticed most people are missing both the bonnet and the square piece below and sometimes the top of the cly piece that the rods go through.
Then the bonnet is a couple of thick metal stamped pieces that have the light cover ?seamed? together with the rest of the bonnet and the globe holder piece is ?spot welded? onto the top. The combo of these things have made it one that no one will reproduce and any kind of casting of it would probably look like *****.
The only thing that has come to me is maybe the folks that are now repopping 15" Low Profile globe holders may be able to do it but it's not a huge demand so they probably would not .
It would be great because I keep seeing them without one and know of 2 other people, than you, that need one.

couple more pics

Interesting that you guys brought this up as I have 2 original tops that belong on pumps I own, one is at my fiberglass guy that has done a lot of work for me in the past and the other is at the aluminum foundry getting a quote on making a mold and or copies of my original.

I dont see the 3-D printing working out, really large part (expensive) and someone would need to model the part electronically. And once its done, still fragile...

I've been in this position before, missing a vital component like this. You'd be surprised what you can make work, cutting up other repro tops, welding in new metal, etc, have to get creative when you only need one or a few.

So what I meant in my earlier post, in order to make a decent cast top from an original top; it must be scanned, then the thickness needs to be adjusted at least 3/16 or 1/4 of an inch. All this can be done on the computer. Then a prototype made through a 3D printer. Then prototype must be sanded down smooth and then sent off to a foundry. I have no idea what it will cost but I do know it is possible. I also think there is a market for these tops. There were enough of these pumps made and survived as well as enough that bonnets have either rusted out or came up missing that someone will make some money doing it.

Heya Don,, Keep us in the loop! This sounds promising!