The Challenge
For collectors and enthusiasts restoring vintage vehicles, sourcing original interior components is one of the most frustrating obstacles in the process. When an Australian antique car restorer came to KAMNATEC, they faced exactly this problem — a set of dashboard panel buttons that were broken beyond use and virtually impossible to source anywhere in the market. The vehicle in question was decades old, and original replacement parts simply no longer existed through any supplier.
Compounding the difficulty was the nature of the original material itself. The plastic compounds used in vehicles of that era are notoriously brittle — prone to cracking and fracturing during handling and assembly. Even if an original part could be found, the risk of it breaking during installation remained significant. The restorer needed a reliable, durable reproduction that could be handled and fitted without fear of damage.
The KAMNATEC Solution
KAMNATEC began by reverse engineering the surviving button in CAD, creating a precise digital model that captured every dimension, curve, and feature of the original component. Rather than simply printing a replica, the team worked through multiple iterations — testing different print orientations and layer directions to find the combination that delivered the best structural strength, layer adhesion, and surface quality.
This attention to print strategy was critical. Getting the orientation wrong would have produced a part that looked right but failed under the same stresses as the brittle original. By optimising the build direction, KAMNATEC produced a component significantly more durable than the factory part it replaced.
Taking the solution one step further, KAMNATEC offered the restorer a dual-colour 3D printing option — reproducing the button in two colours in a single print, either matching the original aesthetic or creating a fully bespoke look tailored to the owner's vision.
The Result
The restorer received a set of dashboard buttons that were structurally stronger than the originals, visually accurate, and available in custom colour combinations — without the months of uncertainty involved in sourcing period-correct parts. What began as an unsolvable problem became a repeatable, customisable solution the restorer could offer their own clients as a premium, personalised touch.