# 3d printed friction shifters
**URL:** https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900
**Category:** Marketplace
**Created:** [September 12, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900 "2018-09-12T03:08:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@crowding](https://tarck.cc/u/crowding)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2018, 3:08am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/1 "2018-09-12T03:08:33Z")
This is just a poll to gauge interest. Would anyone put 3d printed friction shifters on their bike?
Pic for ref. This is an indexed shifter prototype – A friction-only version would be more compact.
Mech would be a functional clone of the Simplex retrofriction one-way clutch, a.k.a. the best friction lever experience _bar none_ – but every internal part is straight out of McMaster-Carr.
“Angled barcon” would be a bar end shifter with the mech / level angled 25 degrees or so from the bar clamp, the better to work with townie bars.
Each style should be individually customizable for
- amount of cable pull (should work fine with 11sp systems)
- handlebar / downtube clamp diameter
- color of lever and body (within Shapeways color options)
Pricing TBD but should be less than what a pair of Simplex SLJ with worn out bushings lists for on ebay
_Poll ([view on site](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/1))_
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### Author:  [@todd\_bonzalez](https://tarck.cc/u/todd_bonzalez)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2018, 1:04pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/2 "2018-09-12T13:04:11Z")
:smilegrant:
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### Author:  [@Dickason\_Daniel](https://tarck.cc/u/Dickason_Daniel)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2018, 2:16pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/3 "2018-09-12T14:16:07Z")
DQ: are these metal or plastic?
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### Author:  [@crowding](https://tarck.cc/u/crowding)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2018, 7:24pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/4 "2018-09-12T19:24:06Z")
They’re plastic (Nylon). I’ve been finding it quite durable, has flexed away from some hits that would have wrecked suntour bar ends.
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### Author:  [@Andrew\_Squirrel](https://tarck.cc/u/Andrew_Squirrel)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 1:45am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/5 "2018-09-13T01:45:36Z")
These look really cool, wish I had a bike to put them on. Would do the Trek 720 commuter but probably selling soon
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### Author:  [@tehschkott](https://tarck.cc/u/tehschkott)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/6 "2018-09-13T01:54:02Z")
> [@Andrew\_Squirrel](#):
>
> These look really cool, wish I had a bike to put them on.
This
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### Author:  [@spaghetti](https://tarck.cc/u/spaghetti)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 1:36pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/7 "2018-09-13T13:36:33Z")
v interested in thumbie possibilities
have you tested the thumbie printing?
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### Author:  [@joyofvaping](https://tarck.cc/u/joyofvaping)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/8 "2018-09-13T17:27:03Z")
would be down to put these on my trek 720, or maybe a thumbie for tandem drag brake
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### Author:  [@crowding](https://tarck.cc/u/crowding)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/9 "2018-09-13T20:15:54Z")
What are some of y’alls favorite thumbies?
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### Author:  [@Rusty\_Piton](https://tarck.cc/u/Rusty_Piton)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/10 "2018-09-13T20:51:05Z")
I’d buy some thumbies to replace the super stiff “silver” thumbie on my P/R.
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Jart\_Attack\_PhD](https://tarck.cc/u/Dr_Jart_Attack_PhD)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/11 "2018-09-13T20:53:54Z")
Just wanted to say that this is a cool project but I haven’t voted because I don’t have a clear use for any of the above options
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### Author:  [@spaghetti](https://tarck.cc/u/spaghetti)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 9:07pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/12 "2018-09-13T21:07:53Z")
my only experience with friction thumbies was some falcons on an 8sp and they were junk
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### Author:  [@joyofvaping](https://tarck.cc/u/joyofvaping)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 9:34pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/13 "2018-09-13T21:34:08Z")
suntour:
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### Author:  [@adem](https://tarck.cc/u/adem)
#### Post date: [September 13, 2018, 10:07pm UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/14 "2018-09-13T22:07:09Z")
Good ol’ Shimano M700
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### Author:  [@Andrew\_Andeson](https://tarck.cc/u/Andrew_Andeson)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/15 "2018-09-15T05:27:26Z")
Cool. Ive been wishing for pink dt levers and maybe it can come true.
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### Author:  [@JUGE\_FREDD](https://tarck.cc/u/JUGE_FREDD)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2018, 12:18am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/16 "2018-09-17T00:18:09Z")
> [@crowding](#):
>
> What are some of y’alls favorite thumbies?
I’m fond of last-generation Suntour like [http://www.bikerecyclery.com/suntour-xc-pro-thumb-shifters-7-8-speed-index-or-friction/](http://www.bikerecyclery.com/suntour-xc-pro-thumb-shifters-7-8-speed-index-or-friction/)
I have a rear one of those paired with a Campy front on my townie, but I’d happily replace them with any design of yours! I’m also into a pair of downtubes for my ALAN, the vintage Simplex are kinda clapped out.
I’m sure we could use some barcons at Backalley for Crust builds (friction 1x12 Eagle!)
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### Author:  [@cousinmosquito](https://tarck.cc/u/cousinmosquito)
#### Post date: [September 27, 2018, 3:12am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/17 "2018-09-27T03:12:25Z")
I had those Suntours BITD and they were head and shoulders above my Shimano thumbies at around the same time. I called the Shimanos palm-shifters.
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### Author:  [@crowding](https://tarck.cc/u/crowding)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2018, 1:01am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/18 "2018-12-17T01:01:40Z")
one proto sent to the printers (in orange tho)
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### Author:  [@Orc](https://tarck.cc/u/Orc)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2018, 1:54am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/19 "2018-12-17T01:54:43Z")
Are you going to have them printed in plastic or a combination of metal and plastic?
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### Author:  [@crowding](https://tarck.cc/u/crowding)
#### Post date: [December 18, 2018, 8:13am UTC](https://tarck.cc/t/3d-printed-friction-shifters/21900/20 "2018-12-18T08:13:45Z")
Planning to have an all-plastic version but metal bits could be an upsell.
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