Hello guys, I 've been machining some shift knobs for a few Prius in the last couple months and finally I decided to put it on sale and I would like to have a pulse from you guys on the design of the shift knob. and also I made a few in black powder coat: Hope you all are doing well!!
I like the shape of them. Machining looks nice on the back sides too. I'm not a big fan of the front face though. Are the horizontal lines machining marks or camera glare? Also the spiral machining marks (I assume from end milling) don't look as nice especially considering how smooth everything else in the car is. Is there something you can do eliminate machining marks? Maybe polishing? Lastly, is the aluminum raw? Have you considered clear anodizing or hard anodizing? LOL the suggestions I made probably add $100 to the price...
My dad and his friend has been experimenting with Prius shifters of every generation for the past eight years. He even was commissioned to do research by a Toyota supplier to do research before the Gen 4 shifter was finalized. They experimented with the design of the knob and the length of the shaft. Every time, he found that a round centered knob was more ergonomic and easier to find and operate that the oblong ones on the Gen 3 standard Prius and the Prius v. The shaft is too long, since there is almost no resistance as in shifter forks to mechanically move. The springs are there only to return the shifter to the center neutral position. All shifting is "fly by wire" with the shifter moving small magnets between Hall effect sensors. Basically, the Gen 4 knob centered around the shaft but retained the long shaft. A short shaft shifter would be more ergonomic being easily moved by the flick of the index finger without needing to be gripped to be moved. The shortened shaft is also safer as it does not intrude as much into the passenger area. I have attached a photo of one of these on my 2012 Prius v. The short centered knob was used on the navigation panel of the original Apollo command module.
Do you have the cad file for this? Would you be willing to share it? Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
Pretty easy to machine on a lath and to mill the flat spot on the top of the knob. I do have a cad file for shift pattern. I do however prefer a domed top and and a sticker for the shift pattern. OEM's could have has it used a pad printer on one of the plastic trim bezel pieces.
$50 with taxes and shipping included. here is the link of my website: Toyota Prius Hybrid Billet Aluminum Shift Knob by Bonobo Products
thanks for the feed back! Yes, those marks are from the end mills. I've been thinking to make some of them with anodized finish in red, black and one in silver. Some people we do like the machining marks but some just don't like the industrial look type. Anodizing is cheap in big quantities, it might be worth the try. If you are interested in getting one, and would like to do a special color on it I could get it quote it with my local supplier. let me know.
It is made of a product produced by Rutland Plywood in Vermont. It has become very rare, since the plant burned down in August 2014 and has never been rebuilt. Here are some links to this fantastic material. Turning Tips Dymondwood Turning Blanks and Pen Blanks | River Ridge Products I have attached photos of some of the other colors that I have, This amazing material can be threaded and screwed onto the shifter shaft without using a metal insert. It accepts a high polish and has the feel of the old bakelite shift knobs found in the vintage cars of the 1930's and '40's. The shape fits naturally in the hand,
On a Gen 4, shortening the shift lever rod would required it to be cut off. The center of the new knob would have to be closely bored to the diameter of the stud. A hex set screw whould beed to be fitted tl lock the knob in place 90 degrees from the axis of the shaft. Anyone who has used the shortened shifter would immediately know the difference and would find the OEM shifter awkward and would not want to return to it.
It appears that you used 6061-T651 aluminum alloy. Simply, lapping the surface on progressively finer grades of wet-dry sandpaper on a flat surface will remove the end mill marks. It then can be polished with automobile compound. Threading an M8x1.25 bolt onto the knob and chucking it on a lathe would be an alternative method of samding and removing th end mill larks.
I know I'm going off topic.. but this is reminding me of this idea: Also, It's unfortunate shortening the lever on a gen 4 is such an irreversible process... Otherwise I'd really consider the upgrade. For now, I think I'll to stick to a stock shifter
