CNC or Laser cut instrument panel

I need a small ( approx 18" square ) panel cut for an experimental
sailplane. Can anybody suggest a good source?

If you can send me a drawing (dimensioned sketch is OK) I can
probably help you out.

This is the sort of project that is a good learning tool fro my
students.

Anyone else who needs similar work please take note!

Costs will be far less than sending it out to a commercial machine
shop.

Accurate is our forte. Fast is not, so plan far ahead!

Errol Groff

Instructor, Machine Tool Department
H.H. Ellis Regional Technical School
Danielson, CT 06239

860 774 8511 x1811


On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 19:41:28 GMT, "Bill Daniels"
wrote:

I need a small ( approx 18" square ) panel cut for an experimental
sailplane. Can anybody suggest a good source?

On Tue, 12 Oct 2004 19:41:28 GMT, Bill Daniels wrote:
I need a small ( approx 18" square ) panel cut for an experimental
sailplane. Can anybody suggest a good source?


Have a look at this web site:

www.emachineshop.com

I have not tried them yet, but the idea looks cool.

Also consider having it water jetted. Like laser cut, but uses a high
pressure jet of water with abrasives in it.

John

"JohnT." wrote in message
...
Also consider having it water jetted. Like laser cut, but uses a high
pressure jet of water with abrasives in it.

John


At this point, I would consider anything. I've been talking to some of the
dumbest phone sales people I can imagine. I've e-mailed the CAD file to 20
or so firms that advertise "custom panels" and, so far, no replies except
for one local CNC shop that quoted $855 for the 9-hole 18" panel in .125"
sheet.

Bill Daniels

"Bill Daniels" wrote ...
At this point, I would consider anything. I've been talking to some of
the
dumbest phone sales people I can imagine. I've e-mailed the CAD file to
20
or so firms that advertise "custom panels" and, so far, no replies except
for one local CNC shop that quoted $855 for the 9-hole 18" panel in .125"
sheet.

This is a homebuilt group. Have you considered building it yourself?

Rich

"Richard Isakson" wrote in message
...
"Bill Daniels" wrote ...
At this point, I would consider anything. I've been talking to some of
the
dumbest phone sales people I can imagine. I've e-mailed the CAD file to
20
or so firms that advertise "custom panels" and, so far, no replies
except
for one local CNC shop that quoted $855 for the 9-hole 18" panel in
..125"
sheet.

This is a homebuilt group. Have you considered building it yourself?

Rich

Yes. I have made several panels but the CNC or laser cut panels are so much
higher quality than what I can make with a bandsaw, drill press and sander.

Bill Daniels

I was wondering the same thing myself , a panel is not hard to make at all.
If you have built an airplane the panel should be about the easiest part.
Are you planning on building this panel out of a special material? If it's
metal I would do it myself.

Patrick

"Richard Isakson" wrote in message
...
"Bill Daniels" wrote ...
At this point, I would consider anything. I've been talking to some of
the
dumbest phone sales people I can imagine. I've e-mailed the CAD file to
20
or so firms that advertise "custom panels" and, so far, no replies
except
for one local CNC shop that quoted $855 for the 9-hole 18" panel in
..125"
sheet.

This is a homebuilt group. Have you considered building it yourself?

Rich

The panel has to be .125" 7075 because it is a structural member. This is
NOT easy stuff to cut.

The last time is did this, I used a milling machine with a fly cutter to
make the instrument holes. Now all I have is a drill press. The tools that
I would need to buy to do this simple job will cost more than the job
'should' cost from a CNC or waterjet shop.

bildan

"W P Dixon" wrote in message
...
I was wondering the same thing myself , a panel is not hard to make at
all.
If you have built an airplane the panel should be about the easiest part.
Are you planning on building this panel out of a special material? If it's
metal I would do it myself.

Patrick

"Richard Isakson" wrote in message
...
"Bill Daniels" wrote ...
At this point, I would consider anything. I've been talking to some
of
the
dumbest phone sales people I can imagine. I've e-mailed the CAD file
to
20
or so firms that advertise "custom panels" and, so far, no replies
except
for one local CNC shop that quoted $855 for the 9-hole 18" panel in
.125"
sheet.

This is a homebuilt group. Have you considered building it yourself?

Rich

"Bill Daniels" wrote in message
news:g6fbd.251368$3l3.188348@attbi_s03...
The panel has to be .125" 7075 because it is a structural member. This is
NOT easy stuff to cut.

The last time is did this, I used a milling machine with a fly cutter to
make the instrument holes. Now all I have is a drill press. The tools
that
I would need to buy to do this simple job will cost more than the job
'should' cost from a CNC or waterjet shop.

bildan

Aluminum can be cut on ANY woodworking tool, so I would cut it with a table
saw, (or radial arm) slightly oversize, then run the edge across the jointer
(or router table) to clean up the edge, if it has to be beautiful. The
holes could be cut with a high quality hole saw (under 40 bucks), and you
could make a template for the mounting holes, and you would be all set. Not
that hard, is it?
--
Jim in NC


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