sheet metal cutting

[kaszal]

Does anyone know how I would go about getting some new gearbox sideplates cut from aluminium or steel? I don't have the drawings (would Schumacher have them on file?) but I do have some used plates which could be used as templates. Does anyone have any experience of this?

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m134/kaszal/sideplates.jpg

[nicefrog]

Best way is to draw them up in a cad program yourself then get any number of workshops (heaps do these kind of jobs) to cut them for you

[jim76]

can you not just buy some from Schumacher? do they have any in stock?

[Andyp]

Hi a local fab company with a laser would be your best bet, I think i am right in saying they should be able to scan your item and duplicate them. i would imagine it will come at quite a hi price

[kaszal]

Hi, thanks for the replies. Waiting for Schumacher to get back to me to provide the drawing. Laser cutting looks the best bet. I understand the drawing needs to be in DXF or DWG format. If Schumacher don't have the drawing can anyone recommend a free 2D drawing program to draw these on?

[CHEVY]

if you have origal side plates try local engineering firms i did the same years ago got motor side plate machined with cooling finns :thumbsup:

[kaszal]

It's difficult to find a company that'll do it. The miniminum order for laser cutting seems to be around £100 if I provide the drawings. Don't know anyone in the business unfortuantely. Maybe if I got a batch made I could sell them on? Would start by making them in steel because the old aluminum plates were quite weak - got dents and bends in mine!

[mattybucks]

MMS did a gearbox housing for the procat with fins on to act like a heatsink. I had one on my old procat. Unfortunatly I sold it years ago........

[Big G]

If Schumacher don't have the drawing can anyone recommend a free 2D drawing program to draw these on?

Paint :thumbsup:

[jukeboxman]

Seeing as you already have originals to use as templates, if you possess a vice, a hacksaw, drill and some files could you not make your own?

At a push you could do it without a vice......it's only two plates after all.

Just make sure you have soft jaws in your vice to prevent marking the aluminium.

[mark christopher]

you could try radshape.co.uk tell them i told you to call

[kaszal]

Thanks for your input. Fibre-Lyte did the drawings for me* and I'm talking with a comapny that does laser cutting. They gave me the best price, shortest lead time and have been quite good in getting back to me. If all goes well I'll share the details.

* Schumacher would not release the drawings.