Well, here goes. Possibly making a rod for my own back at this point but nothing ventured nothing gained as they say. After a good number of messages regarding making billet ally bits, I'm being urged by my own curiosity and enthusiasm to get on with it and start planning some suitable bits using the production engineering and 3D CAD and CNC skills I have. First things first though. I don't even own a Ducati at this moment or any bits for them so I'll be flying by the seat of my pants from this point in asking if I can possibly borrow some to measure up? What do I need? If anyone as calipers, yokes or rear sets lying about that they would care to loan me whilst I take the measurements and take pictures of them it would be a massive help. I will arrange secure pickup and take full responsibility whilst in my possession etc. and get them back to you as soon as possible which would probably be within 2 weeks to be honest. I could possibly give you one of my children as security whilst I have the parts! Only joking!! What do you get for the pleasure of loaning some bits to someone you don't even know? Well, I think it would only be fair to offer a set of whatever I make for free as a thank you don't you? I can't guarantee that I'll make the parts straight away even when I've taken measurements etc as my day job as a habit of exploding and keeping me tied to a PC for weeks on end sometimes. Some parts may need special tooling and machining fixtures to be made which prolongs the process a little. Some parts are also nigh on impossible to hold whilst being machined and need innovative methods to hold them securely whilst the machinery does its stuff. Let me know what you think. If you don't ask you don't get. :smile::smile::wink::wink:
Hi Pablo Pirate, It would be better that I start with parts from more popular models etc as the payback on investment would be slightly quicker. Drop me some pictures and I'll consider them. You never know what might come of it. PM me if you want to natter
Junior hacksaws and rasps in the right hands can produce stunning pieces of work. The machinery....just a help in making it quicker and to tighter tolerances!
If you need cad models I can help on that front- I was going to start looking at modelling up my SS at some point so this might be a good kick up the backside to do it. What file types can you handle?
lets see what you actually make... this thread is worthless without pictures... what software do you use and what CNC machines do you have at your disposal?
Sev, I can handle most CAD files that are currently being used. If you have an obscure file I most probably have a translator somewhere for it or access to one. Restricted, I detect an element of doubt. Pictures don't tell a whole story either as being a very proficient photographer of 25 years+ experience aswell as Photoshop I can make a bad part look quite amazing for the PC screen. I don't actually have any current images of bike parts I've made. I have many images of aircraft parts that I have machined from forged billets (some in excess of 1.5 tonnes) for the Eurofighter Typhoon, Tornado, Harrier, Hawk, Airbus (various) and also hardened steel cylinder head die casting moulds etc. Unfortunately I can't show them as the aircraft parts are classified and I have signed a disclosure agreement with the car company on the cylinder head mould. There is a 3D modelled screen shot of an obsolete oil filter housing for a classic Mini below which is currently being programmed and tooled ready for manufacture at some point in the near future. Sat at my desk at lunchtime with a digital caliper and an original part it took approx 90mins to model. I use MasterCam, Solidworks & SolidCam, Catia and Euklid CADCAM. Each type of software as its good and bad points. For prismatic work and simple parts its very easy to utilise MasterCam. The remaining software is aimed at larger more complex parts but are more difficult to get to grips with and take a long time to master. I have ready access to 3 Hurco VMC's and one Haas CNC lathe at a local machine shop. There are many more but I haven't approached them about my ideas or using them to machine any parts. If my ideas come to fruition I'll have my own machinery but this isn't easy to organise quickly. A question for you. What software do you use and what CNC machines do you have at your disposal?
Nothing negative to see here..............clearly a technically skilled person here with what is a very generous offer! No fear of this person posting in the dumb ass section!
In my eyes some people have everything to gain should I get into producing billet parts by getting a free set of whatever they loan me. I on the other hand have everything to lose if I produce crap or don't come up with the goods. Without winding anyone up and not wanting to get into a tit for tat battle about 'MY software or machines are better than yours etc.' all I can say is it's how you use them and not what you've got. Newer technologies in software and machines are great but if you can't or don't use them properly you've wasted possibly upwards of £10+ on redundant features etc. if not considerably more. Nuff said!
Thornton-Cleveleys is a village/town near Blackpool in Lancashire just above Poulton Le Fylde and below Fleetwood. Type it into Google maps or use the post code FY5 to find it.
If you use aircraft grade ali how about doing some brembo full floating disc centres ? I have a set in pieces at moment so could send you one over. I'm pretty sure it would be a popular item as they are used on many models as standard and most are wearing out ! it's the centres that wear most, not the bobbins. Email me if you're interested and we can sort something out. [email protected]
