Come on......you guys are building an airplane. Are telling me that you can't cut an instrument panel?
That?s what I done for three panels, but I do have the round hole cutters that make those holes easy. Of late however not much call for round holes. I cut the square holes with a disk, then finish with a file. Start to finish takes an hour or so.
But- someone tell me what it cost to have Stein or someone else do it. Perhaps I?ll change my mind.
Carl
Come on......you guys are building an airplane. Are telling me that you can't cut an instrument panel?
Mel is correct for round holes but panels have progressed a bit since then...
... Or you could really step out and burn a few months to setup . But first you have to figure out how to move 6000# of steel. Air Skates baby!
Anyway, some of my first airplane parts.
Scott,
I thought posting p o r n was explicitly prohibited on VAF! (I've been watching your progress and am so lusting after your shop!)
Only for you 'Merican's! At $40 a panel and $100 USPS shipping, I'll take Bill's service at UpNorthAviation any day of the week over screwing it up a couple times! He just cut my second panel for my -9 last week, with accuracy I could only dream of.Heck, for $200, you can screw up a couple of them and still be well ahead.....
I ended up using the anti-rotation washers but the added hole for the washer tab was visible and I want to eliminate that this time around.
I have been thinking of having my panel professionally cut this time. I am not up to speed using CAD and I can't even open Van's panel drawing on my old computers. Can these cutting services do that for me off a hand drawing? Also,,,I like the old fashioned toggle switches and plan to use them in the 9-A. They have a small key-way in the threaded collar mount to prevent rotation. Are the cutting machines able to cut that tiny tab into the panel? I ended up using the anti-rotation washers but the added hole for the washer tab was visible and I want to eliminate that this time around.
How did get the lettering done?emachineshop dot com will laser cut a dxf in whatever aluminum you like. I've used them for all of my panels. Photo below shows after it was anodized by a separate vendor.
Don