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
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