Mave
|
| posted on 9/3/05 at 05:34 PM |
|
|
How to make "flared sidepanels" from aluminium?
The Dax Rush optionally has some sidepanels next to the enginebay, which are open to the rear, like pictured below. They have a curvature, which has a
radius of about 30 mm at the opening, going to a raius of about zero near the front suspension.
Does anyone have any idea how to make them from aluminium? I can't figure out how to make the varying radius.
[Edited on 9/3/05 by Mave]
|
|
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 9/3/05 at 06:06 PM |
|
|
The radius doesn't change, the top and bottom are cut off at an angle.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
Mave
|
| posted on 9/3/05 at 06:30 PM |
|
|
Are you sure? I'm pretty sure the radius does change.
Besides, if it wouldn't change, the panel could not fit so close to the top chassis rails at the front.
|
|
|
Ben_Copeland
|
| posted on 9/3/05 at 08:11 PM |
|
|
Looks to me like they bend it over the chassis, then pull it out 30mm at the back. Leaving the front against the chassis.. Obviously the bend over
is longer to reach the chassis.
Ben
Locost Map on Google Maps
Z20LET Astra Turbo, into a Haynes
Roadster
Enter Your Details Here
http://www.facebook.com/EquinoxProducts for all your bodywork needs!
|
|
|
Mave
|
| posted on 9/3/05 at 08:52 PM |
|
|
Nope, the radius of the bend is really something like 30 mm, so then the tube would have to have a 60 mm diameter.
|
|
|
Ben_Copeland
|
| posted on 9/3/05 at 08:58 PM |
|
|
Well they just use a bending machine to put a radius at the back, taking it as far forward as possible.. then doing the final bending at the front to
match the chassis...
Wouldn't be very difficult i'd imagine. Even using a wood with a 60mm diameter (tube shape) to do the bending.
Just give it a try, and see how it goes!
Ben
Locost Map on Google Maps
Z20LET Astra Turbo, into a Haynes
Roadster
Enter Your Details Here
http://www.facebook.com/EquinoxProducts for all your bodywork needs!
|
|
|
Peteff
|
| posted on 9/3/05 at 09:00 PM |
|
|
Don't make it too simple Ben. He obviously wants a complicated way of doing it. Too easy to whack it round the chassis member, scribe a line on
it and cut off the excess. We did it on one 4 years ago and fastened the panel with rivnuts to make it removable. It finished in a straight line at
the front but you don't see that behind the wheel.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
|
|
|
Liam
|
| posted on 10/3/05 at 12:01 AM |
|
|
We made some of these for my mates pre-lit westy a coulpe of summers back. Like the dax ones, they reduce to zero radius in order to fit over the
square tubes at the front. The dax ones go to square top and bottom cos their bottom chassis rails match the top rails. On a westy/locost the bottom
rails taper inwards more and get out of your way so to speak, so the bottom of the panel can just be a constant radius. Hope that makes sense.
We made a variable radius wooden former which sounds much more complicated than it is. Was very easy to make with some wood and a plane. The other
side of the former is for doing the bottom and is just a constant radius as I said above.
Before forming, the rear edge of the panel was folded over itself 180 degrees to give a blunt edge, as much for the stiffness of the final panel as
for Mr SVA. Turned out very well and I will be doing the same for my car.
Liam
EDIT: For some reason I cant attach pictures at the moment or I could show the former and the results. Oh well.
[Edited on 10/3/05 by Liam]
|
|
|
Volvorsport
|
| posted on 10/3/05 at 12:04 AM |
|
|
im making some grp louvred ones - similar but not exact .
www.dbsmotorsport.co.uk
getting dirty under a bus
|
|
|
Liam
|
| posted on 10/3/05 at 12:12 AM |
|
|
Oh they were too big. Former pic...
 
Rescued attachment DSCF0016.JPG
|
|
|
Liam
|
| posted on 10/3/05 at 12:23 AM |
|
|
Westy...
 
Rescued attachment DSCF0053small.jpg
|
|
|
Liam
|
| posted on 10/3/05 at 12:24 AM |
|
|
Westy again...
 
Rescued attachment westy4small.jpg
|
|
|
Mave
|
| posted on 10/3/05 at 08:11 PM |
|
|
Thanks Liam, that looks great; exactly what I'm looking for! I'll have to give it a try. Do you remember how thick the aluminium was?
Cheers,
Marcel
|
|
|
Liam
|
| posted on 10/3/05 at 09:27 PM |
|
|
Not totally sure. 16 guage probably. I remember finding it a bit harder to bend than would have been ideal and thinking 18 guage would probably have
been better.
Liam
|
|
|
Mave
|
| posted on 11/3/05 at 04:34 PM |
|
|
Am I right in assuming that 18 gauge is about 1 mm? And 16 gauge about 1,4 mm? (now where's the logic in that?)
Thanks again,
Marcel
|
|
|
ned
|
| posted on 11/3/05 at 04:49 PM |
|
|
16swg is 1.6 and 18gauge 1.2 iirc
do a search on "swg conversion" on google for more info..
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
|
|
|
Mave
|
| posted on 11/3/05 at 08:59 PM |
|
|
Thanks Ned, you're right. 18 gauge is 1,21 mm, 16 gauge is 1,6 mm.
|
|
|
