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?

[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

[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]

Originally Posted by kaszal

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

Paint

[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