G-machine of a different.......scale?!?

[black2002ls]

A little update on this. As awesome as it would be to say that the wheels are fully machined, I've found an alternate route. www.shapeways.com offers 3-D printing services. Basically you upload a 3-d image file and they sell you prints of the design. I've spent the last couple of days teaching myself solidworks and working on a design for a wheel center. I'm not sure if I will go so far as to make the wheel "sleeves" or not, or if I will have someone machine them for me.

Here is a picture of what I'm working on:



The great thing about this is, the possibilities are nearly limitless once I'm proficient at solidworks. Some things will still be scratchbuilt, however, the items that I have trouble with, or can't get proportions right, they can simply be printed!

[black2002ls]

Still no physical modelling as of yet. I've been working in solidworks and learning its nuances and ways to get this all done. I have been able to create a new wheel center, wheel sleeves that are 11" and 9.5" wide, as well as a wheel stop. The way this will work is, the wheel stop is adjusted to the depth I need for the backspacing I want, then it will be mated to the outer sleeve. Once that is done, the wheel center will be mated to the stop. I've got the stop "drilled" for bolt heads, to mimick the wheel being blind fastened from the back side. Those bolts will be machined pieces.

[black2002ls]

Another big hurdle for this build were the brakes. these are modeled after ZR1 corvette brakes. I got the "hat" and front rotor done last night. hopefully I can get started on the front caliper tonight.

[PASD U]

Don't know why I never thought of this before but between what's going on over at one of the diecast forums and something you said kinda jogged my memory. Why don't you go with aluminum hoops and resin centers? The 1/18 scale market is starting to see some strides in that regards. I will say, Germany is like 1:18 accessory mecca right now. If you had a good design for the centers, you could adjust the hoops to be whatever. I think you'd just have to look at tires but from what I've heard, those can be done in resin too. Nitto Invos...yum. Some of these guys are "gettin it done" pretty damn fast from concept to production!

[black2002ls]

I'm not sure if I will have the hoops machined or not. That was the original intent. My plan is to use the printed pieces to get the suspension set up, as well as determine the backspacing. Once all of that is taken care of, I will decide whether to have the "sleeves" machined or not. I've got a few machinist friends so that may happen. As for the tires, at this point, my plan is to model them, have them printed, and then molded and cast in rubber. The only problem is $$$

[PASD U]

What is the range of what it would cost to get wheels and tires done, if you don't mind me asking? I don't understand the 3D printing apect yet. Guess I need to look that up.

[black2002ls]

3D printing.

Essentially, you create a 3D file, CAD/Solidworks drawing. Send it to someone and they print it in plastic. The machine essentially uses plastic wire to "print" the part!

It has been a while since I've done a cost analysis on wheels. The lats time I got an estimate to do it start to finish, sleeves centers and all was $250-300. For just sleeves, I would like to think I could get them done for $50 or so. but I'm afraid its going to end up closer to $100. Tires, to get them printed, it should only cost $20-30. I would get a pair of each printed so that they could be molded in pairs. I've heard rumors of the capability to print in rubber. That would make it much easier. Anyway, once I got the 3D prints, I would send them to someone to make molds. I know some people who create and sell resin copies of parts for the large scale models. I would essentially pay for the mold to be done and leave them with them and work out some deal to allow them to sell them. Typically molds cost anywhere from $50-200+