patterns

Evan Martin

Evan Martin

Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
521
What is the best thing to make a pattern out of to insure the same thing everytime thin alluiminun, formica, plastic
 
wood, plastic, micarta, anything that is stiff will work :) Aluminum, etc etc...i think no matter how or what your pattern is made of, if the operator still can't trace worth a crap, then it still doesn't matter whether your pattern is made of jello or marshmallows :D
 
Plexiglas or other clear acrylic allows the template to be used on damascus and burl wood to determine the best area to make the cutout from. Otherwise, any reasonably hard material will work. I have a can full of cardboard templates from designing knife shapes.I make the first template in cardboard to allow trimming and handle fit adjustments. Once it is right, I adhere it to a piece of Masonite and cut the template. If I need a special template ,I make it from Plexiglas.
Stacy
 
Like Stacy I have a BIG box full of cardboard and heavy paper patterns, aluminum, micarta, kydex etc. too. I really like the plexiglass pattern idea for making a stock removal blade pattern that could be used on damascus or a plexiglass handle pattern to get the best cut out of a stabilized burl. I never thought about using that. Great idea:thumbup:

Karl asked a good question though. A pattern for what :confused:

Valid in the sense that if you were making a pattern for a folder for instance. Something that might be used to spot holes, repeatedly, or to scribe around the perimeter, possibly hundreds of times. For that you would, IMHO want something durable enough to maintain the given shape or thick enough to support press fitting some drill bushing into for spotting. Definately aluminum or even a steel pattern would probably be best for this purpose. IMHO ;)
 
If anybody near me wants to come by and pick up a sheet of acrylic, I have 16" X 36" 3/16" sheets I'll give away. Send me a PM.
 
I only make liner locking folders and formica works the best for me. It grinds well without the problems plexiglass can sometimes give. Frank
 
724wd said:
i have a buddy in mooresville. He works for Ganassi Racing. do you work in racing?
Click to expand...

No, apparently I'm the only person in this town not involved in racing. You can hear cars on dynos out in the distance on a quiet night. I live half a mile from DEI, Dale Earnhardt's old shop.

I'm a plastics product design consultant for a contract engineering company. I worked as a hack machinist back in college, then got into CNC for design prototyping, and that lead to production machining in the other side of the business. But no race car machining. However, I suspect the owner of the company moved it to this town because he is "into" racing. Last week I went back into the shop and found he'd just purchased a used real Indy car. Really not that unusual around here. Weird town...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top