I am not sure if I have posted details of the projects I do on our Jeep. I make most of the stuff I put on the TJ.
My job requires me to make and fix a lot of stuff, so I have a lot of unusual tools. One is a CNC plasma with all the design CAD and CAM software.
Here is a small project I did using CNC plasma cutting and manual welding.
So I started with two known dimensions snd built from there. The first was a flange to match the bolt pattern in the bottom of the bumper
From there I cut templates from cardboard
From here I put the cut pieces on a flatbed scanner and imported to my computer.
Then I imported them as a “raster” image into “cutting shop”. It’s software designed for converting raster to vector plus lots of other tools
Here is the resulting drawing in vector (DXF) format. It is being size checked to make sure the scan was 1:1. This can be done by checking any one or two dimensions against the cardboard cut outs.
This is the CAM software. It converts the DXF file to G code that the actual machine can interpret.
This is the CNC interface. I use Mach3. It’s old but stable. I built the machine back in the depression of 08. Old by today’s standards.
Then line up the plate to the torch and hit RUN.
I always check the cut pieces to the cut cardboard for accuracy.
Then tack in place for the best fit. If it was going to be a production part, I would build a jig but this is one off. The type of projects I look forward too
After everything is fit, I removed it and welded up everything.
That was the last details I did today. Tomorrow I will smooth out the edges with a flap disc grinder and paint. Took about 3hrs total. Would have been cheaper to buy a ready made one but it’s part of the fun building Jeeps.
Anyway, I hope someone can grab some idea or way to do a project from this.
WSS
My job requires me to make and fix a lot of stuff, so I have a lot of unusual tools. One is a CNC plasma with all the design CAD and CAM software.
Here is a small project I did using CNC plasma cutting and manual welding.
So I started with two known dimensions snd built from there. The first was a flange to match the bolt pattern in the bottom of the bumper
From there I cut templates from cardboard
From here I put the cut pieces on a flatbed scanner and imported to my computer.
Then I imported them as a “raster” image into “cutting shop”. It’s software designed for converting raster to vector plus lots of other tools
Here is the resulting drawing in vector (DXF) format. It is being size checked to make sure the scan was 1:1. This can be done by checking any one or two dimensions against the cardboard cut outs.
This is the CAM software. It converts the DXF file to G code that the actual machine can interpret.
This is the CNC interface. I use Mach3. It’s old but stable. I built the machine back in the depression of 08. Old by today’s standards.
Then line up the plate to the torch and hit RUN.
I always check the cut pieces to the cut cardboard for accuracy.
Then tack in place for the best fit. If it was going to be a production part, I would build a jig but this is one off. The type of projects I look forward too
After everything is fit, I removed it and welded up everything.
That was the last details I did today. Tomorrow I will smooth out the edges with a flap disc grinder and paint. Took about 3hrs total. Would have been cheaper to buy a ready made one but it’s part of the fun building Jeeps.
Anyway, I hope someone can grab some idea or way to do a project from this.
WSS
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