Steve T Posted April 24, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2016 Still waiting. The VMC chewed a ball screw a couple of weeks ago so now there's a backlog on the machine.....so my jobs being pushed back again. Pain in the butt as I've got 2 cars here that could use the floors. Gonna try and apply some pressure this week to see if they'd run it over the weekend. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted July 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2016 Feel like I'm finally getting somewhere!! Got a new machine arriving at the end of the month so I should be able to get onto one of them very soon. Fingers crossed!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nickffc Posted July 17, 2016 Report Share Posted July 17, 2016 Nice.....???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted September 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2016 Have had to put this project on hold at the moment as the millers at work are just too backed up with work. Decided to take the cad drawings to a few places next week to get some machining costs but I'm not hopeful as a, it's a big plate to machine requiring a big machine and b, the potential cost. Will have to see. Hmmmmmph! ???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted September 10, 2016 Report Share Posted September 10, 2016 Steve, Â We all await with worm on tongue (baited breath). Â Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted September 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2016 (edited) Guess I'll be waiting for the works machine to become free as the potential machining costs are £1000 + Cutter tooling + VAT.....,,.gulp!!!!!!! Edited September 28, 2016 by Steve T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytr5 Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 Any luck Steve, as I know the panel will be shot after the blasters next week. So will it happen? Put me down for one. Regards Harry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted December 5, 2016 Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 As an aside we worked with composite tooling for press tools in the 80's & 90's - The repro rear deck tools for the TR2/3 were created using steel side faces and plastic epoxy filler - worked quite well for low volume requirements. The plastic epoxy was made by Ciba Geigy - A Sort of non shrinking, pouring araldite that would form on a panel to make punch and dies. The minimal draw characteristic was ideal for thin things like floor pressings with reinforcements like the dog shelf in the TR4-6, or small infill flitches. http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rapidproto/manufacturing/molds/epoxy.html An UK proptype company - they would probably tear your wallet to bits though... http://www.cubeprecision.com/capabilities/press-tools.ashx How to do it - metal presswork http://www.engmatl.com/home/viewcategory/9-sheet-metal-and-press-tools  Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted December 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2016 Thought I was in luck a couple of weeks ago....got to work and the block was in the miller! Went into the tool room 2 hours later and it was off again without a single cut being done!! Another ' more important ' job had come in. Won't be this year for sure. ???? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted December 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2016 Bit of an update. I'm building up the blank tool at the moment so as and when it gets machined, it'll be ready to go. The guy doing the milling is writing the cutter paths as I write and it's destined to go on the miller next week......if nothing else crops up. Fingers crossed!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted December 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2016 (edited) Rough cutting has begun!!!! Edited February 9, 2018 by Steve T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted December 23, 2016 Report Share Posted December 23, 2016 Bit of an update. I'm building up the blank tool at the moment so as and when it gets machined, it'll be ready to go. The guy doing the milling is writing the cutter paths as I write and it's destined to go on the miller next week......if nothing else crops up. Fingers crossed!! Is the expected volume of this panel sufficient to warrant a blank tool? If your labour and the press time are free the blank tool makes good sense We used to use a multi axis laser to trim and pierce after pressing from a simple close to size guillotined blank. Â My favourite was the pressed TR3A/44A/5/250 bumper to fully trimmed with piercings in 10 minutes. Â Peter W Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted December 23, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2016 Hi Peter, I've bought the big steel block and everything else is free so far. It's been given to the youngest member of the toolroom as a ' training exercise '. We recently scrapped some big press tools too so I've had my pick of steel plates & risers in order to make the tool height sufficient for one of our machines. I need 2 of these at the moment and I've had people interested, but it was never meant as a money making exercise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted January 3, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) Getting a bit further on. Starting the finishing cuts now. Once the full face is done, it's onto the edge cuts and then finish off with a rad all around. Should have this side pretty much done tomorrow so hope I can get the other side straight on. Edited February 9, 2018 by Steve T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Motorsport Mickey Posted January 3, 2017 Report Share Posted January 3, 2017 Looking good. Â Mick Richards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike3739 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 +1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytr5 Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Wow! That does look tasty. When do you think you will start pressing them Steve. Regards Harry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thanks all. Well it's taken a year to get this far and there is another job going on the cnc now so I really don't know when the other side will get done. I'm hoping it won't be too long though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Hi Steve, I don't want to cast a downer on this project but do you not think that the item you had on the milling machine is a little thick and heavy as a back seat for a TR. I think substantial would sum it up.  As a clue, Triumph used 18SWG sheet - much lighter  I've got a bit of sheet spare that you could use.  Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 ???? just thought, with it being back wheel drive, it'd help hold the back end down ???? Heh heh Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted January 4, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) Just finished all the cuts so will need building up next. Reckon it'll be over a ton when it's all done. Edited February 9, 2018 by Steve T Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SeanF Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Looking good Steve. I wish you were at this stage two and a half years ago when mine came back from blasting with the right hand side of this panel looking like a swiss cheese!. I made up a rough plywood former and hammered out a patch. Â Keep up the good work. Our little collective needs more of this kind of initiative! Â Best, Â Sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nickffc Posted January 4, 2017 Report Share Posted January 4, 2017 Nice work Steve........ I'm at the point with my resto of replacing both floor pans.... don't think I'll weld up the back section just yet just in case these do make an appearance anytime soon...!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
harrytr5 Posted January 5, 2017 Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 On the TR4A there is no fixings to the spring hanger support beam so do not need the socket indents.But hey that is superb machining and will produce a part long since gone. I was lucky in getting which was probably the last one when doing my TR5 in 2001. It is so needed. Regards Harry Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steve T Posted January 5, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2017 Thanks Harry, but all credit for the machining must go to our newest ( no longer really ) trainee Phil. He's done a terrific job and I think he has also learnt some tricks. Wish I had been able to buy a replacement floor as it'd have saved me a lot of time and a considerable amount of dosh. However, the new floor creation has been an interesting although somewhat frustrating ( timescale) process. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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