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Custom Gauges
https://ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=21864		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Harley [ Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Custom Gauges
I'll be modifying my rover magnolias to go with a more modern look/ trend, as well
a couple of other reasons such as wanting something a bit different, and to satisfy
my urge to pull it apart, see what makes it tick, and put it back together differently. :D

Image

The big ones will be easy, early testing has proved it will work well.
Making some custom 2" gauges to match might be a bit harder, but I'll nut it out.

Anyway, has anyone got any suggestions for how I can make the faces?
The first thing that comes to mind is draw them up on the computer (as above)
and print then onto photo paper (or whatever looks better). Another way might be to make
them on something more solid, and airbrush the numbers on (and a centre logo
or something whilst I'm at it), but that will ofcourse be a much, much more tedious and
time consuming job, followed by a waste of time if it goes pear shaped. :?

Anybody ever made any themselves, or got any tips? Thanks.
:D
Author:  Mini Mike [ Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Mate try screen printing them.
Author:  Molina [ Sat Aug 26, 2006 12:12 am ]
Post subject: 
Seeing that i know you can use CAD... you should draw them in CAD and get them laser cut from 1mm thick aluminium. Glue a thin sheet of coloured or frosty white polypropylene to the back side to difuse the light. Should cost you less than a hundred bucks for as many gauges as you need (ie: the setup cost will be the biggest part of the total).
Author:  Klubman [ Sat Aug 26, 2006 11:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Is laser cutting aluminium really going to be clean enough for that sort of detail?
I know it is good these days, but is it that good?
Would wire cut be better?
Author:  YoungMiniac [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 12:03 am ]
Post subject: 
Laser cut is very clean and neat..... Work with a bit of laser cut aluminum at work and it's very clean and smooth cuts...
Author:  Moke'n'Andy [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 7:57 am ]
Post subject: 
Watercutting is another option and it is cleaner than laser.

Not sure how it will go on the thin ali, mostly seen it used on thicker stuff.
Author:  NoMoreMinis [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:10 am ]
Post subject: 
Are you guys serious???

forget aluminium, you were on the right track to start with......whack your originals into a scanner, edit them with photoshop and print onto photo paper.....easy as, and proven great results......
Author:  Molina [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 2:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
Moke'n'Andy wrote:
Watercutting is another option and it is cleaner than laser.

Not sure how it will go on the thin ali, mostly seen it used on thicker stuff.

Yeah, i forgot to suggest waterjet cutting. That would possibly be a better method.


NoMoreMinis wrote:
Are you guys serious???

forget aluminium, you were on the right track to start with......whack your originals into a scanner, edit them with photoshop and print onto photo paper.....easy as, and proven great results......


Are you serious??? what's wrong with what was suggested? I can see things wrong with what you're suggesting. Paper looks lame and amteurish., most types of printing you can do at home will fade or discolour in no time with sun, you have to glue it to the face of the gauge somehow, etc...
Author:  meeni [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:24 pm ]
Post subject: 
photo paper looks brilliant, you wouldnt know it was paper, my mate did it in his beemer, turned out perfect, dont spend money on lasercutting.
Author:  simon k [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 6:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
and with cutting it out of sheet, you'd miss out on the centres of the 0's etc.... fine if that's the look you were after, actually, making it out of 5mm sheet and having the depth over the top of a black backing would look pretty neat...

Aaron, you're always airbrushing model cars... go with what you know
Author:  Harley [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:58 pm ]
Post subject: 
How are gauges from the facory made?
Are they some form of transfers or stamped on maybe?
Author:  9YaTaH [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 11:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Gauges
In the olden days we spray painted them....then used letraset for the graduations etc then a clear matt spray over that.

Ohhhh...and other faces or dials had their markings spray painted on using a stencil :roll:
Author:  kasperflipped [ Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:57 am ]
Post subject: 
you could always do like what i did for mine and print using a solvent printer capable of 1400dpi directly on to sticky signmakers vinyl, then its just a matter of pealing of the backing and sticking it down. In theory what ever you can come up with on a computer, it can be printed onto this media, pictures text, anything. How did i do this, well i work at a sign shop with one of these printers so for a small fee i could possibly do it for you too :):)
rock and/or roll
trent
Author:  Harley [ Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:07 am ]
Post subject: 
If I generated a layout in Autocad / dxf format could you make use of that?
Scaling a photo type image is a bit more tricky.
:D
Author:  kasperflipped [ Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:10 am ]
Post subject: 
Harley wrote:
If I generated a layout in Autocad / dxf format could you make use of that?
Scaling a photo type image is a bit more tricky.
:D


i sure can :)
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