Does anyone use CNC for making panel/dashboard etc ?

**calico** · 02-08-2006, 07:43 PM

does anyone use CNC to create the mold ?
anyone ever seen somebody use CNC for this ? any website? info? photos ?

regards
rud

**redbullah** · 03-28-2006, 06:45 PM

i am planning to do this way
i found a website which can cut anything for you
there is also a free cad software available that allows you draw your part
and even instant pricing. but software seems a bit difficult so better find someone (or maybe you can do it by yourself) skilled about cad softwares.
The free emachine software allows you choose material, import any .dxf file and order thru it.

Watch out once you order a part you can't return it cause dxf file contains real size of part.

here you go http://www.emachineshop.com/index.html

**djXternal** · 03-28-2006, 07:51 PM

wow great site...

**Cris** · 03-28-2006, 07:59 PM

Indeed. I wonder how complicated can you get with the design...

**redbullah** · 03-28-2006, 08:19 PM

my brother is an engineer but he doesn't have too much time these days.
So i will try to figure out by myself

**greenwire** · 03-29-2006, 05:16 AM

The problem with CNC for this kind of thing is not in the fabrication, it's in the design.

The contours that you're trying to match up with (i'm guessing a bezel or dashboard) are notoriously complex. At my school, the plastics engineers have to do a ****load more CAD/CAM just so they know how to make the parts we're trying to work with. If you don't have some way of scanning the parts in 3D, you might not be able to get the results you want.

**sfay93** · 03-29-2006, 05:19 AM

And emachineshop while a great idea is very expensive for one offs.

**PM-Guy** · 04-05-2006, 04:55 PM

Check this out: Protocase. They have a free 3D CAD application called Protocase Designer. Try using the flat panel section of the application.

As they are a low volume manufacturer it will be better for low quantity.

**redbullah** · 04-05-2006, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by greenwire

The problem with CNC for this kind of thing is not in the fabrication, it's in the design.

The contours that you're trying to match up with (i'm guessing a bezel or dashboard) are notoriously complex. At my school, the plastics engineers have to do a ****load more CAD/CAM just so they know how to make the parts we're trying to work with. If you don't have some way of scanning the parts in 3D, you might not be able to get the results you want.

any cad sotware would be enough. dxf is an universal format.

**redbullah** · 04-05-2006, 05:45 PM

I don't know too much about cad softwares but my brother told me that there is a plug in which allows you export 3dstudiomax(what i am quite good at) files as dxf files. I'll check it out right now.btw e39 dash is not so complicated like other plastic car parts. i will submit the file once it's done. I may put a 3d bmw logo on it to make it look oemicious.

Check this out: Protocase. They have a free 3D CAD application called Protocase Designer. Try using the flat panel section of the application.
As they are a low volume manufacturer it will be better for low quantity.

Interesting but i think they manufacture faceplates and metal housings. They are not so usefull in dash.