As some of you know, I'm a first year engineering student. One of my classes is a manufacturing class (basically teaches us how stuff is made and how not to, say, make a doorknob that costs $10,000 to build). In this class we make stuff (parts that assemble into a little car, actually) and learn about the process, etc. Sand castig, ladthe, milling, CNC, etc. So it came time to make the plate that holds the rear axle that I machined to the chassis that I sand cast, and I decided to have a bit of fun and engrave it. Here is the result:



It's about 1.5" tall and 2" wide. I dont know why I chose to go with a right facing head, it just looked better IMO. I just stuck it in my scanner for this pic, so those circular scratches from where it was faced are a little more noticable, but in any case I want to polish those off somehow. Tell me what you think, and if you've done something similar, post up!


(Oh, and the reason I put it here is because I think I'm going to try to find a cool way to put this thing on the car when 'm done with it. I was originally thinking the center console but now that I can physically hold it I think it's too thick. Maybe on the dash somehow? Hmm.)

nice job... you want to CNC me some iroc badges for some mulah?

sweet job on those, now how about some RS emblems

I did a little CNC work last year in high school. Sometimes it can be tricky. You scared me at first until I read that you scanned the image. I couldn't imagine writing all that code. Are you going to use it as something or is it just something that you'll show off(which you have ever right to)? That looks really good.

Scared you? I didnt scan the image, I traced it in AutoCAD. I scanned that pic just by throwing the plate in my scanner. It's got a slot in the back well that one does. I made 2. The other doesnt have 'TGO' or a slot, but still has the holes. The purpose of the plate pictured is to hold the rear axle on the little model car I am building. We've spent the whole semester making every part to build these little 7" race cars and then we roll 'em on a track. After that though, it serves no purpose.

As for making RS badges or IROC badges or something, I can, but not until next year, sorry. I'm taking options next year that will be pretty involved in this stuff (heck, one class is all about CNC programming), so I should be able to turn out some pretty wicked things. I'll say something about it later next schoolyear when I am able to.

Glad you guys like!

I just thought you had WAY too much time on your hands if you wrote out all the code.

Glad to know my tax dollars spent subsidizing your education are going to good use.

I know, arent you proud?

When we were told we could do that, my mind INSTANTLY jumped to that. Heh.

Anyhting happening this weekend, chief?

I'll be abandoning my plans to fuel the car with ethanol and fuelling the driver instead. Probably Saturday afternoon or something.

How long did it take you to trace the bird? I posted a DXF of a screaming chicken on here awhile ago.

I program a woodworking CNC machine. I wanted to use mine for a speaker box, but haven't thought of any good way to incorporate it.

You could stick the engraving on the top in the middle or something?


It didnt take me long at all. I used a single pline for each part of it and then used the flatten tool in the express pulldown. Maybe half an hour?

What program did you use for your drawing? If it was AutoCAD, do you still have the .dwg form of it?

I made it in Autocad. I inserted a .jpg of the screaming chicken and traced it with a polyline. I have the file, but it's on my computer at work. Do you want it?

hey! you could make some pretty cool throttle body plates for TPI cars!

looks really sweet man!! You incorporating it into your car in anyway?

If I can find a tasteful way to do it. I'm still thinking the dash below the map pocket or something.

Sure. I think it would be cool to see. I'll PM you my email.

Hey, good idea. Maybe next year when we start our CNC programming class I'll try and get my hands on one and go to town. I could probably get a thing going where all you do is send me a pic and some cash and boom.

dude, im all for that! id love a nice GTA plate and an IROC one too!

nice job...