[simpits-tech] RE: STEVE, re: throttle arm

[Jim K.]

Steve,
As you mentioned in a post to Marv, I was suggesting RP (rapid prototyping) 
as an option.  It may or may not be a good choice.

Most RP companies will work with most any type of CAD drawing, the popular 
ones being SolidWorks and ProEngineer, since those programs are true  3D 
modelers.  Autocad and several others work as well.  Once they have a 
drawing they will convert that to a STL file.  If you do that yourself, 
i.e. send them both regular drawings and the STL files it will save time 
and a little money as well.  Anyway, that STL file is then loaded into a 
computer and the part is made automatically.  It's pretty interesting 
watching the part being made.  There are several type of RP methods with 
the most common using a resin based material.  But there is also a metal 
based material as well, which i think is called FDM.  The RP machine is 
about the size of a stove/oven.  Inside it is a pool of the liquid resin 
and a laser.  As the laser hits the resin it hardens.  The part is then 
made layer by layer and as I said its pretty cool to watch.

costs are based on the size of the part and how much RP material is 
used.  So a hollow part uses less material and would be less $$ than a 
solid part.

If you want go ahead and send me some drawings and I can get an idea what 
things would cost.
Jim





 >>>>im - I could probably generate= a model of the arm in DXF and STL with 
little problem. = Keep in mind that the arm needs to be as hollow as 
possible= (thin wall) to get the TQS cablage through it. But......= more 
importantly for the group, what about knobs!?! I can= generate STL's for 
them too. I don't have the time= resource to get deep in this, not to 
mention sufficient stress= overhead, but I'm getting into 3D CGI in a big 
way, and could= use the practice doing the models. It does happen that= 
these can be exported into stereolithography and AutoCAD files= suitable 
for rapid prototyping. Am I on the right= track??
Steve >>>>