Ron: Much easier this way...: https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/it...0806&catid=441
or: https://www.amazon.com/MEYA-20pcs-Ac...654244&sr=8-13
Ron: Much easier this way...: https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/it...0806&catid=441
or: https://www.amazon.com/MEYA-20pcs-Ac...654244&sr=8-13
Ha! Might be worth it. Cost isn't that bad, especially the ones on Amazon.
I thought it was too big (my glass specs at about 2.9"), but it made me think about my design. I'd completely forgotten the instrument hole is 3 1/8"; I need to enlarge my design slightly, at which point an even 3" diameter glass disk would probably be right.
I need to rework the design anyway, some instruments are installed from the pilot side of the panel, and my outline is wrong for that.
Ron Wanttaja
Last edited by rwanttaja; 05-10-2021 at 09:56 AM.
Remember that a 3" holesaw will cut a disk about 2.875" diameter, allowing for a 1/16" kerf, there's your 2.9".
There are also 3-blade adjustable holesaws that might work better without a pilot than a 1- or 2-blade flycutter. I have an old Craftsman one but they're still made today by other companies.
The pre-cut disks look reasonably priced, but since you're rolling your own bezels via 3d print, why not design the bezel to take a square lens? Or find a community college nearby with a tech lab, or a 'maker space', and use their LASER to cut your own discs?
1/16" Lexan can be cut easily with sheet metal snips if you want it quickly by hand.
Thanks much for the advice. If I were building a 4" instrument, I'd probably use a router. But I bought the Amazon 3" disks, because if I build any more instruments, most are probably going to be three inches.
A quick slap-together of the final product. It's not actually bolted to this old Warwick Bantam instrument panel, so it's not lined up.
Instrument face is just printed on plain paper with a standard ink-jet. I have a small sublimation printer that'll put some gloss on it; may give it a shot.
Learned quite a bit on this one, will come in useful if I end up making any more.
Ron Wanttaja
Didn't know the Bantam was that fast....
Of course! "Bantam" is an anagram for "Batman", you know.... :-)
Actually, my model was a P-51 airspeed.
That's an interesting idea. I guess one could use carpet tape to really tie down the Lexan. I may give it a try, if only as an excuse to run my lathe.
Ron Wanttaja