Re: Now if this could be used to make Packard parts

Posted by Mike O'Handley On 2011/8/4 19:59:34

Hi,

Actually, though Jay is "well heeled" this machine is not that expensive. I saw that video about a year ago, so I didn't watch it this time; however, if memory serves, that machine costs less than $5K.

It's kind of wondrous and it's kind of sad at the same time. As a young man, I worked as a mechanic for a short time in a huge foundry in Connecticut and I used to marvel at the intricate patterns made out of wood in the pattern shop there. One of these machines can probably put a whole shop full of old time pattern makers out of work by producing patterns in a fraction of the time it takes to fabricate them by hand.

If you're a machine shop that specializes in recreating parts for classoc cars and you need something to create accurate patterns to work from, that machine is a very good investment. In fact, it would probably be a good investment for a club. Members could replicate the part they need in 3D and then turn it over to a machine shop/forge so that the machine shop could use that pattern to exactly recreate the part needed.

Have you ever watched that Discovery Channel show, American Chopper? They have a water jet milling machine that can cut very intricate parts out of solid metal using only water and a computerized pattern keyed into the machine. Imagine coupling this technology to something like that!

Mike O'Handley
Kenmore, WA