Aluminum instrument panel finish?

In article ,
" jls" wrote:

"Richard Riley" wrote in message
...
I've just finished machining my instrument panel. It is (I say with
no small pride) nice. Milled out of 2024T3 3" thick, reduced to .120
with .120 webs between each instrument and around the perimeter.

Now the question is: how should it be finished? Polished? Engine
turned? Anodized? Clear powder coat?

Alodine it and then put up a frilly little placard that says 24K. It would
be reminiscent of you.



If you first polish it, then dip it in alodyne, it will look like a
piece of gold jewelry.

"Richard Riley" wrote in message


3 inches thick down to 0.120 ??!!!
How long did it take to machine?
Can you post a link to a photo?

I don't have a photo up anywhere, when I do I'll post a link here.

It took a little over a day on a 5 axis Haas.

Let me ask the dumb question, then: Why start with a 3" thick piece of
aluminum if you intended to take it down to 0.12"? Seems to me to be a lot
of wasted metal...

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
____________________

From: guynoir
Date: 2/2/2004 1:43 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id: . net

Here's my experience with Anodizing. I liked it a lot.
http://www.eaa292.org/noon_patrol/dec_00/p1010006.jpg


That's a thing of beauty. Leaving the rivets uncoloured was a good touch. How
will you keep them from corroding?

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

From: "Bill Chernoff"
Date: 2/2/2004 9:30 AM Central Standard Time
Message-id: w2uTb.380284$X%5.120673@pd7tw2no

3 inches thick down to 0.120 ??!!!
How long did it take to machine?
Can you post a link to a photo?

thanks

I think he's yanking our collective legs. Just think of the price of 3"
aluminum versus 1/2".

Dan, U.S. Air force, retired

"Richard Riley" wrote in message
...
I've just finished machining my instrument panel. It is (I say with
no small pride) nice. Milled out of 2024T3 3" thick, reduced to .120
with .120 webs between each instrument and around the perimeter.

Now the question is: how should it be finished? Polished? Engine
turned? Anodized? Clear powder coat?

Engine-turned then clear powder coat. Yeah, that's what I'd do.

After that much effort, why finish it off with the same methods used
by every other aircraft on the line? You should go for something
unique. Something that really sets your plane apart. Something that
says "I just gotta be me!":

http://panel.notlong.com

LOLOL Too funny! I love it!

As long as he doesn't plan on selling it anytime soon...


"Daniel" wrote in message
om...
Richard Riley wrote ...
I've just finished machining my instrument panel. It is (I say with
no small pride) nice. Milled out of 2024T3 3" thick, reduced to .120
with .120 webs between each instrument and around the perimeter.

Now the question is: how should it be finished? Polished? Engine
turned? Anodized? Clear powder coat?



After that much effort, why finish it off with the same methods used
by every other aircraft on the line? You should go for something
unique. Something that really sets your plane apart. Something that
says "I just gotta be me!":

http://panel.notlong.com

Daniel



Posted Via Usenet.com Premium Usenet Newsgroup Services
----------------------------------------------------------
** SPEED ** RETENTION ** COMPLETION ** ANONYMITY **
----------------------------------------------------------
http://www.usenet.com

"Marco Leon" mleon(at)optonline.net wrote in message
...
As long as he doesn't plan on selling it anytime soon...

Selling a homebuilt is not consistent with the regulatory advantages
provided to those building their own airplane, that they intend to operate.
That Authority belongs at a DAS.

On 02 Feb 2004 19:17:35 GMT, (B2431) wrote:

:
:I think he's yanking our collective legs. Just think of the price of 3"
:aluminum versus 1/2".
:
an, U.S. Air force, retired

It wasn't that bad, the blank was 115 lbs, just over $300 with tax -
that's surplus, at $2.50/lb. Max Industries in Gardena, CA.

I wouldn't have done it except 1) it's a tandem airplane, so the
instrument panel is small and 2) I had access to a CNC machine for
free.

The down side is that it makes changing anything impossible.

"Tarver Engineering" wrote in message ...

"Marco Leon" mleon(at)optonline.net wrote in message
...
As long as he doesn't plan on selling it anytime soon...

Selling a homebuilt is not consistent with the regulatory advantages
provided to those building their own airplane, that they intend to operate.
That Authority belongs at a DAS.

More drivel. The only thing that a builder is afforded over anyone else
who owns a homebuilt is eligibility to sign off the annuals.