16" wheel centres?

[silverbullet]

Since there seems to be a bit of a problem with supply (there ain't none and Classic aren't going to re-run them) I'm going to develop a program for engraving the VW roundel into wheel centres. Initially to help out those who can't find anything to tidy up the middle of their Mefros or Merc steels a-la 16" but I'll be able to scale this up or down for anything, including lasercutting etc.
Piccy when I've got somewhere with it.

[sandwedge]

Do you have the part number for the original part, I will see if the drawing exists, as I could do with a replacement for my missing one.

Tooling up using a rapid prototype process might be cheep enough, I estimate that a silicon tool for this part would be around 600 notes from memory and will make around 25 parts.
6K for an aluminium tool that will make around 20000 parts.

UPDATE

Drawing still exists, would anyone be interested in having a new set, if there enough interest I will take this further.

[silverbullet]

OK Ian, Go for it. This had been mentioned and muttered about recently but since 16" wheel centres are a rare item, spares are now impossible to aquire. The problem comes when folks go for Mefros or Mercs in the 15 or 16" and the centres don't stay put...a few turns of black insulating tape and fingers crossed don't really do the job.

[syncropatrick]

I'm interested in this. I have 16" Mefros with after market plastic centre caps with a VW sticker stuck on the face. The caps are held on with Sikaflex which is a bit messy. I have 5 wheels.

[sandwedge]

knocked this up on CAD after work, from the drawing, will try and get costs for rapid prototypes and aluminium tooling this week.



TBH I cant afford to pay for tooling but a small batch of vac cast silicon tooled parts maybe doable.

Sorry Ian not trying to hijack your thread if you want the CAD to run with let me know.

[v-lux]

Based on those kind of costings, wont they end up prohibitively expensive for a set of 5?

[..lee..]

got a brand new set just before they ran out.....

[silverbullet]

Sandwedge, it's OK I was only going to do a line-engraving program for oddsnsods.
Your effort is far better than I could produce we don't have full 3D milling
Al -let's see what the industry contacts can turn up for us eh?
It's all yours, Ian.
PS we need to work out a "which Ian is which" without using our full handles

Lee - you are a lucky fella. Classic Parts aren't going to run them, as there's no margin in it for them as the sales numbers they project are too small. There's room for the little man still.

[sandwedge]

Vlux I will shop around and see if its possible to get aluminium tooling cheaper,
I personally think that 6K is probably about right based on experience, as for silicon tooling again 600 quid would be about right.
If you know of anyone who can make the tool for less I would like to know as spending 6K is beyond me, and I think trying to sell 20000 caps is probably over kill

I will ask if its possible to cast a resin tool of a rapid prototype this should make it possible to make a larger batch than 25.

[toomanytoys]

I have a "tame" injection moulder that does my short shifter kits...
Could be worth asking them.... they are very flexible as they are small and niche market orientated...

I should be able to better the 6k... and smaller batch runs too...

Oh.. I have a set of slightly used (been on a couple of times) that I can send as pattern too..

[syncropatrick]

Peeps with other VW vehicles may be interested. In Germany at the Bullimuseum carpark there was a Bay with original Syncro 16" caps on. Looked good as well. No photo sorry.

[sandwedge]

Ok Toomanytoys

Can you forward me their contact details and I will get the CAD sent over for cost or the drawing if they dont use CAD.

Thanks

Ian

[silverbullet]

This is so cool I'm putting it up again!

[Simon Baxter]

The machine shop across from me builds tools for plastic injection moulding.
http://www.faulknermoulds.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[sandwedge]

Cheers Simon

I will have a chat with them tomorrow.