Panel stamping

[Godzilladat]

Is there a way to get old datsun panels restamped?

If yes, I'm guessing they would only be able to be molded of an original guard or quarter.

No idea of the whole process, but possibly clay or plastic then into another material, til the final cast steel or similiar

Or one of those 3D laser machines to get the shape..

If anyone has any input I'd be keen to here, I know the initial setup costs would be very expensive, but I'm interested in hearing from anyone in the know to see if it's worth while.

Imagine if complete 510 rear quarters and wheel arches were available, would save alot of cars.

[nick_m]

basically tooling is made to suit the hydraulic press that is going to do the work.
Because your talking anything between 20 and 100 Tonnes of pressure to stamp out the panel the surface of the tooling has to be a polished finish as any imperfections in the tooling will be imprinted into the panel. So basically take a nice billet of tool steel put in on the cnc for a couple of days and machine out your positive and negative detail from you two halfs then spend another week polishing the bloody thin to a mirror finish plus all the associated stuff related to stripping the part from tooling etc etc and your probably have a start up cost some where in the vicinity of 150k. You could measure a whole panel with a CMM (co ordinate measuring machine, which can measure any point in space in 3 axis to something like +/- .02mm, we had one at scott's it was kept in an aircon'd room kept at 20deg C all year round and had a granite table) Which would be used in the CAD modeling of the panel to create the tooling.
Basically its a very expensive exercise. The production lines we did at scotts to produce for example the pressed panel of a fridge door would cost in excess of $2million and thats a cheap one. When I say production line I mean put blank sheet in one end and get a door out the other. A machine to stamp A panel wouldn't need to be as complicated.

Thats why most panels are made in china/taiwan as the labour to make the tooling is cheap the labour to assemble it all and polish it all is cheap and the "expertise" is cheap. This is also why most the panels are pretty average as everything from design up is made in china.
So in short unless you stumble on the shed where they are keeping all the old tooling for the 1600 panels. Win Lotto, buy them all, build the production line to press them all and people to run the machines it probably won't happen

[Bartman]

there;s some tawianese outfit that do 1200 panels. With the global market for 510 stuff likely being even greater than the demand for the B110 stuff, you'd think it would be worthwhile for them to start making those also.
However, I heard ages ago when the repro 1200 bonnets were unavailable, that they wouldn't make another run untill they had an order for 1000 units. While (in time) you'd be able to shift that quantity, it would take a fellow with deep pockets to initiate such an order.

[Godzilladat]

Thanks for the replies fellers.

I was told the original stamps used had gone over there life span so were binned or sold for scrap metal.

China was the place I was thinking to get the panels done, I was guessing a bare minimum of around $30k to get something happening, but in all reality it would probably be double.

Hardest part is getting the straight panel to take measurements or cad, then quality control over there etc etc.

If I had the tools or the know how I'd give it a go, unfortunately I've definitely got neither.

I do have some other stuff I'm keen to get designed in cad, any keen for some work? (no panels don't worry )

[nick_m]

I hate to say it but without at the very least being able to do the CAD design you'd probable be looking at a minimum of 100k. especially when you take into account the business trips, progress meetings etc etc etc
Anyway I can do the CAD design for you (not the tooling and panel design stuff, don't have enough time for that ) what do you have in mind?

[Bartman]

OT, but with regards to your efforts to make repro badges,
My old man said he found some bloke in queensland who makes repro parts (including badges) for Chrysler imperials. Sounds like he can make stuff like that.

[Godzilladat]

Thanks Bart, if you find the webpage let me know dude.

Have any of you guys seen or used one of these 3d scanners?

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/vid ... vid=944641" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I reckon a bigger equivalent could probably scan a panel...

[Bartman]

I spoke to my old man about that guy. Aparently he not cheap, and he takes ages. He specialises in making shit that can't be got anywhere else.