Feeler FS/Group Buy (very early stages), Custom Machined Guage Cluster Covers Options

[creis]

Just gathering some opinions and interest on a side project I'm putting together.

I'm designing a new guage cluster cover for my subaru and celica that will replace the entire OEM cluster face plates and bezle with a single custom designed peace. Its going to be machined from aluminum and fit exactly in place of the original peaces that make up the cluster. this allows for a compleatly new LED backlit design although would not require it. Would anyone be interested in making this a group buy? once I finalize the design I can probably get up to 30 of the celica onces made. I'm compleatly open to anyones design ideas. The cost is compleatly up in the air but the more I have made the less they cost each, and its not my intention to make a profit on this just figured i'ed offer it as a group buy if enough people want in.

I dont yet have a model for the celica cluster but below is a screen of the progress on my subaru's design.


anyway, let me know your ideas, designs and if your interested.

put in off topic to be safe, as at the moment I'm just collecting ideas and checking intrest.

This post has been edited by creis: Mar 12, 2008 - 8:00 AM

[goferris]

i would need to see more pics on the design for the celi before i could really say much.
possibly interested though

[CelicaST_CALI]

have u talked to coomer about ur group buy yet???

ya i might be interested

[96bluevert]

Wasn't Griffgirl also working on some custom gauges for the 6gc? I'd have to see the finished product before I could say if I'd be really interested or not. The sketch of the subie's looks like a cool design, you thinking of making the celi one similar?

[presure2]

all group buys need to be approved by chris at this time.

please have all your ducks in a row before aproaching him.
who is makeing said product, how you are aquiring it, production times, dates, delievery info ect is all needed.

[j0e_p3t]

i'd be interested. depending on cost and how it looks.

[creis]

all group buys need to be approved by chris at this time.

please have all your ducks in a row before aproaching him.
who is makeing said product, how you are aquiring it, production times, dates, delievery info ect is all needed.

Compleatly Understood, at this time I'm not trying to start a group buy I'm just trying to guage intrest to see if its worth having more then one made. If I do end up having a bunch of them made I wont be collecting any money for them untill they have already been created and delivered to me. so it would be more like a fs then a genuine group buy.

I'm pretty much planning the celica one to have the same style but I kinda have a diff idea for it as well. as soon as I get the ruff designs down I'll post pics

[presure2]

all group buys need to be approved by chris at this time.

please have all your ducks in a row before aproaching him.
who is makeing said product, how you are aquiring it, production times, dates, delievery info ect is all needed.

Compleatly Understood, at this time I'm not trying to start a group buy I'm just trying to guage intrest to see if its worth having more then one made. If I do end up having a bunch of them made I wont be collecting any money for them untill they have already been created and delivered to me. so it would be more like a fs then a genuine group buy.

I'm pretty much planning the celica one to have the same style but I kinda have a diff idea for it as well. as soon as I get the ruff designs down I'll post pics

excellent.
just PM one of us when your ready, and we'll get ya approved and running in no time.
cant wait to see the design!

[97lestyousay]

I dont yet have a model for the celica cluster but below is a screen of the progress on my subaru's design.


anyway, let me know your ideas, designs and if your interested.

I'm not really sure on the details for the suby what gets cut, where. From the pic above
I see lots of square corners. Keep in mind a machine uses bits called endmills similar to
a drill bit, but for cutting sideways instead of down like a drill. From a manufacturing stand
point, try to avoid sharp inside corners. The smaller the inside radius the smaller tool that has to be used
to cut it. Smaller tools have less strength and have to be run at lower feedrates thus taking more time and adding cost to the end product. I am very curious to see the celica one, if you want me to do a machine sim
solid render of it let me know I would be happy to do so, and try to help you streamline your design
so manufacturing is cheaper for you.

[creis]

^ Thanks, will deff contact you on it. The initial idea for the subaru one is that the squares going accross the guages are not thru cut just engraved.

I'm going to make the celica one quite a bit diffarent I think, but I have not had time to take out my guages and map em, will be doing it later in the week.

[GriffGirl]

^ contact me if you're interested in working together. I've already started the design stage.

[creis]

^ interested but I wana get things figured out first.

So after taking apart my cluster and seeing how best to fit a peace to it replacing the exsisting componets (guage faces and cover) I'm thinking about doing it diffarently...

I'm thinking about making 5 thin peaces to replace the stock guage faces (probably laser-cut as 1 peace to save cost) and then a machined trim peace. would make the design a bit easyer. I'm considering having the trim peace anodized a dark gray.

As usualy I did not have enough time to put down the design but should be able to get it started by this weekend, if not almost compleated.

[GriffGirl]

Have you thought about doing it as an overlay of some sort? I've run into the issue of this... I don't want to remove the needles, as they'll be a complete PITA to recalibrate. I don't think other people will want to either.

Anyway PM me if you want, let's put your engineering skills and my art degree to good use, eh?

[creis]

I though about making it an easy slide on kinda thing but it would make it look like crap if it had big holes to clear the needles i think, Its not to hard to pull off the needles and put back on, was kinda thinking if people wanted I would do it for em, just send me the clustser and cash and I would install, its only really hard the first time once you figure out how/where to pop the needles back it its not a big deal, or atleast i dont think so.

pm sent...

[lubu]

Sounds good.Im very interested and in for a set.

[jazzcornet]

any chance on making one for an sw20? i'd be in