Hi Graeme.

Thanks for the nice words.

If this was just about building a wooden hull, it would be finished long ago.
The trouble is about being sure to fit engine, gearbox (and those engine rails) together with a huge internal exhaust AND a special designed servo box into a 12 x 56 wooden hull, that actually seems to be MUCH to small for a machinery like this.
For that reason I simply don't dare dressing this mad project up before ALL inside technicalities are in place. Access from the sides is a must for me in the building phase.

Cheers!
Woodie.

Update 28-05-2011.

Still no results regarding the customized aluminium engine rails for engine, gearbox, oilers, etc.
I have set up the drawing on paper, and my son has transferred it for CNC-use by using a test-version of SolidWorks.
But so far it has been impossible to find someone to do the CNC-job for a reasonable price.
We are still trying. If it fails, I will as said turn to the simple solution engaging the jigsaw, drills and files.
Anyway, here's the drawing:


Ahmmm... I guess not. Drawing was scanned to a Tif-file. Putting it here is no worky - so far. Disapointing for me as you really should see this
Any help? What am I doing wrong here?
Maybe someone has an "attach-files-for-idiots" instruction for me?

Woodie...

Woodie, Have you looked into plasma, laser, or water cutting your frames. My father uses this to cut steam loco frames, Luger pistol frames!!, clock parts. He's a fitter & turner by trade, but at 75 has recognised that some technology can be beneficial.
The above cutting methods should be way cheaper than what you've been quoted. Should be well under USD $100. Alternatively have you considered routing. Aluminium can be routed very accuratly these days. Seen these machines operating at a big print show in Australia recently.
David

Hi Kiwi.

Thanks for responding.

Water cutting is very much considered. I know a place where they do this.
"Routing" I don't understand (I'm danish, you know).

Trouble is that I have made a beautiful design of the rails to be cut "in depth" (don't know the rigth phrase) in some places - and from both sides to lighten it and off course also to get a better look.
But that's very pricy, and I'm close to giving that up. (Prices equal to 1.250 USD for two designed rails, each 48 cm with a few extra parts.)

Maybe I just aim too high?

Cheers!
Woodie.

Woodie wrote:
Try uploading it as a FILE (second upload option). Image files must be PNG, JPG or GIF... anything else must be uploaded as a file using the second upload option.


Here is the file (below).

Here it is converted to .jpg for the web.

Marc.

THANKS for posting the drawing of my engine rails above.
YOU ARE THE MAN!

Cheers!
Woodie.

Bl$%&y H$ll what a design. No wonder that it's taken you so long.
Water or plasma cutting should be easy. Only a few minutes.
Assume that the rail thickness will be 6mm or less?
You wouldn't need any more, especially in alloy.

'Routing' like wood routing.
A machine with a small shaped or straight cutter on it.
Typically used on wood. Inlet hinges in doors, rounded edges on tables. Cut slots or channels in wood.
All that can be done on Aluminium these days. In Melbourne 3 weeks ago I saw a high speed router cut steel, aluminium, wood, cardboard, plastic, one after the other.
And really fast. It would do your frames in 3mm Aluminium in under a minute each.
Not sure how fast on thicker. All you do is have the plan printed or drawn onto the medium, the router has a eye and it cuts right on the outside of the line.
It scans your object first, shows you what its seeing, and then it goes for it.
Amazing.

Just realised that your rails seem to be thicker, so water or plasma cutting would be better. Some shop should be able to do that for you for a few beers, or maybe a few dozen beers.

Hey Kiwi.

Yep. The rails are 8 mm thick (must hold a very powerfull and heavy Blata), but they are designed to be both strong and light. In the "engraved" areas material will be routed in a depth of 3 mm from BOTH sides, leaving only 2 mm plate in the middle. In the black areas (and holes) the rail will be cut right through.
But as said before, this does'nt come cheap, and sorry to say I know nobody in the cnc-trade well enough to get the job done for a couple of sixpacks.
The outcome will probably be to pay for a simple watercutting in 6 mm material - or do it myself. In both cases with no routing "in depth".

Anyway, when it's done the whole idea is to make it possible to lift the engine, the gearbox, oilers etc. all together out of one boat and into another just by loosening the 10 suspension bolts. A sort of "multi-boat-solution".

Cheers!
Woodie.

Added same day:

IMPORTANT!

If ANYONE ANYWHERE in the World can help me out with a cnc production of the rails etc. shown in the drawing above for a reasonable price including shipping to my adress in Denmark, - PLEASE let me know.
The material should be good and strong aluminium.
I will provide and send CAD-compatible drawings with english text to the company.

Your help will be VERY much appreciated.

My personal mail adress is: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.