SE wheel centers

[JVaughan]

I know there is a thread for lattice style wheel centers, but thought I would ask if anyone has had made, or is able to make 4x wheel centers for the OZ 5 spoke wheels as fitted to the 400/450SE's & some SEAC's.

Mine are chromed plastic and are starting to split. Would like to get some new ones made from Ali and have them anodised or polished / lacquered or chromed

[JVaughan]

Or, while I think about it .... if I were to find out costs to get a batch made, would there be enough interest to get the unit costs down ??

[gmw9666]

Someone did do a batch of aluminium ones but from memory they were pricey

Would have thought some creative sole could whip up a batch via 3D printing, not exactly a complex shape

[adam quantrill]

I have some on mine - they weren't pricey 'cos I won them in the BBWF raffle! But they are heavy.

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

When it gets a bit warmer, I'm planning to try and make some from GRP / Carbon fibre, they could then be lacquered or painted, or Hydrographic printed.

I have a set of the Ali ones that was made, but they guy who made them said they was a right pain to make and would never make them again.

biggest problem I've got making them is getting some big enough slices of round stock, and finding a way to hold them.

Hence thinking about going to GRP via a mould method

[JVaughan]

Might have a play with some grp / Carbon when the weather improves. Make a mold and take it from there ...

Had a chat with my engineering mate, and the machine setup costs would be too high, and the 3D printing option again is too expensive. (workshop time), and he doesnt have the time to play around in the evenings since his business took off

[gmw9666]

How about just getting a plastic disc made up then paint it

This place quotes £6 ish for one about 20cm x 5mm thick http://www.plasticsheets.com/acrylic-discs-cut-to-...

Ok so you don't get a recess for the tvr badge but are you really going to notice?

[adam quantrill]

Why not get the "acrylic mirror disc" £1.50 job done.

[Wedg1e]

Someone lent me one a few years back, I drew it up in CAD and concluded that you'd have to start with a thick slab (of 'billet' alloy, probably ) and throw most of it away. Or else you'd be making it in pieces and welding it together and that was no easier either.
Plus even with the wall as thin as you could get it, you'd probably be adding 0.00012546892Kg to the unsprung weight

It wouldn't be so bad if the thing was 'flat' but it's not, it has a slight dome, then there's a thicker rim and the boss for the fixing screw.
Somewhere out there will be an injection moulding die, just need to find it

[adam quantrill]

What about metal spinning - could make it in seconds out of sheet aly.

[Wedg1e]

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

biggest problem I've got making them is getting some big enough slices of round stock, and finding a way to hold them.

You may find 6mm plate (although I think fabricators call anything that thin 'sheet' ) would get the meat of it done, perhaps with a bit of say 50mm in the centre bolted through to give something to hold... I forget the precise construction but you could hide the screws with a TVR badge.
The tricky bit is the boss for the retaining screw; I think I'd be tempted to TIG it on late in the process - but not so late that any distortion can't be turned/ milled away.

[adam quantrill]

The replacement ones us a countersunk screw that doesn't require such a deep hole.

What about these - made to measure - ebay item 232202711242....

Edited by adam quantrill on Tuesday 28th February 08:04

[Oz2]

If you can get your hands on an ally one like I have on mine you could use it as a mould cast from it in ally???
It would come out slightly smaller due to shrinkage but I think it would be fine.... the inside could stay rough cast and clean up the front either by machining to even by hand then polish.
Not much metal, no waste material just a bit of elbow grease!
I could price it but I'm in Oz so P&P ???
If the shrinkage was a problem I can make an oversize pattern ...

Just a thought !!

Adam

[mrzigazaga]

I think shrinkage can be avoided by using certain mediums...Putty silicone for instance doesn't shrink and neither do the poly resins.....

[Oz2]

Shrinkage would only be about 1.5%
And no need to plate it.

[adam quantrill]

Te are about 150mm across? So you oould add a 2mm strip of tape around the edge before making the mould. The thickness difference won't be noticeable.

[Oz2]

adam quantrill said:

Te are about 150mm across? So you oould add a 2mm strip of tape around the edge before making the mould. The thickness difference won't be noticeable.

As long as you can maintain the release angle, it's really hard to remove it from the sand otherwise.

[Geoff38]

What about plastic injection moulding ( probably same way originals were made ) ?
Places like this even chrome plate the finished item
http://www.fern-plastics.co.uk/?utm_nooverride=1&a...
Just need someone to knock up a 3D cad picture........

[mrzigazaga]

.....I NEED A 3D PRINTER.....

[JVaughan]

Geoff38 said:

What about plastic injection moulding ( probably same way originals were made ) ?
Places like this even chrome plate the finished item
http://www.fern-plastics.co.uk/?utm_nooverride=1&a...
Just need someone to knock up a 3D cad picture........

Now that is an idea ... I wonder what the costs / unit price is for a production run is.

I recon a run of 100 (25 sets) would be a great start