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Posted by: PanelBilly Sep 13 2006, 10:06 PM

I own a business that manufactures furniture and I was thinking of making a dash plate out of laminate. The hard part is drawing the pattern in CAD. The easy part is loading the program into the CNC router and seeing the end product in a few minutes.

I buy a lot of laminate and there are some pretty cool patterns available. They has recently come out with woodgrains that have texture so it even feels like wood. The new HD patterns look 3D.

I was thinking about doing the work for my car, but if some other folks would like one too, that would help motivate me.

Let me know if this has already been done.

Posted by: bd1308 Sep 13 2006, 10:28 PM

wood grain pattern would be cool.

id go for one.

i thought about getting some teak wood from a vintage car and trimming it down for use in the 914. I thought a teak panel would be cool

this seems easier though

Posted by: PanelBilly Sep 13 2006, 10:37 PM

Wood is a pain to finish and hard to keep looking nice. The laminate will last longer than you want it to, just look in most kitchens. I'm thinking the cost would be like $80, provided I'm using a 30x96 laminate. Some of the patterns are only sold in 48x96 and larger so that would be more like $105.

Posted by: bd1308 Sep 13 2006, 10:39 PM

WAIT!?

pm me some samples of your colors. I have a question about something i'm trying to work on.

Posted by: Aaron Cox Sep 13 2006, 11:25 PM

hard part is indeed the cad file...

i ended up doing it by hand....

Posted by: PanelBilly Sep 13 2006, 11:38 PM

Colors....check on line Wilsonart, Formica, Nevamar, Pionite or see them in person at your Home Depot/ Lowes in the kitchen remodeling department

Formica's new wood has the deep grain texture and Wilsonart's has a tiny "ticking" that looks like wood that was finished and the slight imperfections in the wood made little mars in the finish. Funny how slight engineered "flaws" can make something look more natural.

My favorite is the new Wilsonart that has bumpy finish. Its more of a marble pattern. Then again a few months ago I got to fly around the country in Wilsonart's new Lear jet. Standing right behind the two pilots while they fly thru a mountain pass was a kick.

Buy more Wilsonart, I want to take another trip

Posted by: PanelBilly Sep 13 2006, 11:41 PM

I got a kid who gets paid to do this...I wouldn't try it myself. Too many curves.

Posted by: 736conver Sep 14 2006, 01:10 AM

I have it in DWG. Also have it as a file for a CNC plasma cutter.

Posted by: Bartlett 914 Sep 14 2006, 05:10 AM

I like the idea. I hope you will post some pictures and prices.

Mark

Posted by: jimkelly Sep 14 2006, 05:22 AM

I would think milling bumper tops from corian or similar softish solid plastic like materiial would be good for someone with a cnc machine.

Posted by: Vacca Rabite Sep 14 2006, 10:05 AM

If yo are doing dash panels, you should consider inside door panels as well.

Okay, I am considering inside wood door panels and dash. I was just going to cut them myself, but if there is a CNC cut product...

Zach

Posted by: Moneypit Sep 14 2006, 10:25 AM

Aluminum steel or chrome would be awesome. i know wilsons has the stuff. id definately buy a brushed aluminum dash panel.

Posted by: East coaster Sep 14 2006, 11:51 AM

I did a brushed stainless laminate. I think it makes sense. Laminates are light, strong, easy to keep clean and won't scratch as esily as alum or SS. (and don't get finger prints, like SS)

I cut mine freeform with a roto-zip

Posted by: toon1 Sep 14 2006, 01:16 PM

sorry for the hijack. Are those 6" speakers mounted in the stock speaker panels??

Posted by: Aaron Cox Sep 14 2006, 02:00 PM

Morph speaker panels as seen on ebay

Posted by: 914nerd Sep 14 2006, 02:06 PM

I would definitely go for a dash panel and door panels if someone started making them
so, you should definitely do it
it sounds like you would have a fair market around here

Posted by: toon1 Sep 14 2006, 02:16 PM

thanks Aaron, sorry for the hijack

Posted by: Lavanaut Sep 14 2006, 02:27 PM

Me too. I've spent a fair amount of time looking for this very thing. I found "real" brushed aluminum at 9xauto.com. I know nothing about them though, and was somewhat disuaded by the feel of their website.

I'd be all for supporting someone from the Club making these, though, especially at ~$80 price point...

Posted by: 7T Porsha Sep 14 2006, 02:33 PM

I was hoping 736conver would start doing those aluminum panels again.

This laminate idea sounds good too!

Posted by: 736conver Sep 14 2006, 02:42 PM

Time is becoming really short for me lately. I have all the stock just need to find the time to cut them.

Posted by: Headrage Sep 14 2006, 02:58 PM

I would be interested.

I would also like to see center console panels.