Anybody want Bright Lights? (Pics Added!), Lens Reflector Refinishing (Gauging interest) Options

[SchantzMD]

So I'm down to my last quarter at Cal Poly Pomona and the last thing I have to do to get my degree is finish one class and complete a Senior design project. Therefore over the next 12 weeks I'll be building a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) machine which will be capable of creating a very high vacuum, heating & vaporizing aluminum, and depositing it as a super shiny/reflective coating on a substrate.

In order to recoup some of my project cost (I've spent almost $2k already, damn this school thing is expensive! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) ) I'm hoping to redo some fog light reflectors, front turn signal buckets, and maybe even some tail/brake/reverse light reflectors (Note: there may be a heat transfer issue on the rear reflectors since they're plastic, so I may not be able to coat them).

So the question for you guys:

Would you be interested in freshly coated reflectors for your lights and if so would $75-$100 for a reconditioned set seem reasonable? Keep in mind this will be dependent on being able to recreate a 98%-100% factory finish and that there will be a fair amount of material cost & prep time associated with each set of 2 reflectors done. Also, this will most likely have to be based on an "exchange" basis. To be honest I don't even know if I'll mess with this endevour yet or if I'll just sell the PVD machine when I'm done, so as of right now this is just a feeler.


Thanks in advance for the input!
Mike

[SchantzMD]

So after 250-300 hrs of work I finally have my PVD system up and going for my senior project.

Link to the Picasa album build thread

https://picasaweb.google.com/11660191837549...gCJavv_KzkOeHag

The entire thing was built from used vacuum pumps, kitchen parts, aquarium parts, old car parts, scrap steel, clock parts, stuff from Home Depot, oh yeah,... and a little bit of putty.

What's funny is that the finished product matched my initial design specs to a tee, and I ended up achieving an High Vacuum (HV) level of .000005 Torr which is only one order of magnitude less than what a lot of Aerospace firms test satellites in,... (so I've been told).

I also had a 1st run deposition attempt on a fog light reflector and surprisingly I was able to make it look like new again!

I'm going to keep playing around with this and see what else I can coat, maybe with some luck I'll be able to do front turn signal buckets and rear reflectors!

All I know is now it's beer thirty time!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)