QUOTE(worn @ Jul 30 2015, 11:00 AM)
QUOTE(914forme @ Jul 30 2015, 10:52 AM)
Oh nice and great job
I'll take one, I need it for my 914-6 restoration.
Now onto lettering.
Silkscreening, is the way to go. But the
this is how New Vintage started their gauges.
Well I have my positive and my lamp so I will let you know. Have to screen them flat and then press, cause I am real rusty on silk screening. In my day we cut stencils out of tracing paper and used the ink to hold them on the screen.
Do you think that other method is better?
I tried two exposures with the inexpensive silk screen kit to make the stencils. Had I tried this first I would have stopped, cause they aren't horrible. But they are all a bit off. The high exposure leaves things out and the lower exposure of the emulsion made everything too blocky. I might in time get it, but it would be hard.
This is a screen emulsion after exposure and wash. I was psyched at this stage. If it was for a T-shirt it would be great.
Click to view attachmentI went back to the press-on vinyl with some mods in technique.
So what do you think about this:
Click to view attachmentIf it doesn't fall apart on it's own, it is what will go into the car.
I also decided to follow Andy's method and simplify the wiring. Especially as the LED runs 4 wires for the colors.
Deutsch connectors from Jegs/ebay.
Click to view attachment So the back looks like this. It says 11/85 and is from I think the donor car for the 3.2. However there are only 3 spade connectors for the tach part. I think that is all I need: power, ground, and signal.
Click to view attachment If you have any insight into wiring the tach to the DME I would welcome it.
Also, I have had enough for awhile. I want to hear the motor crank more than have a cute gauge. Do you think it is good enough as a stopping point? I will be back at it as the snow closes us in, but for now.
As for distribution.
I have some ideas yet to try to make them easier to make and better in quality. A laser printable substrate with the right texture and enough stretch for the curves is what I am looking for. It need not be self stick. This vinyl may be good enough.
Or a quality screen print on the metal before forming.
A) They have to be good enough. Not sure they are yet.
B) This has taken so much time that I would only send them out for free to individuals who would use them.
C) I am sort of interested in making entire gauges ready to plug and play. To do that the quality would have to be there and we would need to decide how authentic they need be. My stash of gauge pots is limited, but one could make substitutes with air motors. If we go that way, I will let my son do the work, and he will ask for some compensation. Unfortunately he favors French and British marques,