My friend is a CNC machinest and is thinking about offering a template service.

Any interrest? He is thinking in terms of CNC cut composite aluminum templates. Rib sets would vary between $10-$15 + shipping depending on amount needed to cut and size. He would offer any template needed but hopes to keep it in a standard package.

Most of the expense seems as though it would be in shipping costs if you want a fuselage template cut. It is all about size in that regard.

He will cut a set of CNC UFO rib templates in the next week or 2 and I will show what he can offer.

I don't think I have ever seen a "template" service before. This seems like it may be a good thing.

Again... Any interrest?

Brian

I have mostly worked with ARF's but I think this would be useful for club projects.  For example our club uses blue foam for making rc combat planes. A set of rugged templates would be very handy.

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I'm thinking there might be something here. The price seems reasonable. I am looking forward to seeing the end result.

Brian

Hi,
I'm interested. Keep us posted.

Jamesf

Brian,

That sounds great!! I know that I would like 3 or 4 templates just off the top of my head.

Keep us posted.

Gene

I would be interested in a set of UFO templates! Maybe two!

Jon

I think it is a pretty good idea for standard type planes. Maybe the Kaos, Dirty Birdy, Kwik Fli, and other lower parts count type planes. If you have a set of hard templates, you could cut a kit in an hour or two. Run a sharp knife around AL rib templates and the ribs would be done in no time.

I'm quite interested. What will be needed to do custom work? Can he scan existing tracings of parts and then produce the templates? I'm looking forward to further information. Aluminum templates should last a long time!
Regards,
Will B.

My understanding is that he can do custom work. If you could produce a pdf or a drawn example, he said he can cut it.

However, I think the goal is to get some orders with a little demand to start, as JeffH suggested. (I'm happy to see demand for the UFO!)

Before any promises are made, I'd like to see the results first. I'll be quick to show them as soon as they are ready.

He was happy to see interrest so soon. This will motivate him to get it going faster... so, thank you!!!

Brian

um, what's composite aluminium?

Great question. I will get an answer from him tomorrow, unless someone else can answer that first.

Brian

i wondered that myself. here is the 1st link i found. going back for more.

http://www.tgdaily.com/trendwatch-fe...n-carbon-fiber

here's another possibility.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_composite_panel

Great a composite aluminum template more expensive and stronger to cut a pattern for "balsa wood". Seems like overkill. What about a 16 ga crs laser cut pattern.

Jim

1/16" AL is all that we need. Something durable enough to handle a knife against it as well as remaning nice and flat over the years.

It would be overkill, however, the price of the product is not in consideration regarding the cost of the product. There are benefits offered to some employees. At this shop, the price paid to recycle unused product is not worth the effort to collect it and store it. So the owner of the company allows its employees to use his shop and scraps for any business of personal use they should wat. In this case, the owner knows what my friend is wanting to do, and is allowing him to use company equipment and scrap material. Pretty cool in my opinion.

Believe me, you are not going to pay for the actual cost to mfg these templates. As you can see, this is more of a "service" then it could ever be a "business."

My friend has been doing this for quite some time with other products. This is just a way I can offer some help to others that have helped me so much.

I understand the questions. I hope I have alleviated the "overkill" idea. It would be if this wasn't such a good deal and so available.

As for what composite aluminum is, here is what my friend told me:

"Yeah, I thought that might come up. Most people know what Composite is, and what Aluminium is but generally you get a shoulder shrug when talking about "Composite Aluminium. Here is the website for the material we use...

http://www.alpolic-usa.com/pages/products.php

It's basically a solid composite core("a fire resistant mineral filled or standard polyethylene core"), either black or white with a thin layer of alumnium on both sides. One side will be nicely painted and the other side will be a various primer color. It is around $1000 for a 16' x 4' sheet. Due to the difficulty of seperating the two of them, the scrap is pretty much worthless (around 4 cents per pound) the only country that wants it is China so after shipping/etc.. it's not worth much. Thats good news for me (us) because I get an abundance of cool material for projects - Brian"

My friend's name is Brian too. This is not me, however.

I believe this to make good material for cutting templates for foam cores as well.

If there are any more questions, please ask. Don't let the quality of the material put you out. It may be too good to use for templates, but that only makes it better, because we can get it so easily.

Brian

ps... Brian ships internationaly as well!!!

Foam core templates - would be great!!

Here are a couple of planes to consider:

UFO
EU1-A
Kaos
Mach 1

I know, my personal list but others may like these too!

Gene

UfO seems to be a definite. (Don't be surprised to see a lot of Joe Bridi options!!!)

Mach 1 and Kaos also considered.

A stick would probably be well received.

A tippo maybe?

Aurora?

I think the pylon and combat planes would make sence.

If I am missing an obvious choice, please tell me.

We'd like to start with something we could make multiple sets for to start. But anything else will be considered.

I like the Tipo and Curare ideas. Dirty Birdy would be another great choice. Deception and Troublemaker would also be popular.

ChiefK

R_G brought up a good point to me that I think I should inform everyone of.

These templates will, for the most part, be an accurate rendering of the templates on the plans, not from corrected plans. If anyone would want to send a corrected plans file to us, we can do that.

These plans all have minor inconsistancies. You would otherwise get what is on the plan.

I know of certain plans that have issues, and these templates I planned to spend some time on if produced. But for the most part, expect what you would see on the original plans.

Still interrested?

Brian

YES!!

Still interested - foam core templates.

Gene

I vote Kaos, Kwik Fli 3, Perigee, and Dirty Birdy.

I think the idea for templates for club racers had the potential to generate the most work for him.

So.... if a plan has a full set of ribs, we can get a full set of templates; and if there is only a root and tip, that's all we can get? But if we can produce a full set of ribs via a program like CompuFoil, would that be considered a "standard" set or a "custom" set?

ChiefK

I would also like to vote for , UFO,KAOS,KWIK FLI,UGLY STIK, TIGERTAIL, and that is just to get started.Any Idea of when this might happen.? Is their any sort of notification list.?


Thanks Bill

ChiefK-
For now we are wanting to keep it simple and easy to get it into your hands asap. "Custom" would be if we had to do the extra work to figure out the templates.

I don't think we are cheating anyone out of anything by this- are we? Maybe I am reading you wrong... Please let me know.

I will show them as soon as he finishes his last order from another idea. I hope you will see them in a week, maybe 2 at the longest.

I will tell you what we will start cutting at that point. Definitely a UFO. A lot of requests for the Dirty Birdy, Kwik Fli and Kaos (which variants?). Look for these right away after I start to post.

PM me with your emails and we will be in touch as soon as I get the message. But please wait until the 1st set is cut, so you can see what it looks like.

I am happy to see such interrest.

Brian