Laser Cutting
 

I'm building a biplane that has 128 wing ribs of 1/16 stock. Chord is 6 1/2 inches. I'm wondering if there is anyone who laser cuts such small jobs. I don't look forward to cutting them all out by hand.

RE: Laser Cutting
 

I'm sure there is Someone who would laser cut them for you but cost would be prohibitive.
do you have a band saw? or a good scroll saw? if so stack them 10 at a time and cut them out that way. I use an OLD cast iron frame Craftsman scroll saw, and I can cut 11/4" thick w/it.
still a bit tedious with as many as you have to cut, but better than 1 at a time!
a few years ago I had an idea for a contra rotating prop, gear box, and I wanted a proto type built. A local machine shop specializes in CNC machining of miniature parts for gun, aerospace, and computer industry. I went in with my blue prints and asked what it would cost for the parts to be built. The answer I got was " we can build you 1 unit or 10,000 units and the price would be the same." I was a little confused untill he explained the 100s of hours it takes to program all the different machines to do what they should.[&o] so I went home.

RE: Laser Cutting
 

Try giving Eddie at Action Hobbies/Lazer Works a call. 940-766-2667.

RE: Laser Cutting
 

Try laser lizard out of Chico TX jessie might do it. good luck.

RE: Laser Cutting
 

JakeLuke,
Do you have the ribs drawn in CAD already? If not you will most likely have to pay the laser cutter a nominal fee to draw them up before they can cut them. Not trying to scare you from using a laser cutter. In fact, I recommend Laser Lizard as well (www.laserlizard.com).

RE: Laser Cutting
 

Jakeluke;

I scratch build all my projects.

The easy thing about biplanes is that they use just one rib size repeated a bunch of times.

Here is what I do. I make two identical light plywood ribs. Next I drill two 1/4 inch holes on the center line of the ribs, spaced a few inches apart. Then I free hand cut a bunch of balsa rib blanks, bigger then what I need. I sandwich about 20 or 25 ribs at a time between the two plywood ribs and bolt them together using a long lagbolt.
Next I take a sanding block and shape 25 ribs all at once. Balsa sands easy, takes all of two minites to do all 25, no joke.

I build my wings, using two carbon shafts going through the same holes. This lines the ribs up perfectly.

You could finish all the ribs you need, including the plywood templet in less then 1/2 hour.

Hope this helps

tonyc