CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
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CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
I cut the following bikes from 11 gauge (1/8") steel. I put as much detail into the 19" long figures as I thought possible, keeping at least .150" between interior parts and lines.
BSA Gold Star, Vincent Black Shadow, Matchless 500 single, Ariel Square four, Triumph Bonneville TT Special, Norton Commando, Indian Chief (USA), and early Triumph Thunderbird. So far, I have applied some paint to three.
BSA Gold Star, Vincent Black Shadow, Matchless 500 single, Ariel Square four, Triumph Bonneville TT Special, Norton Commando, Indian Chief (USA), and early Triumph Thunderbird. So far, I have applied some paint to three.
- Larry83301
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Very nice job! Thanks for the pic.
Larry
Larry
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Great work on the motorcycles! I assume your table is diy, but it sort of reminds me of the original Langmuir Crossfire. I happen to own several Norton Commandos and several of the Triumphs as well. If you don't mind sharing, perhaps you could upload your dxf files for those two bikes. I would love to cut one of each for display here in the shop.
Thanks,
David
Thanks,
David
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Awesome. Great job. Very impressive.
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
I just ran across your post on the other forum. I think there may be a limited market for these as far as selling the finished product goes. Even and $100 per piece (finished, painted, and mounted). You can take a look on Etsy and search for similar sized items for comparison. For me personally making and selling these would not be the most efficient use of my time. In fact, for me this is just an interesting hobby. I think it just boils down to what your time is worth. There may be some interest from folks wanting to purchase the dxf files, but another thing to consider is that it is fairly easy to simply screen shot your photo and auto-trace/dxf from the image. So maybe better just to keep it a fun hobby.
Good luck with your endeavor.
David
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... es.491054/
Good luck with your endeavor.
David
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/thr ... es.491054/
Last edited by adbuch on Wed Jan 26, 2022 11:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Here are some similar results for vintage motorcycle dxf files. These sell for about $1.00 per file, and the collection of 24 is $24.99. But I must say that I have seem some of these exact files being offered by other sellers in their collections. Unless these are individually copyrighted, then I suppose they are fair game.
David
https://www.etsy.com/listing/894538492/ ... ro=1&sts=1
David
https://www.etsy.com/listing/894538492/ ... ro=1&sts=1
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
I actually own both the T120 (Bonneville) and TR6R (Trophy) versions of the bike shown below. T120 is the UK version, and T120R is the US version. Mine is an original UK bike exported privately at some point by one of the owners.
David
David
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
I was in the business of manufacturing CNC plasma tables (Torchmate) for many years. Since I sold the company 10 years ago, I have continued to play around with the process for fun. I don't want to, or need to sell the above shapes, although it has been interesting to see the reactions and opinions of people who have seen them on various forums.
- acourtjester
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Nice selection of bikes I assume those are on display in your home office. thanks for posting.
DIY 4X4 Plasma/Router Table
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Running out of places to put them - won't stop though! Of course there are others:
- acourtjester
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
great to see the joy in your work, I'm sure there is a smile on your face as you add to the collection.
DIY 4X4 Plasma/Router Table
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Lots of great work there! What design software are you using? Are these mostly original designs, or based on existing photographs or other imagery?
David
David
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
I do it all up to and including creating dxf files in CorelDraw, which I have used for many years. I trace over photographs for bikes and other objects I want to be somewhat realistic. This isn't too tough once you become familiar with node editing. Automatic tracing requires too much cleanup unless the background is white, and then only for the basic outline.
Many, if not most of the dxf files available on-line are unworkable in the real world. They can contain cutouts within cutouts, lines that are too close together, and internal shapes that crowd each other. Some are too complex unless they shape is gargantuan. Clipart and other art work found on line at least gives you an idea of what you want.
Many, if not most of the dxf files available on-line are unworkable in the real world. They can contain cutouts within cutouts, lines that are too close together, and internal shapes that crowd each other. Some are too complex unless they shape is gargantuan. Clipart and other art work found on line at least gives you an idea of what you want.
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
I really haven't purchased any dxf files online, but have created many using the auto-trace/edit approach. You are correct that some images are not well suited to auto-trace, while others can be edited first with Paint.net or similar to convert to black/white and adjust brightness/contrast. I personally generally use Inkscape for my auto-traces as I find that usually produces the best/cleanest result. But I do use CorelDraw, Design Edge, Aspire, LightBurn, VinylMaster, ProtoMax, and several others as the need arises. For manual trace I like Design Edge and Coreldraw, as I find them to be the most powerful and easiest to use for my purposes.
David
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Must have had a tip up or something on that Horseman piece, it looks like the head got cut off. I hate when that happens!
I think I'm the oldest 10 year old boy on the forum...
- acourtjester
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Ah yes to young to remember Disney’s THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
DIY 4X4 Plasma/Router Table
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Tmate - are you willing to share your file for the Norton? If so, then it will be much appreciated.Tmate wrote: ↑Thu Jan 27, 2022 12:24 am I was in the business of manufacturing CNC plasma tables (Torchmate) for many years. Since I sold the company 10 years ago, I have continued to play around with the process for fun. I don't want to, or need to sell the above shapes, although it has been interesting to see the reactions and opinions of people who have seen them on various forums.
Thanks,
David
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Added color to the Matchless 500.
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Nice job Bill! Thanks for posting the updated photo of the Matchless. What type of paint are you using, and how are you applying it?
Thanks,
David
Thanks,
David
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
I'm using a Ace Hardware spray paint and a lot of painter's tape. If necessary, I touch up spots with a small brush. The spray paint dries in minutes, so I don't have to wait very long to apply tape over it and move on to the next section. I'm very much a beginner at painting this stuff.
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Tmate wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 12:02 am I'm using a Ace Hardware spray paint and a lot of painter's tape. If necessary, I touch up spots with a small brush. The spray paint dries in minutes, so I don't have to wait very long to apply tape over it and move on to the next section. I'm very much a beginner at painting this stuff.
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Bill - I use Rustoleum spray cans pretty much exclusively for my cnc plasma projects. These are usually gifts for family members for Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. - mainly "yard art" type stuff. They seem to like them.
David
David
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Bill - what would be handy would be if you still had your laser cutter and you cut the individual masking templates from thin cardboard and simply placed them over the parts that you have already painted. Or if you have a Cricut you could cut masking templates from removable vinyl, paper, etc. It might be more work than just using the masking tape/paper - but could be some fun to try.
David
David
- acourtjester
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Or you could have one of these
and use oramask 813 stencil film
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174581141812?h ... SwKcxf8SCF
and use oramask 813 stencil film
https://www.ebay.com/itm/174581141812?h ... SwKcxf8SCF
DIY 4X4 Plasma/Router Table
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
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Re: CNC Plasma Cut Vintage Motorcycles
Very cool idea. Since I am only doing one-off stuff, I don't want to put as much work into designing a painting mask as I did into coming up with the basic design. Unfortunately, I doubt that the same dxf/G-code files could be used for both due to the kerf width discrepancy.acourtjester wrote: ↑Sat Jan 29, 2022 9:55 am Or you could have one of these
and use oramask 813 stencil film