Planning E22 - Grill design //Optic

So I just finished a prototype for a 240mm radiator grill and thought I would share and hopefully get some opinions



I'll get a video up of the machining process later today

 

OH hello.

Recessed holes are nice touch..it also took me a good 10s to work out that said E22 in the middle

 

Either brushed like a Lian Li side panel, or chromed. Then with blue backlighting. Would look positively awesome! (well more than it does at the moment)

 

Thanks man, the plexi is only 3mm thick so the recess could only be 1mm to keep the strength needed. That means the top of a cap screw will still poke up but it looks a darn site better than just sitting on the surface
Can imagine you getting closer and closer to the screen trying to decipher it

Cheers Picarro, I'm just running the prototypes out on plexi at the moment due to cost but I'm hoping to move to aluminium in a few days and then I'll see about getting them brushed and anodized

 

I really like it, maybe grab plexi that's a bit taller so that you can fully recess the screws?

I think it looks great, did you design it and have it laser cut or did you do it yourself?

 

^^ unfortunately, I'd have to disagree. Having done lots of plexi work in the past, 3mm thick is the ideal thickness, 5mm grills just don't look right.

I think you'd do better with slightly recessed button-heads than a full recessed hole using thicker plexi.

 

Thanks mansueto, I designed and milled it myself. I'm just sorting out the video now of the cutting process
I have also milled a few 5mm thick designs but like Mankz says 5mm just looks way to "fat" even with bevelled edges. I'll get a design that looks right in 5mm soon though

 

i second that in chromed out aluminum billet or smoked plexi.

 

Yeah , thats very nice.

 

Thanks guys, I'll be working on some other materials soon


Well here is the video of the machine running after doing some other bits I realised that I was out of double sided tape to hold the plexi down so there's a little flexing on the central part when the cutter makes contact. the grill came out clean with a lovely smooth finish though



Also here is another picture showing the grill as a whole a little better.

 

Looks really good in that last pic.

How about trying another one but first sand the face of the plexi so you get a frosted effect? I have such a soft spot for that

 

That looks really sick!

 

Any particular colour frosting Mankz? I'll be placing another material order at the beginning of next week so I may as well grab a sheet of frosted too

Thanks Sponge

 

Me like. I gives me an urge to do something with the light grey stuff in my stockpile.
The pattern looks a heck of a lot like something I was working on today.

 

Thanks dude, apart from going crazy with swirls and what not I cant see much more you can do in the way of design related slots Be sure to share your creations!

 

what kind of cnc do you have ?

 

I'm running a High-Z T100 with a Kress 1050W spindle
have to say I'm very impressed so far with the results and build quality

 

Mini Res

Been playing again with prototypes, this time working on a "mini" res (110mm x 70mm x 30mm)

 

Been working on a new design, nearly ready to start a batch in aluminium

 

Nice designs as usual.

I like seeing your cnc videos.

Didnt realise you can cut metals though, or are you sending out to be laser cut?

Are you using work machines? or do you have theese at home type premises.