Machined Spools for Redline...What do U Think???

R1formetoo said:

Fair enough, then how do you make them black. Anodize them, haven't seen black anodizing, does it exist? Any other ideas. And in reference to Moto's comment, I thought about that and its a good idea. They are about 1.25 inches long at the moment, you think thats long enough to effectively save a swingarm? I'll be glad to make a few sets of different length spools (when I get a lathe) and send them to someone who can then install them and push his bike over and see if they work. j/k

Ian

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You get can damn near any color you want with anodizing. It's fairly cheap to do in large batches, too.

Locally, I can get a basket full of things in any color I want for $50. Doesn;t matter if I want 3 things done or 300 - as long as it fits in the dipping basket - then it's $50. I'm guessing about 100 spools would fit in there.

The length should fine at 1.25". Mine are about the samer and they've saved a few guys' swingarms. A few arcer friends of mine think that 1.25" is too long as they grind and lift the rear wheel. They also like plastic over aluminum as it'll grind away without lifting. But this is only a problem for 0.005% o fthe people out there.

I've made a million spools over the years, let me know if I can help you out with any questions - or lathe set up, etc.

What kind of lathe did you get? Manual or CNC? What kind fo DRO's?

Good looking parts! Good luck with them!

Eric

Earache, what was the most effective method you found in cutting the pieces (saw or lathe)? And what are DRO's?

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Ian - Depends on what the lathe can do, but the best way with the least amount of waste is to just mount a cut off tool in your tool holder. Cut off tools looks like a solid piece of high speed tool steel with an angle on the end. Index it straight into the work piece and it'll cut it off.

If you use a saw, you'll have to put the piece back into the lathe and face it to get the rough edges off and then turn it down to the correct length - and if you're making a lot of pieces, this will add quite a bit of time to the operation.

If the lathe has the power to cut off aluminum in the diamtere you're making, cut off tools are the way to go.

DRO's = Digital Read Out. Instead of reading the dial on your lathe,a DRO system gives you a nice, more accirate read out. This can also pseed thgings up quite a bit as you won't have to contiunually measure your work piece with a micrometer - which makes you stop the lathe to do. DRO's are so much easier to read and will speed things up quite a bit.

They ain't cheap though - a two axis system for lathes will run another $1200 to $2000 depnding on which brand you get. Might see if your lathe manufacturer has a model with thgem already installed . Tends to be cheaper that way.

Another way to speed things up is the material itself. Might look into using 2011 aluminum instead of 6061 for this application.. 2011 machines a hell of a lot easier and faster with less wear on tools. It costs a bit more, but the time it saves is worth it. Physical properties aren't all that much different. But it doesn't polish as well - in case you're going to offer polish spools.

Eric