Carbon Fiber window switch progress
#1
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Carbon Fiber window switch progress
I got tired of waiting for my roll of 4x4 8.9 oz 3d
twill so we made these prototype window switches out
of some scrap 2x2 we had laying around the shop. We
put one coat of clear on them and then this rain storm
came out of nowhere so we stopped. It turns out my
roll was delivered on Saturday to the house and I was
not their. So we should have the 4x4 layed up this
week then I will have them computer cut so they are
the exact measurements with no errors. These will
look killer with 3 coats of clear and the finest
carbon fiber on the market. Let me know what you guys think.
And this is a project update these are not for sale sorry.
twill so we made these prototype window switches out
of some scrap 2x2 we had laying around the shop. We
put one coat of clear on them and then this rain storm
came out of nowhere so we stopped. It turns out my
roll was delivered on Saturday to the house and I was
not their. So we should have the 4x4 layed up this
week then I will have them computer cut so they are
the exact measurements with no errors. These will
look killer with 3 coats of clear and the finest
carbon fiber on the market. Let me know what you guys think.
And this is a project update these are not for sale sorry.
Last edited by Bukwild; 05-31-05 at 09:33 AM. Reason: proxy errors
#4
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
These look like crap compared to a 4x4 3d twill. These will make it into the trash by the end of the week. We use cheaper 2x2 for prototypes and ruff drafts then transfer the mold to the quaility 4x4. 4x4 is way to expensive to be playing around with. Plus the first time I saw 4x4 twill on a Ferrari I decided we will use nothing less
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#9
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
yeah they are just a cover plate. The problem is the engineers at mazda built the electronics of the switch right into the top plastic peice of the switch. If you want to get all custom you could mount these with the switch electronics under because I built them to exact measurements and contour of the stockers. And no you could not replicate this with those window tint cf stickers. When these are superglued on top of the stock switches it will definatley dress up the outdated interior. I was just trying to make something for the community that was FC 86-91 universal
#11
R.I.P. Icemark
iTrader: (2)
nice work man, are you going to roll the edges so it doesnt look like you cut a hayame .2mm sheet to size and stuck it on there? if it rolls over the edges and maybe even into the dished part in the finger part that'd be cool.
they look good along with the other fc parts your making, you have a shifter surround yet
they look good along with the other fc parts your making, you have a shifter surround yet
Last edited by staticguitar313; 05-31-05 at 11:36 PM.
#12
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
I thought about designing it to go down with the fingers but then I would have had to carve the mold out of a wooden block and then worry about clearance issues with the switches going all the way down. I was trying to keep it as simple as possible to get these out for the summer. I have found that working with this stuff is harder than I thought it would be and way more time consuming. I have not yet figured out the shifter surround. 86-88 is different than 89-91 so that sucks right away. Then it would be easy enuff just to make the shape but I am not sure how to attach it so it stays and doesn't look home made. I will probably make one for my 88 style and try to come up with some way to keep it on their.
#13
Seduced by the DARK SIDE
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Now - about the brittle switches themselves.
Maybe a CF panel that mounts a generic GM style replacement switch?
I got one for $9.00 off the peg at my local parts store.
It's soldered to the plug wires now.
I will pick up a salvage GM connector next time I'm at the junk yard.
Maybe a CF panel that mounts a generic GM style replacement switch?
I got one for $9.00 off the peg at my local parts store.
It's soldered to the plug wires now.
I will pick up a salvage GM connector next time I'm at the junk yard.
#14
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
I have to go pick up the cutouts from the water jet guy today. I just got back from another out of state weekend so hopefully we can get these clear coated up and post some new pics.
#15
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
damn I just got these 4x4 twill switches back from the CNC machine guy and they look sweet as hell. I would have a picture but when i got out of the car my digital camera decided to jump out of my pocket and make a run for it. Good thing is it did not get away. But it did smash into 3 pieces. I will borrow a freinds camera a get some pics up.
#18
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
"thats a nice little touch"
yeah I thought so. I think a set of these, door sills, and a few other suprises I have up my sleave will really improve the tired 80's interior look.
yeah I thought so. I think a set of these, door sills, and a few other suprises I have up my sleave will really improve the tired 80's interior look.
#19
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
Bad news. I picked up the switches from the CNC guy and he must be retarded because the cuts are shitty and the measurements of the switch cutouts are a little small. Now we have to cut these out by hand with a tool used to cut a cast off. Tool works great it just takes forever. I post another pic of them soon
#20
Rotary Freak
Thread Starter
well we got 10 sets done and the other 10 were ruined by the "crack head" on the cnc machine. The pics are to large to post need to be cropped a little but cant do it on the work PC. Anyways they came out sweet and the light bounces of the 4x4 and gives it the appearance of being "wet". Using the best material on the market really pays off in the end. We put these on a vert last night and the proud new owner was very pleased with them. These were a total pain in the *** to cut these out one by one and sand down and buff the clear coat and make sure these fit to exact measurements. Their are the larger pics on the website that I will have to size down and better pics on a set I have on ebay. Check them out
http://www.formula7racing.com/4x4CFswitch1.jpg
http://www.formula7racing.com/4x4CFswitch2.jpg
http://www.formula7racing.com/4x4CFswitch3.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...%3ALC%3AMT%3A1
http://www.formula7racing.com/4x4CFswitch1.jpg
http://www.formula7racing.com/4x4CFswitch2.jpg
http://www.formula7racing.com/4x4CFswitch3.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...%3ALC%3AMT%3A1
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