Anyone do reverse engineering on CNC Machines?

[Chief Brody]

Isn't there anyone here that has access to CNC machines that could reverse engineer the grill emblem for the 1973-1974 Blazer?

I talked to a local shop today, the guy said "yes I could do that, it would be easy...but I won't...it's a registered trademark...I can't do that".

That's just stupid...it's not like I ask for 3 million of them.

 

[4X4HIGH]

So you're wanting a billet (aluminum I would guess) Bowtie emblem? My buddy makes lots of things leak that on a CNC at work.

 

[Chief Brody]

I guess you could call it a billet...they are almost as thin as foil...it's wavy because it curled up when I took it off. The center is supposed to be a gold color, bordered by chrome, bordered by black. The back side of this thing looks like golden copper....I don't know if that was what made the gold color or if it was painted on..

You know, it could be made as thick as a dime and still work...especially if it could be made with 2 posts on the rear for mounting and removing instead of the adhesive glue...

 

[Fordum]

CNC would not make that.
You could cut the shape out exactly with one, but you would not get the color. All you would have is a piece of metal that shape.

And if that was all you wanted, you could make one with a hacksaw if you were careful

You need someone who makes foil labels. Or else make a two piece one with a copper or brass center and chrome or stainless border.
But you still would not have the lines.


Bet there is someone out there that makes them.

 

[4X4HIGH]

CNC would not make that.
You could cut the shape out exactly with one, but you would not get the color. All you would have is a piece of metal that shape.

And if that was all you wanted, you could make one with a hacksaw if you were careful

You need someone who makes foil labels. Or else make a two piece one with a copper or brass center and chrome or stainless border.
But you still would not have the lines.


Bet there is someone out there that makes them.

Why do you think a CNC would not make that? My buddy makes stuff all the time with a CNC that is only a few thousandths thick (aluminum, copper, brass, delrin, plastic parts).

 

[Fordum]

You misunderstood, or I did.

Sure a wire EDM, or any other kind of CNC that can work with stuff that thin could reproduce the shape.
And have it be the same thickness.

But, all you would have would be a piece of whatever kind of metal you started with cut in that shape.

It would not be the two toned emblem with stripes that he posted the picture of.

Now, you could cut out the silver part, along with a hole in the center the shape of the gold part, and put some other kind of metal either behind it or in the hole, but still would not have the little lines unless you "jeweled" them with a milling machine.

So, yes, if you did all that, you could make one on a CNC machine, but just cutting out the shape would not get him what he is asking for.

Unless I misread the whole post. Its 1:30am here, so that is certainly possible.

 

[4X4HIGH]

Gotcha, thought you were saying a CNC couldn't cut that part. My buddy makes stuff all the time and then they send it out for anodizing in whatever color they want and they can do different colors within the same piece IIRC.

 

[GreenieK30]

You could run the tool around the border and do horizontal passes to leave tool marks so it mimics the look of the emblem.