Have lots of spin template and assorted other hafl templates for smaller boards and I would liek to get them professionally produced. Fabricated from an acrylic or plexi, or maybe even sheet metal…
Anyone have an online resource for this? I have seen a few but all are PC based and require you to use their software. I am on MAC and have all the files built in Illustrator which can export AutoCAD files if necessary.
I would do this myself from some plexi sheet, but my jigsaw hand is not the steadiest. I just want something that I know is 100% accurate and will last several lifetimes.
I'd recomend having them laser cut - if you have a vector file it shouldn't matter what format it's in they should be able to deal with it - you should be able to get it cut from any material as well. They are 100% accurate - if you don't get any joy asking around your exsisting contacts just google it along with your area - sure there will plenty of places who will do the work for you. It's usually a pretty cheap service too.
I use them a lot for a whole host of stuff - being using them recently to make spray stencils for artwork on boards.
tblank’s advice is what you should use to reproduce them.
If you really want to make them from a digital file, you can use something right out of illustrator, even pdf or postscript files. Just look for a sign maker in your area. Most these days use CNC machines. There are also CNC service places that can cut templates out of many different kinds of materials. I used one to cut a bunch of profile templates once, for hotwiring EPS. Not exactly cheap, but in my case turning a sheet of mdf into profile temps for about 10 boards worked out to about 10-12$ per. justifiable.
Drew, if you already have a “true” template that you use, reproducing it is very easy regardless of the new material. If you have a router, you can use a flush cutting bit with a top bearing. Clamp or tape the template to the acrylic or lexan and lay on a flat surface. Use the router slow and steady with a firm grip and this will produce an exact copy every time. If the router is small and bit is 1/4" shank, you don’t have to go full depth, make one or two shallow passes before the last pass. Use a carbide bit. I’ve been planning on doing my steady eddies in sheet aluminum for years and just haven’t gotten to it yet.
What ever happened to buying some Masonite, laying out your points, hand drawing the line connecting all the points, cutting it out slightly oversize, then block planing and sanding to the final true curves? What I just described can be done in less than one hour, with ease. It's an important part of being a shaper, in my opinion.
I’ve been making my templates out of white High Density Styrene Sheets… It’s used for signage and is only about 1 to 1.5mm. thick…
It’s a thin 4’ x 8’ sheet of styrene that you lay your points out on as “Mr T” suggests, then simply cut the outline as close as possible to the line with a pair of scissors… The stuff is easily sanded fair down to the line after cutting out the template outline…
They are super quick to make , are not messy to cut or sand (compared to masonite) and can be rolled up in a tube form for storage if space is limited… Although it’s better if left flat… It’s surprisingly durable and can be used hundreds of times… You buy it from your local Plastic and Allied dealer … I make half templates with mine, but my boards are under 6’ long… You could make quite a few flip templates with the 4’x 8’ sheet…
If that question is directed towards me, I forget the price but it’s not outrageous (around $20 maybe), or I wouldn’t buy it… I’ll see if I can get a price and sheet sizes… Probably only 4’x8’ though, without a special order…
