One off laser cutting from sample

[gasket999]

Hi folks - I was wondering if anyone could direct me towards a DIY-friendly laser cutting firm - either near Manchester or mail order?

I'm looking to have 6 pieces of steel sheet cut - only thin: 3mm-5mm would be ideal.

I restore a lot of old Land Rovers (currently on number 7) and I like to have the bare axle casings blasted. I usually cover the ends to avoid too much grit getting inside, but it never works well ,so thought I'd invest in a bit of tooling.

The bare axle casing internals are exposed where the differential is removed and at either end of the axle tube where the hubs are removed. So my plan is to have a set of steel covers made that I can bolt on prior to blasting and that will last for may more restorations to come.

I would like to find a company to which I can post a set of brand new gaskets - one sized for the differentials and a pair sized to cover the ends of the front and rear axles.

• 2x identical differential covers (black gasket below)
• 2x identical rear axle flange covers (fawn gasket below)
• 2x identical front axle flange covers (tan gasket below)

From these I would like a set of blanks made - with the correct outlines and the correct bolt-holes so that I can fasten these on when I blast my casings.

If anyone could recommend a cutting firm (and an idea of cost would be lovely) I would be most grateful.

I've added a picture below to show what I mean - the centres of each gasket would be blanked off when copied into steel. So they would just need to copy the circumference and the bolt pattern from the gasket sample I send them. I would of course explain this to the company.

Thank you.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

Slightly off topic but you don’t have a front 24 spline kicking around do you?

As for the plates, they’re easy enough to make up at home, most laser cutters wont entertain one offs I’ve found. You could try @AdrianH rhough, if you can draw it out on CAD he could plasma them out

 

[gasket999]

Hi - I don't I'm afraid. I've got a spare 10 spline front diff, but no spare 24 spline bits.

 

[chunkolini]

Try Premier Laser.
I use them for small jobs. Quick and not too expensive and dont charge a fortune for the drawings

 

[steveo3002]

whengparts does mail order

 

[julianthegypsy]

I could get these done for you no problem in 5mm steel. I get stuff cut all the time and could draw it up and add it to one of my orders. I do it often.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Do you actually need them in a profile?
Could you not just cut some squares of steel and drill just 2 or 3 holes to hold them in place?

Obviously won't work if the mounting surfaces are recessed or overhung.

 

[bonepyro]

i had good experience with laser master who were quite happy to do one off / prototype jobs.
Drop them a line and speak to Linda.

 

[Kayos]

I used a firm in bradford to make a spacer plate from a head gasket. When I was daft enough to think supercharging a 106 was a good idea

 

[awemawson]

Those would plasma cut nicely - I could do them for you from a .DXF file but I'm the other end of the country (East Sussex)

 

[Badger1bear]

Those would plasma cut nicely - I could do them for you from a .DXF file but I'm the other end of the country (East Sussex)

I need to pop down and see you some time soon buddy the cnc plasma table is getting closer on the horizon

 

[armalites]

If you can get a recommendation then great, if not then it's going to be a case of google and phone. You could find it will cost more to get the items drawn than actually cutting them.

I had these guys bookmarked when I was looking at getting some bits done, I never actually got round to it but they seemed more than happy to do small orders.

https://gflaser.co.uk/contact/

 

[WorkshopChris]

Just thinking outside the box, do they need to be steel.
You could easily make a few out of mdf that would stand up to repeated blasting for less the the cost of somebody's time to do the drawings and post the gaskets.

 

[sako243]

If you're willing to cover costs I could do it by hand with my plasma and drill. It's only a couple after all.

I've got a couple of old stub shafts lying around her somewhere so could possibly use those as templates. Don't have the diff but do need to drop mine out to be built up for an Ashlocker. Unless you can provide templates?

Can you confirm which axles you're interested in because from experience they vary a little.

 

[J.F]

Laser master in Cornwall. Very good and helpful.

 

[armalites]

I think I would be inclined to go thicker too. 6 or 10mm would mean you could really nip them up tight to seal things

 

[sako243]

I think I would be inclined to go thicker too. 6 or 10mm would mean you could really nip them up tight to seal things

Bit pointless because I don't think the axle walls are even that thickness.

 

[gasket999]

Wow! thanks for all the replies folks.

I haven't been idle, I have been calling a few places - all a bit "umm-y and ahhh-y" so far.

Absolutely, I could cut them by hand or make some in MDF and they would be perfectly suitable, but I've fancied a bit of a look-see at laser cutting for some other projects and a set made in steel would be nice to add to my LR special tool drawers in the cabinet (Mainshaft socket, steering puller, box spanner, prop tool, etc - all those things that make life a bit easier).

So to answer a few questions:

- typically I restore Series IIA and SIII Land Rovers (usually SWB, so Rover rather than Salisbury rear). There is a slight degree of variation in the gaskets - particularly in earlier ones that used thinner studs.
- plan B is exactly as hotponyshoes suggests, just get some steel sheet (square or otherwise) pop the gasket over and drill through myself. It doesn't have to be circular - but I do like a tool thats made for the job. There is a slight bevel that would be exposed, but no worse than with round ones.
- The gaskets are the ideal template as the ones I use are a good fit and they cost pennies to buy, plus a stamp to send them.
-Julianthegypsy - thank you very much for the suggestion, perhaps you could give me some guidance on cost? If I can get them made as a 'slight' extravagance then I'll treat myself.
-sako, if we went down this route then I'd be more than happy to pop a few gaskets in an envelope to you with a covering letter. I would like to try my hand at getting them lasered first - as mentioned I'd like to see how the process works as I have a great deal of other projects in the works where laser cutting may hep me produce the parts I need.
-Laserparts, WhengLaser and Premier Laser are all on the call sheet now.

Thanks Guys!

 

[armalites]

Bit pointless because I don't think the axle walls are even that thickness.

That's not the point, the flanges where they bolt in are and if you used 3mm then there is a chance that you end up with gaps due to the metal flexing. That wouldn't happen if you used 10mm

 

[sako243]

Not used to Land Rover tolerances then?

I'd have thought given the relatively high number of bolts in the space you'd be better off with thinner stuff because you can compress it against any deformations. Too thick and it'll leave gaps if there are some.