MG MGB and MGB GT Tech Talk
.....to start working on an MGB?
In all seriousness, this sort or CAD work must be making it more cost effective to reproduce small batches of NLA parts. Perhaps we'll start seeing some nice little bits coming on the market in the next few years that could have never been reproduced years ago...Kelvin??
http://www.spinquad.com/forums/showthread.php?31578-60-s-Mini
Very few people that enjoy their MGBs have an unlimited amount of capital to fund production of NLA parts. When you are dealing with proficient engineers, expect to pay them a "loaded" amount of $100/hour. This includes all the support folks and expenses required to provide their benefits, etc.
A CAD drawing and/or solid model of a part doesn't necessarily mean it can be produced at a reasonable cost, with computerized machine tools. The set up costs can be high enough to require more parts than would be needed for many years. Parts "sitting" on the shelf don't pay interest on the capital expenditures.
Roger Tanner, Lompoc, CA
Benny.
Already happening.
One wonderful thing happening to the market are the number of talented engineers that are retiring from their careers and are sitting at home playing with making British car bits.
Joe Alexander is one of them. I met him at the Walter Mitty Vintage races a number of years ago. He had made a couple of TR4 radio blanking plates for his buddies and wondered if Moss was interested in selling some. From there, it has become a partnership where he manufactures low production (low demand) products that add to the product range.
http://www.the-vintage-racer.com/
It's turned into a nice project to keep him busy.
If Moss paid an engineer to design a products such as Joe supplies, there would be no way to cover the development costs with profit from sales. As Roger pointed out, an engineer runs about $100 per hour after all costs are factored in. Currently Moss employs three mechanical engineers full time, but they are normally working on high movement or high dollar items and creating drawings for existing products that have fit issues that need correction.
I am hoping for a day when Moss has CAD/CAM programs on file with a number of small US or UK based manufacturing companies and short production runs of necessary parts can be made during off peak hours to keep costs down. There is still the problem of tool and material setup, but there are possibilities.
Kelvin.
I love google ;)
http://www.3dcadbrowser.com/preview.aspx?modelcode=15636
FWIW, I know a guy who had one broken seat belt hanger of his Fiat 500. He still had the other one, got it 3D scanned, then 3D printed with selective laser sintering technology. In fact he copied the original shape... I think within 10 yeara, I'll be scanning many parts.