Yesterday I mentioned in a message post that I had finally reconciled not finding a way to create the Cooling Vents in the Cowling that exist on the actual auto. While I said I had reconciled to it, that doesn't mean I actually stopped thinking of how I might do it. Well, last evening it struck me. The issue was the fact that with both 18-degree angles cut in the engine part, the only way to engrave the vents was to somehow support the part securely at 118 degrees, which would make one side panel level , and so, engravable. I recently purchased an xTool S1 20W laser with the riser attachment and so I have the capacity to engrave an item 5 1/2" (140mm) thick or tall, depending how you look at it. And the S1 will lay-out bowls and inclines to engrave but the limit is 12-degrees. The 18 degree gradient just didn't work so the engraved side had to be level to the bed surface within the 5 1/2" (140mm) capacity. However, first I needed some way to support the part securely so that accurate engraving could be done.
Here is how I finally managed to get the vents engraved.
I made up another block from scrap material and cut it to the finished dimensions so that I had a practice piece to experiment on.
Then, I took black shipping foam and cut an area the width and length of the Engine part and used other foam pieces to secure the part in the holder at the correct angle.
It was important that the piece was held in level, both front to back and side to side.
After I was convinced that the foam base would securely hold the part, I took it to the laser. I had already created the engraving file with fourteen (14) 1-mm vents, spaced 3-mm apart. The actual AC Six has 18-20 vents but I thought that too busy. So I ran tests to see if the outcome was as expected. You will note a pencil line 5mm from the bottom of the blank. That is where I wanted the vents to stop.
I had to take into consideration that each side has to be reset since the vents start closer to the radiator frame and so I just couldn't turn the piece over and engrave using one setting. I did a mirror image view and ran the opposite side, again making sure all was level and straight with the laser path. The tests proved out to be a good solution and so, as a bit of further caution, I waited over night to review the outcomes in the morning and then decide to go or no go. It was a "go" and so I ran both engine parts.
Here is the outcome:
Still a fair degree of finish sanding and finish prep to do but, all in all, I am quite happy.
I lucked into this solution because of the riser panel I got with the S1. I could not have done this with my older 10W D1 because it did not have the depth capacity, even with riser legs. I still continue to think there has to be a way to make a router jig and use a 1/16" bit but I didn't see how to do that and keep my finger safe and the piece secure. If any of you think of a way, please let me know. I'd love to give it a try.
I know that the vents are not part of Jan's great plan, but I always look for little ways to add detail to the models. For me, the vents are just one of many I will add to the AC Six.
