It is probably not a good idea to attempt to mill the cutouts in the panel
itself because the panel can not be securely mounted to the table of the
mill without building an appropriate fixture. The panel will otherwise flex
considerably under load causing the tool to chatter in the cut leaving a not
very neat cut edge.
Aircraft Spruce offers a black anodized aluminum "Instrument Panel Access
Plate" P/N 11-18566 for US$49.95 (illustrated on page 336 of the 2000 ~ 2001
catalog) that will hold the basic six instruments. When the plate is
removed there is a large hole in the panel for access to its innards.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
A070
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa@post.aviators.net
Subject: Re: Holes in panel
Hi Richard
We put our instruments in a removable aluminium panel that sat on the
face of the original panel. We went to a local engineering shop with
the centre points of each hole marked on the ali and he programmed the
milling machine to cut the holes. It was perfect. If you can get the
panel surface level and the panel in the milling machine, you could do
the same.
On the other side of the panel we found with our G meter, that the
hole would be too small, so we centre popped the hole position and
drew around with a compass the correct size, drilled out as much as we
could with the hole saw and filed away the material with a half round
file, and finished off with a flapper wheel. It takes ages but the
results are good.
Quoting Richard Holder <rholder@avnet.co.uk>:
> I am about to do my panel.
>
> I understand that the main 6 instruments are best served by a hole
> 3.16
> inches, just larger than 3 1/8.
>
> Spruce have a 3 1/8 hole cutter which I'm sure will do the job.
>
> Everything in jolly old England is metric and hole cutters seem to
come
> only
> in 79mm (too small) and 83mm (too large).
>
> Can someone who has done this give me some guidance ?
>
> Thanks
>
> Richard Holder
> Kit 51 moving forward on its build after a 7 year wait (by someone
> else).
> G-OWWW.
>
>
> The Europa List is supported by Aviators Network UK -
info@avnet.co.uk
>
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