[ARC5] [ART-13_Transmitters] Re: Homebrew ART-13 mounts

[Mike Hanz]

On 10/17/2011 3:21 PM, J. Forster wrote:
>
> There is certainly some market for a few mounts and other things,
> especially for the more popular sets like the ARC-5 & SCR-274-N. Things
> like control box mounts come to mind. Original ones are nearly impossible
> to find, and when they do show go for a lot of money. I recall one C mount
> going for well over $125 in the last year or so on eBay. (I didn't get
> it).
>

The only person that I know of who has set up for the ATA/274N/ARC-5 
mounts was kb4dmf.  His replications were flawless, and immensely 
reasonable...I have a couple of them myself!  He has a lot on his plate, 
so I don't know if he's produced a run of control box mounts or the 
shock mounts lately.

> Years ago, I did some sheet metal work, and have watched A&P masters who
> worked for me making spacecraft bits, like electronics boxes. These guys
> could make perfect welds on 0.025" thick Aluminum!
>

Yeh, I watch them work and am always impressed.  It is an art form that 
must be practiced frequently to maintain proficiency.  It's certainly 
not a gift that I possess.  The ones that *really* amaze me are the guys 
that do it with gas welding!  They make it look so simple, and my 
fumbling attempts always reflect the difficulty level of what they are 
doing so easily.

> FWIW: It seems for most pieces, it would take little additional effort to
> make a few dozen, if you have to make one. The reason is that setting
> stops on shears and brakes- the setup work- has to be done for one or a
> score parts. Once a machine is set up, you can crank out parts all day, if
> you have the patience. That's certainly what was done in WW II. Each
> manufacturing station did only one thing, like make a bend.
>

No question about it, John.  I personally don't have the patience to 
make more than one or two - that's the reason I try to describe the 
"gotchas" for those who might want to try just a single reproduction.

> Now, there are additional options. With CAD, one could easily draw these
> things up and have a few hundred cranked out by a sheet metal shop w/ NC
> presses. All identical, all just like the original.
>

Absolutely!  The catch is always the setup fee!

> Also, manufacturing is nopt exactly booming right now. Maybe some shops
> could use some "fill-in" work?
>

It would take someone with the drawings to get quotes.  Taking the part 
into the shop is an option, but one will pay for the translation into 
CAD.  In the final analysis, it's all about the economics.

Just my random thoughts,
Mike