Topic: Laser cut gaskets or PDF file of them?

[ncstatecamp]

Has anyone on here used a laser cutter to cut their own gaskets?

Anybody got digital files of the gaskets for a 750?

[dave500]

hey thats a good idea,i have a mate whos a printer,he has a sticker cutting machine,you just draw what you want in some program and its cut out,im going to ask him if i can try putting gasket paper in the cutter,i could scan a gasket?

[74750k4]

Here's the oil pump, and tensioner gasket in pdf.

[74750k4]

...and again in jpg

[ncstatecamp]

anybody know if a 76 750f would have the same gaskets? I did find those scans

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=44761.0

[ekpent]

I seem to remember that our moderater,the esteemed Bob Wessner had some life size templates of some kind, of gaskets that could be printed out then layed and taped out on gasket material and then cut out old school with an exacto or craft knife. Bob ?? Us old guys are crafty not techie 

[Bankerdanny]

I did something similar with some of the gaskets for my Enfield. I scanned them so I had full size images, then I would use those to trace on to gasket material and cut out with scissors and a razor knife.

[ncstatecamp]

Since I've got access to a laser cutter and can make a bunch quick with a lil up front work I wanna see if this works well. If those 750f will work on a k then I can do it. Anybody got a pro/con to different types of gasket material?

[dave500]

the thickness is important on most of them aswell.

[ncstatecamp]

the thickness is important on most of them aswell.

All of the outer covers seem to be the same thickness, any difference between those and the head gaskets?

[dave500]

id prefer to use a proper head gasket.

[ncstatecamp]

id prefer to use a proper head gasket.

Not sure what that means. I don't need one now just thinking ahead.

[Bru-tom]

what he means is, is that you shouldn't use normal gasket "maker" sheet to use as a head gasket.

[ncstatecamp]

what he means is, is that you shouldn't use normal gasket "maker" sheet to use as a head gasket.

Ah ok. So metal type then? Or what?

[Bru-tom]

i wonder if one could copy the head gasket shape in CAD, have it laser-cut out of the suitable material and use a thin piece of gasket maker either side, like a sandwich. then it could be reusable?

[ncstatecamp]

i wonder if one could copy the head gasket shape in CAD, have it laser-cut out of the suitable material and use a thin piece of gasket maker either side, like a sandwich. then it could be reusable?

My plan was to make a cadd file from the scans and laser cut them from the fiber or rubber material. To cut metal it'd have to be a pretty substantial laser cutter. I've got an access a Cnc plasma that could do it though. What's a typical head gasket made of?

[dave500]

how will you replicate the steel ring in the head gasket?

[ncstatecamp]

how will you replicate the steel ring in the head gasket?

That's what I was asking before on what material a head gaskets made of. Ive never dealt with a head gasket before. Is the whole thing a steel gasket or is it combination of materials?

[dave500]

the factory type is a combination,you can get full copper and steel ones for racing/hipo applications.
heres a factory type.

[ncstatecamp]

the factory type is a combination,you can get full copper and steel ones for racing/hipo applications.
heres a factory type.

Around the main holes, is it thicker or is it just the angle? Think it would be feasible to Cnc plasma cut one from some sheet steel?

[dave500]

the proper head gasket isnt expensive,itll cost you more to cut a steel or copper one,it has to seal oil pressure galleries aswell.

[ncstatecamp]

the proper head gasket isnt expensive,itll cost you more to cut a steel or copper one,it has to seal oil pressure galleries aswell.

are you saying itd be more expensive to buy a sheet of what ever gauge steel then buy one? Where I work has a bunch of toys that can get this done easy...

[ekpent]

Think on something that critical like a head gasket I would have to go with something thats been out there and proven to work well from a major manufacturer. Sidecover gaskets etc. have less technical issues as far as performance.

[74750k4]

Yes, but it's much more fun watching someone re-invent the head gasket manufacturing process where they work! Especially for 1, or 2 gaskets!!!
Management will be thrilled with you!

[kslrr]

Found this on Wiki:  Head gaskets are more than just a "gasket".

MLS or Multiple Layers Steel – Most modern head engines are produced with MLS gaskets. These typically consist of three layers of steel. The contact faces are usually coated with a rubber-like coating such as Viton that adheres to the cylinder block and cylinder head while the thicker center layer is left bare.

Solid copper – a solid sheet of copper, and typically requires special machining called 'o-ringing' that places a piece of wire around the circumference of the cylinder to bite into the copper. When this is performed copper gaskets are extremely durable. Recently companies have started producing copper gaskets with integral sealing wires permitting their retrofit into engines without the removal of the engine block for machine work.

Composite – an older technology. Typically these are made from asbestos or graphite but are more prone to blowouts than newer gaskets. Asbestos gaskets are becoming increasingly rare due to health concerns.

Elastomeric – a gasket type used by Rover on their K Series engines. It utilised a steel core plate with molded in place silicon rubber beads to seal oil and coolant passages. The bores were sealed by rolled steel fire rings in a more conventional manner. The idea behind the gasket design was to produce a production version of the technology used in F1 engines at the time. The original application of the gasket on the smaller versions of the K Series was very successful. However, an engine redesign resulted in persistent problems with the design – the joint interface became unstable and the gasket could not cope.