Author Topic: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)  (Read 5993 times)

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Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #25 on: April 02, 2011, 10:00:56 AM »
Well here is what it looks like mounted with light on and off.. Still have some kinks to work out like I said, but I just wanted to post some more images up..

With the engrave lines you can back fill it with any color you want to make it to stand out even better..

But I also want to make just the plate itself without engrave numbers and ticks marks so people can just have a new gauge plate and put what ever decal they want to on there.. Clear will be a lot better than what we have.

JAG
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Offline chippyfive50

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #26 on: April 02, 2011, 06:46:56 PM »
Have you tried typing out the tach rpms as 1000-2000 etc?
You could put the redline from the center out like on the oem tach.
Don't forget, the needle itself can be / is an important aesthetic element as well..
No need to put the word cafe on them unless
It will dispense a frappucino and a scone.... :P
« Last Edit: April 02, 2011, 07:12:40 PM by chippyfive50 »
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Offline NPHLYT

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #27 on: April 03, 2011, 08:31:04 AM »
I like that in clear, it is a conversation piece.
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Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #28 on: April 04, 2011, 09:20:48 AM »
here is the plain one that you can just put whatever decal you want over top of it.

It just came off the machine so it hasn't been buffed an sanded smooth yet.
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #29 on: April 04, 2011, 09:48:27 AM »
here it is cleaned up a bit..
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline HedNut

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #30 on: April 04, 2011, 10:15:28 AM »
Awesome work you're doing here JAG!!! 

When I was building my first bike I could've used those clear faces!!!  I'm going to want some for my next project for sure!!

Cheers!~
Keep up the good stuff.

Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #31 on: April 04, 2011, 12:06:48 PM »
Awesome work you're doing here JAG!!! 

When I was building my first bike I could've used those clear faces!!!  I'm going to want some for my next project for sure!!

Cheers!~
Keep up the good stuff.

Thanks very much. I appreciate it..

Here is the rpm gauge plate.. I am still working out speeds, rpms, plunge depth, etc. on the CNC to give it a more polished look. The acrylic/plastic I am using is so tough, I've already broke one bit. I know once it's all the kinks are worked out it should be a quality product.

The kinks I am working out however doesn't really matter in terms of the blank faces, because it won't interfere with the lighting and all anyone is going to do is slap a decal over top of it. I'm just a little particular/anal and would like everything to be perfect.
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #32 on: April 04, 2011, 12:07:14 PM »
rpm gauge
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #33 on: April 04, 2011, 12:11:57 PM »
Have you tried typing out the tach rpms as 1000-2000 etc?
You could put the redline from the center out like on the oem tach.
Don't forget, the needle itself can be / is an important aesthetic element as well..
No need to put the word cafe on them unless
It will dispense a frappucino and a scone.... :P


Yes the I've pretty much (Mathematically) worked out the exact degree of each tick mark and placement of both mph and rpm numbers. Well actually I'm within .005. So not exact, but in terms of 1/2 a thousand it's less than a piece of paper.

I'll upload some revised mph rpm gauge decals that I will probably use..

Still trying to source some different plastic colors. I have black, but it is black all the way through. I just want a laminated color on one side of the surface so when the engraved numbers and tick marks are there it will show up clear and the light will only shine through those two engraved portions.
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline domer

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #34 on: April 04, 2011, 01:01:30 PM »
oooooooo.... that is saucy. you gonna be offering up the face plates? I've got a ton a vinyl face layovers, and would kill to see em with out having to use the damn blue/green faces! maybe for the 500 too? especially since i lost one of my speedo faces  >:( great work!

Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #35 on: April 04, 2011, 01:34:42 PM »
I will definitely offer them for sale as soon as I work out all the kinks and figure up cost of material and time involved. Once I figure that out I should be able to find out a reasonable price to list them at.

So stay tuned I'm working on them almost daily as long as my real work doesn't side track me!  ;)

Thanks

Jonathan
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline Ricky_Racer

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #36 on: April 04, 2011, 06:48:04 PM »

Jag, have you considered a lightly tinted plexi (green?) with (possibly?) an opaque mask around the edges to prevent the LEDs from shining directly up? You'd probably have to move the markers toward the center, but the look would be super-trick. Kinda like the Bulova Accutron that was sold back in the 1970's. RR

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Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #37 on: April 05, 2011, 11:50:37 AM »
I have been working on some sort of method to make the engraved tick marks and numbers stand out during the day time using different color pieces of plastic. Trying to fine tune that as well and trying out different plastics. right now the only thing I have is a transparent plastic with a black film over top. Once the lines and numbers are engraved it will go past the black and just show up clear.

Are you talking about this watch??

Hell I'd probably wear the watch today!!
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline Ricky_Racer

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #38 on: April 05, 2011, 12:14:40 PM »
Exactly, Jag. I sold these back in the day.

I thought the Accutron design might clarify some of your various ideas. You could even do a decal (vinyl sticker?) on the transparent face that would show the mph/rpm markers and kill two birds: masking the LED's, and marking the increments with transparent numerals/hash marks. I thought the lightly tinted plexi would help integrate the design. The production costs should be less than engraving the plexi. Just my 2 cents... 

BTW, the vinyl stickers can be UV resistant and have very precise markings. These are some of the stickers we make. 8)  RR

« Last Edit: April 05, 2011, 12:23:41 PM by Ricky_Racer »
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Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #39 on: April 05, 2011, 12:33:42 PM »
Exactly, Jag. I sold these back in the day.

I thought the Accutron design might clarify some of your various ideas. You could even do a decal (vinyl sticker?) on the transparent face that would show the mph/rpm markers and kill two birds: masking the LED's, and marking the increments with transparent numerals/hash marks. I thought the lightly tinted plexi would help integrate the design. The production costs should be less than engraving the plexi. Just my 2 cents... 

BTW, the vinyl stickers can be UV resistant and have very precise markings. These are some of the stickers we make. 8)  RR



So let me see if I read you correctly. Instead of engraving the tick marks, numbers and mph/rpm, print it all out of transparent decal with a (tinted, opaque) color to mask the lighting but still have everything visible during the day time?
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline Ricky_Racer

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #40 on: April 05, 2011, 01:51:58 PM »

Jag, you could do that but it'd involve a full face decal. I'd envisioned a vinyl stick on ring with the markings cut out. Since the instrument lights are on all the time, daytime legibility should be okay. The lightly tinted plexi would be only a visual/aesthetic choice allowing the odometers to be defined but still allowing the machine works to be visible. I hope that makes sense...  ::)  RR

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Offline tango911

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #41 on: April 07, 2011, 06:12:55 AM »
awesome stuff Jag.   how much for a set of clear face plates?
and do you have a file for stock face plate design?
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Offline JAG

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #42 on: April 15, 2011, 10:17:11 AM »
I do not have a file nor have I created an original "Green" face decal yet. Been focusing mainly on the gauge plates

As of right now I am curious to see how important it is to have the squares cut out for the miles and odometer. Since the gauge plates are clear I don't see that there is any need to cut them out.

But I wanted to ask on here to see what people prefer.

But I am thinking $40 for a set of two clear gauge plates with just the 3 holes cut out for the screws and the needle.

What do you yall think. Is that a fair price? Do they need the squares cut out for the miles and odo??

Thanks
Cafe Racing is mainly a matter of taste. It is an atavistic mentality, a peculiar mix of low style, high speed, pure dumbness, and overweening commitment to the Cafe Life and all its dangerous pleasures. I am a Cafe Racer myself, on some days - and it is one of my finest addictions. ~H. S. Thompson~

Offline Flying J

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #43 on: April 15, 2011, 10:34:07 AM »
Im not sure you need to cut it out but you could always just scribe the box in, just like the numbers are.

Offline brandEn

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Re: Working on some different Gauge Faces, need some opinions (Pics Inside)
« Reply #44 on: April 15, 2011, 10:45:03 AM »
If I got a set I would need the odo holes cut because I would be applying decals over them. Any chance on getting them in white plastic instead of clear?