CNC cut race tracks out of steel

This CNC cut race tracks project started as a simple request from a picture posted on a local car forum.  After converting the tracks into vector format and entering in all the track names a group buy began.  These are cut out of 14ga cold rolled steel.  Normally hot rolled is used in our shop, but in this case the final part will have a sanded finish and having to remove mill scale from hot rolled is a time consuming process on a large part like this.  Small parts aren’t a problem when they can be stripped in an acid bath.

Here is the CNC cut race tracks as modeled in SolidWorks , just the plasma cutting portion.

Then the names were added next to their respective tracks.  All the text will be engraved prior to plasma cutting.

Here’s some of the engraving going on, the fish are actually bottle cap openers that are nested into the voids of the sheet.  Some are even nested in the Nürburgring and in the Circuit De La Sarthe.  Every square inch of material is utilized when cutting.  The scuffed up metal below the rectangle is just an area for test engraving and seeing how the sanded finish would look with the engraving.  The anvil and 1/2″ thick steel plates are used to keep the plate solid during engraving.  We’ve never had issue with a sheet of this size moving from vibration.  However with around 1/2hr of engraving time it’d be foolish not to be overly cautious.

Here’s all the parts fresh off the table.  The race track and Möbius Threads sign will have a sanded/brushed finish and the fish will be going in for an acid bath to strip any oils and to easily remove any dross.  The fish will be used as powder coat sample tiles.  For every new powder we apply a few of these fish will be coated so we can allow customers in the future to choose a finished powder by seeing an actual sample.  We have these bottle cap openers for sale.  They will be limited run colors and there will be a lot of variations!  This is the first batch of four to come out of one steel sheet.

Here it is the track after the sanding process and sealed with boiled linseed oil.

And a whole bunch of fish ready for a final bath in the acid before they are ready for powder coating!

Keep posted for some busy blog posts coming up!  Custom electronics, sheet metal fabrication, TIG welding, polishing, powder coating and more!  Be sure to follow Mint Design by clicking the “follow” at the bottom right of your browser!