Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Dragon's Lair / Space Ace => Topic started by: Maverick on March 10, 2009, 11:25:38 AM

Title: The EXPENSIVE CNC cutting Process - Review
Post by: Maverick on March 10, 2009, 11:25:38 AM

I've bought in the US between the 2004-2006 3 original Dl cabs to restore

Of course since it was going to be a long way the games arrived with some hits

No broken side or rips but anyway the sides were a little bit weared and scuffed (especially on the corners)

I though to make an improvement replacing the sides (even for all who doesn't have an original cab and asked me one)

Since the original game has particular curves to make a perfect job I called a well known roman company who cut wood with Cnc software professionaly


I sent the original cab though a shipping company in Rome and after 3 weeks (I received the phone call this morning) I received the preview cost of 700 euros  :-X

just for the software! not the wood replica!

At the question why it was so expensive, they replied me that the cnc software to be made require hrs to the person who make all exact measures and once it'll be done, I'll have to pay just for the wood to be cutted

Let me know your opinion

Mav

Ps= I'm wondering if in the Us is less expensive and the software is compatible with the european cnc machines

I want a perfect cab not something "very similar" but it seems very expensive, do you?

Title: Re: How is EXPENSIVE The CNC Process
Post by: Maverick on April 24, 2009, 11:00:22 PM

From the thread of Remy (our new french member)

https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=746.0

Remi reminded to me to give some update for the cnc work commissioned last month and received in the beginning at the beginning of April (that i was not able to post before for pressure on my job schedule)

What I can say:

1) the cnc work?

Yes, it is precise.

Cut is EXTREMELY precise BUT TOO expensive (I'm speaking here in Italy, maybe in Us or Germany is cheaper let me know)

I can say it is precise as expensive to find the right comparison,

the "cutting edge" (or "ice on the cake" i fyou prefer) precision is evident on the 2 curves of the side arts especially when compared one o one


Here some example:



http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2562972930104363451EJmBSt

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2684916510104363451VAgdPF

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2611078470104363451IsAhpS

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2571887430104363451XKhFkm

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2562530820104363451LMaxNy

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2777466940104363451POjOKG




as on other critical parts of the DL cab there is also the bezel wood (to put over monitor) that must intersecate with the cpo label wood (where it is written: Inspected by)

If you have an original cab you know what I mean


here is a photo:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2964808300104363451Bkwrcm

Or the 2 wood that holds the marquee (extremely particular the cut that must fit the plastic and the 3 angles)

Result:

While some parts of the DL cab can be easely reproduced (with some practice)


the 2 marques holders and the bezel wood are mooore difficult to reproduce (but not impossible - great skill and lot of execise can finally make it)


The side Arts:

2 side arts curves identical to reproduce at 100% as the original DL Side arts - manually - are EXTREMELY difficult to do,

if not really impossible.

The main problem about a non perfect curve is that when the sides are put toghter, the tipical problem is that one curve can be bigger or slightly shorter than the other (or even different !)

But only when you'll be monting the control panel you'll see clearly these differences


No Wood worker in 6 months here in Italy accepted the commission to reproduce 2 identical DL side arts manually with those 2 strange curves

(even if I gave them the original sides taken away from the old cab and money on my hands)

See photo:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2667477780104363451muUsdP


According to them it is like to draw a circle with a hand.. so "only machines can handle that at 100% as you want" so they sent me to an industry that makes cnc cuts.

Right there they asked me to have the real cab to reproduce (not the sole measure that I brought them) and broke it apart!

then took measures of all the pieces &

After 20 days I received the pieces back (not the cab rebuilded)


I'll add more info for comparison soon as I can


Hope for this review can help who is restoring the cab or thinking about it..

Of course keep in mind: If you 're looking for perfection (but this is in my opinion a personal matter, i.e depends on how much you want the replica close to the original, of course..)



Mav

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2738889300104363451sATEFy

Title: Re: The EXPENSIVE CNC cutting Process - Review
Post by: Maverick on April 26, 2009, 09:31:36 PM

Ok, as promised here is the comparison with the sides of an original DL cab


Let's start from the beginning,

here is the typical DL Cab bought on Ebay still to restore (taking away the vynil.. here is what we have):


http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2643249330104363451iVIoBU



The typical Broken legs:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2554925780104363451dxMadk



The Ruined sides (pencil colored! :S)

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2363443000104363451iWKDoL




OK, now we apply the Cnc Repro sides over the original sides to check if the cnc cut commission by me have been correct:



http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2062765110104363451WpWqfj

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2622055990104363451IibHMP



Down Below:


http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2560814370104363451qLlHfz




http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2334846020104363451XxYpmg

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2383268680104363451huoaKW

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2167474110104363451REYexC


Here the curve on the top:


http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2906609200104363451WcUOTl

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2927341600104363451EPrXCJ

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2825009670104363451DZznbm

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2313039930104363451agnWEJ

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2473163780104363451FxxcWh



Here the curve at the control panel level:


http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2020826360104363451YjGXBH

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2075543460104363451iUPPoq

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2418369000104363451xaMYXU

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2946116160104363451fpJyWK




Other side:

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2477605440104363451RxSqwA

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2815861770104363451HzxUPg

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2534074550104363451BPdKFk


Review closed,

End of the Line

Maverick