[nc_reb]

Well I have been toying with the idea for a few years now. In that time I have slowly been acquiring materials and resources to make a wanna-be 37mm to tow behind my jeep.

47lincsled and his 57mm, as well as others have inspired me to finally begin. In the past year or so I have acquired some 1/4 inch, 3/16 inch, and 1/8 inch plate for the armor and components. I have tubing for axles, spindles, hubs, rims, and tires. I also have rectangular tubing for the trails. I am still working on barrel materials, but I am persistent.

I bought a CD with much of the blueprints a while back. The images are copies of microfilm and some of the measurements are not legible. I need the axle diameter if anyone has one.

I am lucky enough to have access to a CNC plasma cutter, so I spent about 30 minutes today programming in the large piece or armor. Gotta start somewhere....I may cut it tomorrow. We'll see. I left many of the bolt hole off, so that I can drill them where I need them. This is not going to be exact of course.

If there is any interest in this I'll keep the thread active.

Here is the results of the programming of the top armor. It will be CNC plasma cut from 1/4 inch steel plate (mild).

Andy

 

[nc_reb]

I cut the armor today. I couldn't help myself. It cut so pretty, I went ahead and programmed the apron and the little guards. It is 1/4 inch mild plate.

 

[Starvingboy]

DANG! That CNC cutter looks like it would be dangerous! All the wacky things you could make with it, I think my wallet would catch fire just standing next to it.

 

[toolmanm203]

Andy if anyone can do this it's you brother so keep the thread going and keep us updated :thumbup:

 

[nc_reb]

DANG! That CNC cutter looks like it would be dangerous! All the wacky things you could make with it, I think my wallet would catch fire just standing next to it.

Yeah, I have cut out tons of stuff. Anything that you can program and cut flat and then bend you can make. I made my m2 tripod head on this machine, as well as the spare tire bracket for my '43 Willys MB. If I can find blueprints, I can pretty much program it. If you've ever seen any of the toy guns I've made my kids, many of the parts were made on this. Tons of brackets and gussets for other metal projects like trailers, tractors, or farm implements.

Before I got my 1917a1 tripod, I programmed the cradle plates and cut them out with this. I really enjoy it.

 

[ABCB]

Andy if anyone can do this it's you brother so keep the thread going and keep us updated :thumbup:

+1, I'd very much like to see this project progress.

 

[svt40]

Keep it up to date because I too have been toying with the idea of building a 37mm to tow behind my jeep. Been looking for steering boxes that would work for the elevation and traverse mechanisms.

 

[nc_reb]

I think I have the Traverse and elevation all figured out. It is not going to look exactly like the original but I am pretty sure it will work, and I am optimistic that it will work well. I am in the process of rounding up the parts. I have a few leads on the items I am looking for and I am excited about it. I am going to use an old screw type bottle jack for the elevation mechanism. The kind of jack that used to come in Toyota and Nissan trucks. A modified common universal should help make the turn over to the elevation knob. I think I am going to use a common trailer spindle and hub with bearings to ease the traversing.
I have a right angle gear box that has been donated to the effort but it has one stripped gear. Kind of like this one:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/STM-RMI50-P...076?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51b59d64fc

I am looking for a replacement gear. My brother thinks he has another right angle gear box that has a 15:1 gear ratio. He says it is about the size of a big grapefruit. I am imagining the steering gear from an old riding lawnmower on the downward angle and the corresponding gear attached to the hub under the actual barrel carriage. It should ..... in theory....traverse as far right and left as riding lawn mower wheels.

suggestions? what have I left out or not considered? This is kind of like building an airplane while you fly it.

Andy

 

[paintmanmatt]

Wow Andy! Looking forward to seeing the progress on this..........

Matt

 

[belt fed frog]

nc_reb,

I have an old VW bus steering box your`s for the cost of shipping only . And No you can Not have the Jack out of my truck :rofl::rofl::rofl: I still need it !:tongue:

 

[nc_reb]

102.3 fever and a kick butt case of strep throat has put the build on hold....

Belt Fed Frog.....pm inbound!

 

[belt fed frog]

nc_reb,
Clear a bit of space in your PM box i have it packed and addressed for you with 2 small universals joints and need to send you where to send the shipping cost :tongue:

In the mean time Get Well !!

 

[nc_reb]

Found some time to program the spades, supports, and a few other small parts. I also bent a few things in the metal break. I cut the trails, and managed to get one spade welded on.
Andy

 

[svt40]

Looking good so far. What file format do you have your cutting program saved as? One of our customers has a large metal fab shop (I repair welders) and they said they could cut the stuff out if i could get them usable files.

Between the motorcycle and the GPW my garage is full so I'd have no place to store this thing or any other way to move it around...

 

[nc_reb]

Looking good so far. What file format do you have your cutting program saved as?

I have a cheap machine, as far a CNC plasma cutters go. It called a PlasmaCam. However it does everything I ask it to. I really love it! It is a really easy program to learn. It is a simplified windows based version of cad/cam. It can read G-code...I believe it saves as PSM or PCM files. Heck I don't know. I just use the dang thing.

http://www.plasmacam.com/archive/sfsp.htm

 

[nc_reb]

With the beginning of school, I have not had time to work on the build until today.....I had about an hour after school before I HAD to go.
I programmed the guard plate that shields the gunner from the recoil........only one problem. I was in such a hurry to build a part to put on the "pile"....stooooooopid me.......built the thing backwards...ughhhh...
Anyway...I am not deterred!

Just to update this post I'm adding the picture of the screw up.......

I'll just cut another one and recycle the rod. What's a little scrap steel and lost time during a build...:jedicrying:

Here's a brief video of my machine cutting the plate.



Here is the screwed up part......

 

[CaptMax]

This is a great thread Andy, please keep us updated with pictures as you progress with the project.
Hope your feeling better too.
CaptMax

 

[Waorani]

Just out of curiosity, how much was your Plasmacam? I took a look at their site and they don't give a price. They just want you to order their info packet which tells me it ain't exactly cheap. Found a couple of videos and seems like a nice machine.

 

[nc_reb]

The shop has had one for about 7-8 years now. I think the machine itself, meaning table, servo motors, controls, and software was in the $9k range. On top of that you have to provide the plasma cutter, computer, and air compressor. I suspect there is about 12K in it.

 

[emmagee1917]

Use it to build a second , left hander's gun.
Chris