Someone wanted to see my custom-built centercaps. Here they are!

[TheFireChicken]

I built them myself, from barstock 6061 aluminium. Reverse-engineered from GM centercap design, and expanded a bit. I did 100% of the work on my own, with no assistance from others. They are currently being chrome-plated. I will go to pick them up next week. Opinions?

http://www.xerostudios.com/centercap1.jpg

http://www.xerostudios.com/centercap2.jpg

[ September 05, 2003: Message edited by: TheFireChicken ]</p>

[FAD2BLK]

Those are pretty sweet man! I have something like that, and had to have mine made too. But it's just the cap with a vynal decal in the center. Not as nice as yours though [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[AlienInv8r]

Wow, you made those yourself?? those look awesome, I'm definately impressed [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Everglades W68]

[img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I'll buy 'em! How much?

[LD]

are these gonna be something that you mass produce and sell?
If so, let me know, that would make an awesome Christmas present (to myself if I had a firebird :( )

[zlexiss]

Nice work there!

I miss my days in engineering school when I spent more time in the machine shop than in class..

-Jeff

[TheFireChicken]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by zlexiss:
Nice work there!

I miss my days in engineering school when I spent more time in the machine shop than in class..

-Jeff<hr></blockquote>

I actually work in a machine shop as a CNC mill machinist. The shop I work for mostly does mold, tool, and die work, so there is a lot of design that goes on, as well as manufacturing. So, you pick up a few things.

Unfortunately, GM will not under any circumstances allow anyone to manufacture centercaps with their logos on them exept their wheel manufacturer. I had a hell of a time just getting permission to use the logo on my own, and actually had to go to the head trademark guy at GM and talk to him about it. He had no problem with me doing them for myself, but they wont let anyone make centercaps for a car that is out of production. Doesnt make any sense whatsoever to me, but you know, thats life.

The whole project started because i finally just got sick of the black plastic centercaps one day. Pulled them all off, and decided to make my own. Thought about going the vinyl decal route, but i wanted something that looked a little more unique. When these caps are on a wheel, they stick out about 1/2 an inch or so, so there is a very cool 3D effect to the way they look. They also go very well with the curves of the stock wheels. My plan is to have the aluminium chrome plated, and then to get some touch up paint that is NBM (the color of my car), and put some inside the firebird cavities, to make them match the body color. Opinions on that color scheme?

[96sc]

I think the color scheme will look pretty good. Show us the final product (centercaps on car) when it is finished.

[mcjoslyn]

Excellent job. Are you concerned about metal fatigue in the fingers? Or are you figuring that they won't be coming on and off that much so they won't get that much abuse? Did you digitize the screaming chicken or freehand it? There is a huge amount of satisfaction in taking a project from concept to completion. Great work.

[TheFireChicken]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by mcjoslyn:
Excellent job. Are you concerned about metal fatigue in the fingers? Or are you figuring that they won't be coming on and off that much so they won't get that much abuse? Did you digitize the screaming chicken or freehand it? There is a huge amount of satisfaction in taking a project from concept to completion. Great work.<hr></blockquote>

Metal fatigue in the spokes is a concern that I have, however, i built a centecap as a test piece, that does not have engraving, just a flat end, and spokes. I have installed and removed the test piece several times, and had no issues with metal fatigue thus far. In addition, this test piece rode 20 miles on the car, at varying speeds from 35-70, without any extra reinforcement, and stayed on. I do have a planned redundant system that consists of a large, thick, aluminium washer and a bolt to serve as a backup wheel attachment system and to prevent someone from stealing them. I also do not plan on removing the centercaps except for very serious emergencies (wheel replacement, etc). So once they are on, they will not be coming off very often, which will reduce any chance for fatigue due to flexing of the spokes.

The screaming chicken emblem was digitized by a friend of mine who is a graphics wizard. He took a jpeg image of the screaming chicken, and ran it though adobe, and exported it as a file recognizable by autocad. He tried it first as a spline drawing, but my CAM software had some trouble working with it, so he did it a second time just as points. Takes longer to process the toolpaths in edgeCAM, but it does work. Other than getting some help on the digitization process, i did everything else myself. When I have some time, im probably going to revamp the drawing, and create some arcs and whatnot in a seperate layer, to simplify future projects.

[camarofan]

Just a quick question(s) for you. Would you consider making custom ones for the public? I know you won't/can't do it with camaro or firebird, but would you consider more simple designs?

Curious as to whether you could make this profitable or if it would be far more trouble and too high priced for its worth.

If you can and will, are you limited to certain styles of center caps and or designs? Projected prices?

I'm definately interested in something like this if you can make it happen.

[95Batmobile]

Could you report 4 of those firebird center caps stolen?
Thanks.
Ship new ones that you made for "yourself" to me.
:D :D [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[camaro_speedemon]

You actually asked GM if you could make those? I wouldn't have, how would they find out anyways?

[TheFireChicken]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by camarofan:
Just a quick question(s) for you. Would you consider making custom ones for the public? I know you won't/can't do it with camaro or firebird, but would you consider more simple designs?

Curious as to whether you could make this profitable or if it would be far more trouble and too high priced for its worth.

If you can and will, are you limited to certain styles of center caps and or designs? Projected prices?

I'm definately interested in something like this if you can make it happen.<hr></blockquote>

Well, basically, I can engrave any design you can draw in AutoCAD or on paper, like patterns, shapes, things like that.

In addition, there is a liability issue. If I make them and sell them, and they come off the car, I could be liable for damage to car, people, etc.

As far as cost goes, right now, it would cost several hundred dollars just to make a set of them. In a couple of years, I plan to buy my own milling machine, and then it will be an easier thing, because I can set up a machine for production to make centercaps, and it will be cheap and easy to do. But I would need to graduate from college and buy a machine first.

As for why I asked GM, I did it because I wasnt familiar with copyright law, and was worried about being sued for trademark violation. As it turns out, you are allowed under 1st amendment rights to use trademarks, as long as its not for profit.