What do you call a print and cut service for making templates?

[BigD_83]

I'm having a hard time coming up with a descriptor for what I want to accomplish.

Making gaskets is not that hard. Currently in order to visualize the inner edges and bolt holes, I use a film of oil on the mating surfaces and press the cover onto the gasket paper. This usually works, but in some cases it does not leave a clean impression of the more intricate or broader surfaces of the gasket.

I want to make some of the odd-shaped gaskets a little easier to replicate by creating a template from a scan of the OEM gasket, and printing it onto some plastic or card sheet, that can then be used to trace the gasket pattern onto the gasket paper. I figure this would save time when trying to trace the inside edge, and various bolt holes etc, compared to using the oil method.

What terms should I be looking for in my Google Search?

Die cut comes up with business card printing for the most part.

Should I just take the scan to a CNC shop and have them cut the shape? Sounds expensive, and I don't think I can justify doing it on my work budget .

Overly ambitious? Yes. Cool factor...maybe.

[bccap]

Not sure I understand ? Can't you just go to the library and scan the gasket and then lay the scan on top of the gasket material then cut ?

[Dodik]

It might be just easier to put make a template yourself out of Mylar, PETG, acrylic or anyother plastic sheet, put your gasket on top use a thin point sharpie to outline, use scissors, box cutter and hole punch to make, shouldn't take that long.

[BigD_83]

BCCap,

if you just use a paper print, you will usually get a ragged outline or you may cut the paper template. It's not a precision operation, but having a rigid template would make the job much easier.

The whole idea is to create a rigid template that will not move around when tracing the pattern, and has some weight and staying power.

Dodik...the outside edge should be easy-peasy---I thought the bolt holes and really fine angles might be a problem when cutting thicker sheet plastics. That being said, I didn't think about using acrylic. I might be able to handle that myself. Thanks for the suggestion. I could use heated cork-borers to cut the bolt holes, or a drill press would make for slightly rougher holes.

Same thing applies though as mentioned to Garth. I want a rigid template that won't move around, fold, etc when tracing a new gasket, and has a nice broad edge that you can pull your pencil along.

[Frank Z.]

Big D, if you can find a friendly trophy shop in your area that creates acrylic awards, they usually have a CNC router and can whip out most any 2-D template out for you. I've used an outfit here, and it's pretty cost effective.

Good idea, btw.

[jsandidge]

acrylic

Check with a plastics shop, like AIN plastics. I think they have shops all over the country. Many of them have laser cutters and could cut 1/8" acrylic from a scan.

[chuck hahn]

Take thin clear mylar and trace the inner and outer edges and the holes and find a place with a digitizer. A digitizer has a crosshair they move and click along the lines which then is cleaned up on a cad program. Next it can be sent directly to their laser cutter or cutting plotter. Or they can put it on a disc that you can supply at any time you wish to have some cut.