VMC bezel reproduction and 1% shrinkage

[Ezra]

I spoke with the foundry again.  Aluminum shrinks approx 1% when it kools. Therefore the reproduction pieces will be one percent smaller.

Do you believe this will be an issue?

The price will be $400 unchromed.

What are your thoughts.
Thank you

[mygoose101]

If its aluminum you wouldn't be able to chrome plate it anyways, one would need to have it polished .

[Ezra]

If its aluminum you wouldn't be able to chrome plate it anyways, one would need to have it polished .

If you polish or chrome it is up to you but I just called a famous chrome plating company in Fresno to verify and they stated they can chrome plate aluminum.  

Please keep focus of this thread on the shrinkage , though small, and if project should still green light.

Thank you

[SIGNGUY]

We'll just tell everyone that it was in the pool!!!

[Ezra]

We'll just tell everyone that it was in the pool!!!

Could soak it in a mild solution of diluted Viagra

[mygoose101]

If it were ground beef, 1% shrinkage would be considered very good 

[Jim]

If my calculations are somewhat accurate, the bezel is approximately 9.5" long, shrinkage would be 0.095" or 1/10 of an inch which is between an 1/8" - 1/16"
This could equate to mounting holes not lining up correctly, the coin return slide not correctly in position or even the sold out window size/location...
Is the mold being created from computer or cast from an original bezel?

As far as chroming them, I have had several pieces chrome plated; however, one piece that had decorative grooves/lines would not plate a couple of small sections inside the grooves...

[GreenMo]

1%.  That's significant shrinkage.     

[Ezra]

Jim,
Thank you. The mold was going to be made from an original. But after you're input it sounds that one percent will make a difference. Cad drawing and metal molds is probably going to stop this idea $. I do have a friend who is on the professional level for cad and I've emailed him. He might do it as an interesting project on the inexpensive side but that still may be not worth it money wise.

[MoonDawg]

        The guys and gals that make our reproduction soda machine parts are very knowledgeable & they are certainly aware of the demand for bezels.
        I'm sure they have been studying this for a long long time.