Just to satisfy my curiosity

[alan_thomas]

Probably one for the Tooling fund chaps.

I am looking to fit 2 new original pressing front wings and talking to the Robsport guys they said I was lucky to have the wings as the Heritage wing press tool was now worn and the new pressings are not so good.
So my question is what is the tooling made of ? I always assumed it to be a vast chunk of steel fairly immune from wear but obviously not.
Also are they likely to repair the tooling or will the panels just get progressively worse?
- Alan

[new to this]

work in progress

[TR5convalescent]

Hi Alan,

When BMH reissued the TR6 body shell about 20 years ago, they indicated that there was a fairly limited run because the tooling would wear. I am pretty sure that they aren't making them now.

[Philip Wardle]

Hello Alan (and all)

The front wings 907071 (LH) and 907072 (RH), outer sills 907101 (LH) and 907102 (RH), front panel forward of the bonnet 907073 and the rear valance 907070 are manufactured from original Triumph tooling by BMH (British Motor Heritage Limited). Whilst this tooling would have been very durable originally it will have been subject to wear over the years, particularly in specific areas that may now be giving rise to problems with form and fit.

There is also a problem with the availability of suitable press capacity in the UK but I don’t personally know whether this is a problem for BMH in relation to front wings.

I can confirm, however, that during my time at SOCTFL we began trying to engage with BMH as part of a wider discussion on future strategy for tooling and production across the wider Stag panels supply chain. This is difficult because of the amount of sunk cost in existing tooling by SOC, SOCTFL, SOC Spares and others and the very high cost of new tooling suited to the press technologies that we will need to adapt to going forward.

If the work in progress mentioned by ’new to this’ is referring to the above the SOCTFL Board may be able to give us an update on this at their AGM on Sunday (30/5/17).

Best regards
Philip

[StagManiac]

A minor correction...

If the work in progress mentioned by ’new to this’ is referring to the above the SOCTFL Board may be able to give us an update on this at their AGM on Sunday (30/4/17).

I am planning to be at the SOCTOFL and Area Coordinators' AGM on Sunday coming.

Paul

[Motorsport Micky]

Probably one for the Tooling fund chaps.

I am looking to fit 2 new original pressing front wings and talking to the Robsport guys they said I was lucky to have the wings as the Heritage wing press tool was now worn and the new pressings are not so good.
So my question is what is the tooling made of ? I always assumed it to be a vast chunk of steel fairly immune from wear but obviously not.
Also are they likely to repair the tooling or will the panels just get progressively worse?
- Alan

Repairs to die panel tools obviously depends upon what wears, normally the sharp edges on 90 deg and tighter bends get most abrasion especially where the press has to deform material that last 10 thou or so deep into a corner.

This recently made example of a TR rear seat floor female die tool is reasonably simple. You start with this Diff floor material.jpg

and turn it into thisDiff floor 2.jpg

With it being in only a single plane and without multi curvature curves it and it's corresponding male die tool half has been made by an enterprising TR register member who has enviable contacts within a firm and has utilised "non priority" hours where possible to have the tool made.

Weighs in at just about 520kg for the female and something around 200 kg I imagine for the male plate. Diff floor male 2.jpg

The costs for panels made on this tool is "bang" on the retailing area for such a panel (under £200) and the limited number on the initial run (less than 20 panels anticipated) is likely to be exceeded as the wear on the tool after the initial 10 panel run is very reasonable and bodes well for a longer than initial estimate life.
The tool wasn't flame hardened for a harder surface which would prolong the surfaces probably because the tools edges still wear and at the cost of panels becoming less "crisp" as the production reaches the end of it's life. Whereas it's possible to weld the wear areas (inner and outer corners) and reprofile the tool to restore the crisp panel production.
With todays modern machinery and computer aided graphic design making up these tools is becoming more easily affordable (I would guess that under £5k might cover a tool such as this) and so with a reasonable panel run the costs should still be in the affordable range. Interestingly some of the TR specialists were approached with the offer of supply of these panels (long been declared NLS by the market place as a whole) but declined to buy the items suggesting that only the whole of the rear seat panel area would only be of interest to the market !... wrong.
It's difficult to find firms willing to invest into buying enterprisingly for panels and important shell items, I fear they prefer turning over chrome wires for £500 without any input from themselves other than banking the money. Oh...and panel fit of the items ? Diff floor pressing.jpgexcellent certainly they stand up to Triumph and Stanpart panels when they were available.

Micky