Wing rib dimensions

[Chuck in Indiana]

Based on my CAD drawings I used to make mine with...

Hmmm. I downloaded your .dxf files thinking I could directly make templates on my cnc mill and cut the parts with my shiny new  router.
Just for a reality check, I measured the rib.. and.. uh oh. What's going on here?

I had noticed that one of the files for gusset layout gave crazy numbers, but thought that was just a .dxf conversion error.
At least I hadn't started to cut aluminum yet..

[scottiniowa]

Hmmm. I downloaded your .dxf files thinking I could directly make templates on my cnc mill and cut the parts with my shiny new  router.
Just for a reality check, I measured the rib.. and.. uh oh. What's going on here?

I had noticed that one of the files for gusset layout gave crazy numbers, but thought that was just a .dxf conversion error.
At least I hadn't started to cut aluminum yet..

I am guessing  this process is far from what you were thinking "this download and start cutting"   ANY CNC router will only cut what you tell it to cut, only go where you tell it to go, even only cut inside or outside of a shape because you told it so. And of course verify scale.  so many things...but absolutely needs to be done, to have it done right.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Thanks for the reply, Scott. I've had a cnc mill since the mid 80s, and have run thousands of parts from .dxf files. I've never had one that wasn't the PART. When I saw these files in the download area, I thought it would save me quite a bit of time drawing.. and I could get a head start with some aircraft ply I have on hand.
I'll wait until your drawings show up at my door    and make my templates from them.

[scottiniowa]

Thanks for the reply, Scott. I've had a cnc mill since the mid 80s, and have run thousands of parts from .dxf files. I've never had one that wasn't the PART. When I saw these files in the download area, I thought it would save me quite a bit of time drawing.. and I could get a head start with some aircraft ply I have on hand.
I'll wait until your drawings show up at my door    and make my templates from them.

Thanks Chuck.  
In the mean time, I will do a extremely short course on how I teach "What to do with a complete .dxf drawing, for creation of single parts"
This only pertains to those with software that can can work with .dxf files .

• Load up the big .dxf file and scale it to exactly what you want
• Name it MASTER xxx (what ever it is)
• Reload this above named file or if you already have it in front of you, do a "save as copy" then ONLY open that.  (might be best to close the master first few times) 
• With the newly saved copy,  a new name should only be the part of it that you want (lets say the nose rib) in the case Master xxx Nose rib. 
• Now anything you do in or with step 4, will only effect that part...  so in this case, delete everything that is not the nose rib and save.
• Go back to the Master xxx, and do another "save as copy" with another distinct name for that part.  And from here on, only work with that newly save file.  Lets say K block is the new name.
• Now get delete everything that is not the K block and save.
• Do this with every single part of Master file. (if there is 10 parts, you will do 10 times) 

What does this do for you?  Several key items.

• You always work from the exact same Master, with overall dimensions, NO REDRAWING
• if the first part is correct, all the rest should be correct ( keeps you from doing a change by accident in redrawing)
• this is entirely dependent on the  master part file, but will save you HUGE hours on redrawing things and errors
• YOU have to keep in mind, the Master is key, it has to be correct. From there, everything falls into place.

Best of success.