Looking for ideas on how one would make a 3" toy tractor wheels

[Norm Zurawski]

I have a friend with a Farmal antique toy tractor less rear wheels. I have some black 1/2" thick plastic (lasers well) I was thinking of trying to use my Eplilog 60w laser to try making them. I also have a cnc router but want to try using laser. More of a test/practice project. You guys have any thoughts how you would attack it? I do have rotary and was thinking I could lay the plastic out to engrave/cut out the wheels and maybe attach to rotary for the lugs on tire. That way I could get angled lugs. Just scamming ideas :-).
Thanks, enjoy the site.
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[Keith Downing]

How many are you planning to make?

I'm not faulting you for using the laser, it's a great idea. And will probably be a fun project. I'm just not sure mass producing them that way would be more cost effective than trying to cast or mold them.

[Norm Zurawski]

No plans for mass production, just one off job to practice/test/learn skills, excercise my brain so to speak. I am now thinking maybe router for wheel area and laser lugs? Just thinking.

[Rich Harman]

This would be a great application for a 3D printer. Creating a 3D model would be not too hard in Fusion 360. Then just have someone print it for you. That would meet the requirements of learning skills and exercising the brain. :-)

[Samuel Espy]

One way would be to obtain a 3D model of a tractor tire (likely can find a free one for personal use, but I have not looked), and then import into AutoDesk's free 123D Make. Use the stacked slices for the construction technique with the slices oriented such that each slice is circular. I would use a thin black rubber for the material which can be cut via the laser. Finally glue the slice together. Other material could be used for the rim.

[Bruce Page]

Norm, check this thread out: Bar tread tire jig

[Norm Zurawski]

Ok, modeled wheel in Aspire. Don't do much in 3D modeling so I have to relearn stuff. But I liked my model. Machined on cnc router, 1/8" bit. Then made the tread in Corel. Bolted both wheels together with a 3/4" nut in the middle for weight and lasered on rotary. The wood is just scrap pine. I modeled wheels 1" think but next one will be 3/4" thick, I think it will look better. Both wheels have different laser settings, darker one slow speed high power. I think I will make the lugs thicker, I like the number of lugs. Also next one I will widen image in Coral as to have it laser past the edge, I like how it helped round over edges. The tractor is sitting on the 1" thick plastic I may use when things are tweaked, but may also just use wood. Been fun so far.
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[Kev Williams]

^^^ now that there is COOL!

Who needs a mamby pamby 3D printer when you got a frickin' laser?!

[Paul Lawrence]

Wow, Norm! Didn't you realize that hammer head is a Binsford 1295D worth a ton on the hammerhead market!

Nice job. Going to require a lot of finishing to make it look like rubber, though.

[Norm Zurawski]

Gotta love those Binford tools.
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[Norm Zurawski]

Made my second run at this using Maple. This time I cut two stand off blocks to over laser side of wheels. Bolted them together tightly so the laser couldn't shoot down the side too far. Worked pretty good I thought. Only issue I had was a little slippage on the rotary. I widened the lugs and such and looks much better. 3/4" wide. I will paint these to see what they look like. I am probably putting too much effort into this but it is a nice challenge and the owner of the tractor probably doesn't really care that I do this much detail. Yes I know the wheels are going in different directions, I'll correct that after painting.
wheel10.jpgwheel11.jpgwheel12.jpgwheel13.jpgwheel14.jpgwheel15.jpg

[Norm Zurawski]

Painted gloss black. I wanted to use satin black but knozzle was clogged and I didn't feel like cleaning it. I'll show owner and see what he says.
wheel16.jpgwheel17.jpg

[Norm Zurawski]

Spray painted gloss black. Wanted to do satin black but nozzle was clogged and I didn't feel like cleaning it. I will see what the owner thinks. I still think I probably put more detail into it than he was expecting.

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[Mark Major]

I'm sure that flat black would have been better.....but still, very, very cool job you did on those tires.

kind regards, Mark.