I broached this subject in a thread awhile back, but never got any traction. There seems to be a lot of nice parts that have been made over the years and disappeared from the face of the planet. It would be great if we could start a CAD locker for stuff that has been designed and nobody wants to hassle with making them and/or people that design their own stuff and want to share with everyone. Any interest in this? Mike Simard comes to mind, I know he got out of the business, but it's a shame that some of this stuff is just sitting out there and could prove very useful to the community. Could set up a drop box or something like this https://grabcad.com/library/porsche-968-flange

 

So nobody thinks this is a good idea?

 

I am surprised that no one has replied - I can see it being very helpful.

 

I think it would be very helpful as well.

 

I agree that it would it be interesting to be able to replicate some of the stuff that Mike Simard developed.

I have a pair of solid transmission mounts from Simard that I could make a CAD model of when I have time.

Danny, do you have the opportunity to make a model of Simard main girdle?

Any specific format that it should be made in? STEP? IGES?

 

Unfortunately, I'm pretty clueless when it comes to that stuff. I just know a few machinists that could spit out some stuff for me if I had designs. Maybe I should learn how to do CAD stuff I should have a girdle from JC in the near future. I have a buddy that's pretty proficient with CAD. I'm sure if I gave him the dimensions, he could do it or maybe I could have it laser scanned? Not trying to steal anyone's stuff, but if they're out of the market... Anyone know how to contact Mike to see if he has any of that stuff?

 

Danny, it would be really nice if you could ask your friend to make a CAD model of the girdle. It's a pity that many great ideas only were made in limited numbers, due to that the inventor of it stopped producing them.

It would be interesting if someone could get in touch with Mike Simard and ask if he could share som CAD files.

 

The only thing that I think might hinder the sharing of files/ideas/knowledge like that would be copyright or patent laws. If Mike Simard or Hans or Nate or Greg Brown or Louie Ott chose to protect themselves and their ideas and existing products via copyright or patent laws, the willingness to share those ideas could water down that protection.

It might be something to consider that if someone shares their CAD drawing of a product that is not protected, maybe this group move to protect the product idea in some way. For instance, Louie Ott drop links. No matter who makes them, they remain Louie Ott drop links. Mike Simard's main engine girdle. Hans' shifter. Nate's foglight adjuster pieces.
Just a thought.

 

Mattias, for what do you need a Simard girdle? Mike Simard has disappeared and a discussion has been going on here if he is retired or gone bankrupt. Nobody seems to know but I think I once saw online that his business was bankrupt. I can fabricate a girdle but it is a lot of work.
Åke

 

Åke,
I personally don't need the girdle, but if there is a chance for someone to make a CAD file of it, it would be good for others that want one in the future.

 

Intellectual Property isn't something I'm super familiar with, but I think there's a 'free non-commercial use' provision.

That is, the holder of the copyright allows people to copy it for their own use but not to produce it for sale.

Given the size of the community, and the 'tightness' of it, I think we could & would police ourselves fairly well.

I seem to remember a certain 'canine' fella who was selling a copy of 'someone's' oil baffle. That got called out pretty fast. I don't think I've seen him much here since.

That doesn't mean he still isn't trying to sell his counterfeit crap, but not here.

 

Joe,
My son is a renowned patent attorney, but not me.
I do believe that we would probably police ourselves pretty well regarding this topic.
What I was thinking is more along the lines of laying credit for the initial design work and to help prevent the free for all that could result from a 'canine' type copier with access to specs and CAD drawings.
Maybe if the original designer did not copyright the plans, we might do it for him/her with the stipulation that we could use the design without profiting from the design.
And then just maybe I'm making a bigger deal out of this that it needs to be. I just think that the originator should at least get credit for the idea.

Danny, sorry for hijacking your thread.

 

Fully agree that original designer should get credit.

The idea of naming the piece after the guy who came up with it makes a lot of sense. Very common in lots of 'design things'.

I'm not sure I'd consider this a 'hijack', though.

Concern for improper use and copying is an aspect of this sort of 'design library' that needs to be considered.

I have no designs or drawings (nor the ability to produce them), but if I did, I wouldn't be very willing to share them unless I could be reasonably certain they wouldn't be used to pirate the ideas.

 

Well just in case Danny or anybody else considered it a hijack........But I will ask my son for his ideas about the subject after the holidays. I'll pass along what he says about the whole thing including any issues.

 

i have ave one and the studs and am sending it to him when I get it off the engine on the shelf.