Chop top glass (Page 2/3)
Xtinct88 NOV 09, 10:40 PM
So I found a company that will make glass from scratch requiring a template including exact curvature and size. A mold is required before the glass is cut and tempered. All said and done…10,000$ for a pair of custom door glass!! So that settled that no choptop for me!
Valkrie9 NOV 10, 01:51 AM

Why it is so expensive, it's a process.
Xtinct88 NOV 10, 06:25 AM
So I found a company that will make glass from scratch requiring a template including exact curvature and size. A mold is required before the glass is cut and tempered. All said and done…10,000$ for a pair of custom door glass!! So that settled that no choptop for me!
Xtinct88 NOV 10, 07:18 AM

quote
Originally posted by Valkrie9:


Why it is so expensive, it's a process.



I get that it’s complex and labor intensive, but 10,000$ isn’t expensive that’s extortionate.
Valkrie9 NOV 14, 12:39 AM


Well then,
having labor working for nearly nothing, the price would be commensurately quite reasonable.

Skilled labor workers making automotive safety glass, at Pilkington, UK.
Sure, making the mold is the portion that a home builder could accomplish, to some standard of accuracy.
Shipping it to the factory for inspection and approval, then, firing up the tin pot to float the molten glass.
Pretty sure that some, a few engineers, have considered alternative methods, to duplicate the resulting product.
Hard to do that for less than the asking price, the demand setting a profit margin.
Consider using production windshields in modified form, waterjet cutting larger pieces to fit your supercar design.
A compromise to economy.

!
3D printing a mold half,
mirroring for symmetry, assembly, then adapting for standard production methods.
Now that, that might be an answer to the cost of custom sheets.



Valkrie9 NOV 21, 11:08 PM

So,
cutting the safety glass is not a problem.
A Five-Axis water jet is required for the large curved panels.
Large travel machine, specialized.

Apex 60 - 5 Axis


Uh... because cutting normal to the surface makes a 90 degree corner of the edge, so the chamfer grinding is effective.
Yeah.

[This message has been edited by Valkrie9 (edited 11-23-2022).]

fieroguru NOV 22, 06:46 AM
The side window glass that is needed for the Fiero choptop is tempered, not laminated.
Rare87GT NOV 23, 04:32 PM
All I can say is I am glad I have door glass on my Choptop. I put a provision on my insurance to cover in the event the door glass was ever broken for any reason.

$10k is crazy!

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88 Formula - 3800SC/4t65eHD
88 Coupe - 3800SC/4t65eHD
87GT - Great Blue Chop Top

Xtinct88 DEC 06, 10:04 AM
I know it’s extortionate. The only affordable option is lexan or plastic and I’m not going that route.
IMSA GT DEC 06, 06:34 PM
Stupid question but does anyone even have a template to give to one of these glass shops? I doubt they're going to spend the time figuring out how to cut the glass. They will probably need an accurate template to work with.