OMG this forum is still swinging in all 986 directions!

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by rick3000

The Skybreaker one of my favorite 986 mods!

Fred, if you ever end up sending out those last few panels add me to the list, I scratched mine getting it into the frame.

Will do Rick.

?? the coating hardness is near the one of glass, are you 100% sure that composite frame is what scratched it? You'd need something much harder than the coating hardness itself to be able to scratch it (e.g. sharp stainless steel, sand, etc).

Obviously the panel can't be buffed/polished out without taking out the coating first. You could try a range of medium grain sand paper (al oxide based) e.g. 600, 1000, 1400, and finish with a #2000 before hand polishing. Just mask the area that doesn't need repair and you could potentially rescue it (50/50 really). Deep scratch? or just annoying?

***
Option 2: mask area around scratch the best you can, brush/clean debris with hot distilled water, let dry, and fill with a clear epoxy (need micro medical syringe).

[rick3000]

Originally Posted by Nine8Six

Will do Rick.

?? the coating hardness is near the one of glass, are you 100% sure that composite frame is what scratched it? You'd need something much harder than the coating hardness itself to be able to scratch it (e.g. sharp stainless steel, sand, etc).

Obviously the panel can't be buffed/polished out without taking out the coating first. You could try a range of medium grain sand paper (al oxide based) e.g. 600, 1000, 1400, and finish with a #2000 before hand polishing. Just mask the area that doesn't need repair and you could potentially rescue it (50/50 really). Deep scratch? or just annoying?

***
Option 2: mask area around scratch the best you can, brush/clean debris with hot distilled water, let dry, and fill with a clear epoxy (need micro medical syringe).

It's not a huge issue, but if you're going to startup again I would love a new panel. It's actually scratched, nothing major, but it's about 2" in the lower corner that illuminates when the Skybreaker is on. I'm not sure I would want to attempt repairing it and potentially make it worse. The coating actually works really well, because it should have been far worse. After I got the panel installed in the outer trim, I realized I forgot to route a channel for the power cable. My hand slipped while I was using a dremel, which caused the scratch.

[Nine8Six]

Originally Posted by KRAM36

Fred are you going to manufacture cool parts for the 986 again?

Not the willingness that is missing, but something else ;-) We'll see, I'm certainly trying. I'm putting together a few drawings of some of the parts I'm currently manufacturing for a customer this week. Just to see if I can swing those out secretly during late winter & spring without losing my shirt. Just a test at this stage (i.e. RFQs). If that works out I'll regain access to my own machine-tools for about 3~4 months! Wish me (us) luck

Originally Posted by rick3000

It's not a huge issue, but if you're going to startup again I would love a new panel.

Sure, understand. Sorry to hear ab that accident Rick, bummer :/ Let you guys know as soon as I get on that laser.