ISO disc tabs

[incepi]

I am producing a small batch of these ISO disc tabs. The one shown was machined. It will be far more economical to laser or water cut them from 3/16" 1018 or 4130.

There are local resources who can do this. I am wondering if it's worth considering others. Any experiences with designing and sourcing your own disc tabs?

IMG_0781.jpg

[steve garro]

Any experiences with designing and sourcing your own disc tabs?

Yep.

Just cut them from 1/4" plate & drill two holes.

Mild steel is fine.

- Garro.

[crumpton]

or get them from Mark.

[incepi]

So much helpful advice here.

[e-RICHIE]

So much helpful advice here.

There is. Sometimes it doesn't all come the same day, especially on a weekend. What Garro said.
PS I don't use these things. What makes yours different for the market? Thanks.

[Will Neide]

I am producing a small batch of these ISO disc tabs. The one shown was machined. It will be far more economical to laser or water cut them from 3/16" 1018 or 4130.

There are local resources who can do this. I am wondering if it's worth considering others. Any experiences with designing and sourcing your own disc tabs?

IMG_0781.jpg

What kind of price are you getting for each one? And how many do you anticipate needing?

IMO, if you plan to use A LOT of them, then certainly source them yourself. Otherwise, I've found it cheaper to buy them as needed. Many rear dropouts have integrated disc mounts and on the front I like the Willits style.

[incepi]

I find the rear dropouts with integrated tabs heavy. As for buying disc tabs, I could but I would rather design my own. It's mostly an aesthetic preference. I have some other designs in the works, for post mount tabs. I would like to know if there are proven suppliers who will do small orders at reasonable prices. If not, I will just experiment with the local suppliers and see what they can do.

The Willits design is nice. I'm surprised there isn't a post mount version available. I'm tempted to make one.

[Clockwork]

Make your own--it's fun!

[Will Neide]

As for buying disc tabs, I could but I would rather design my own. It's mostly an aesthetic preference.

I'd go the route of designing the whole package. Dropout and tab. Even if it isn't a one piece unit, make it as easy on yourself with the disc tab (minimal or no cutting). No point in designing a generic tab like you have pictured in the OP where you'll have to mod to fit your design.

It's my impression that post mount designs are expensive to produce since you have to start with a larger piece of steel and requires CNC. Also, most post mounts have aluminum threaded inserts so you can replace them if they strip. This adds to the complexity and cost.

Have you built a fork yet? Start there before you start deciding that post mount is more important than ISO.

[steve garro]

So much helpful advice here.

I answered your question with all sincerity.

Not something that would be cool is a tool steel guide for drilling the mounting holes, like a H2O drilling guide, as ultimately it's the bike that dictates the shape of the mount, not the other way around, especially WRT CS mount.

You may also find that an integral disc mount is lighter as I did when designing my dropouts.



- Garro.

[incepi]

It's my impression that post mount designs are expensive to produce since you have to start with a larger piece of steel and requires CNC. Also, most post mounts have aluminum threaded inserts so you can replace them if they strip. This adds to the complexity and cost.

The Paragon Machine Works tab matches your description. I don't know of any other Post Mount tab on the market. In the PMW design the barrel nuts are not driving the cost. Those are very inexpensive. In any case, they could be eliminated from a Post Mount tab design.

The real driver for the cost of those is the complexity of the design, which requires machining and fixturing, as you have noted. It may be possible to make a Post Mount tab that is less complex and less expensive to produce. Simplifying the geometry without making it unattractive will be the challenge.

[Will Neide]

Oh, they can definitely be mass produced without the aluminum inserts. You just need to figure out what price point you want. Function vs weight vs price. And how many?? Post mount seems like a heftier investment up front regardless of design. For low quantity use, I don't think the investment is worth it. How many are you planning to have made?

How about these?
postmountdropouts.jpg

What

[EricKeller]

there is a cast post mount out there in the wild. Saw it on a production bike

[Rody]

Any experiences with designing and sourcing your own disc tabs?IMG_0781.jpg

I often make my own disc mounts, whether ISO or post mount. The freedom of adapting the aesthetic of the build to include the functional design parameters of the components is one of the greatest freedoms we have as fabricators. This truly allows you to include your vision into the function of the whole.

Unfortunately, I have no experience designing them and then having someone else do the work for me.

I would encourage you to avoid gaining that experience as well, you'll learn a whole lot more.

cheers,

rody

[crumpton]

My response as also sincere. I have designed such things and had them locally water jetted. I found it was just much easier and cheaper to source from Mark given that simple flat 2d hunk of metal needs the builders touch to fit the bike anyways, at least in my experience. Ive used both Ti and steel from Paragon and while I don't use them often, its easy enough to get when/if I need em.

So now I'll ask you, are you asking so that you can make one for your own frame? Or are you planning to design this simple 2d bit, have em made locally to add to your wares to offer to other builders? If that is the case I say go for it. But keep in mind the need is not very high and the competition is stacked. It'll be a great exercise/learning experience for you.

Good Luck!

So much helpful advice here.

[e-RICHIE]

I look at this part and am reminded of the Witcomb (London) days when someone would grab a piece of steel, use the aluminum template that was made as a guide slash cheat sheet, scribe it out, and then have at it with a hacksaw, 12" half-rounds, and some muscle memory. The part itself looks so simple that I wonder why someone who wanted one wouldn't/couldn't just fab one at the bench. You have your wall thickness, some basic radii. and some holes to locate. I asked earlier and still wonder, is there more than meets the eye here?

[incepi]

The water jet shop's preliminary estimate is $3 to $5 each for a small batch of 25. I will get a formal quote tomorrow. I will make three designs(one ISO and two Post Mount). That will give me enough for my needs, and the rest I will sell. At that price it's not worth paying the shipping cost to buy them from a supplier.

[shirk]

The water jet shop's preliminary estimate is $3 to $5 each for a small batch of 25. I will get a formal quote tomorrow. I will make three designs(one ISO and two Post Mount). That will give me enough for my needs, and the rest I will sell. At that price it's not worth paying the shipping cost to buy them from a supplier.

I think you need to put a disclaimer on your posts letting the rest of the readers know you're in Canada and not the US. The extra shipping cost for us to get something like a disc tab from the US vs local is the tipping point to make a local batch worth while (especially if you actually need 25 of them).

[shirk]

I look at this part and am reminded of the Witcomb (London) days when someone would grab a piece of steel, use the aluminum template that was made as a guide slash cheat sheet, scribe it out, and then have at it with a hacksaw, 12" half-rounds, and some muscle memory. The part itself looks so simple that I wonder why someone who wanted one wouldn't/couldn't just fab one at the bench. You have your wall thickness, some basic radii. and some holes to locate. I asked earlier and still wonder, is there more than meets the eye here?

Some of us noobs do.


No machines were harmed in the making of these dropouts or the disc tab that was put onto it's mate.

[incepi]

The extra shipping cost for us to get something like a disc tab from the US vs local is the tipping point to make a local batch worth while (especially if you actually need 25 of them).

Shipping charges from many suppliers is completely unreasonable. That is the main economic consideration in making my own. The other reason is I simply don't like most of the designs available, from an aesthetic standpoint.