Today we sent off the first set of CAD files to have some test parts cut for fitment and alignment verification.  Working with industrial lasers can be fun!

This is the part where our engineer looks at us sideways as we bite our knuckles a bit.  Is the virtual model in the CAD system going to fit on the engine?  Of course it will, 'cause our head engineer rocks, remember?

The first few parts will be cut out of good old Made-in-the-USA hardened steel and 6061 aluminum as it's cheap, there's lots of it around, and it will all fit together just as well as the fancy alloy bits eventually will in the running prototype.  Once the design has been bolt-together validated, mic'd and given the thumbs-up, we'll go on to fabricate all the parts in their "final" materials.

Of course, engineers being how they are - the "final" materials will probably get tweaked a bit more before production... Always trying to push the envelope just a little bit further...