Hi Folks,

Does anyone on the forum work within the Machine shop environment or have access to CNC Machines.

I would like some Aluminium parts machined please.

I went down to my local Machine shop and they quoted me extortionate prices.....

All together there are about 8 parts, below shows approx. sizes.

Part A  -  330mm x 130mm x 6mm
Part B  -  350mm  x 140mm x 35mm
Part C  -  100mm x 100mm x 10mm
Part D  -  65mm x 65mm x 10mm
Part E  -  65mm x 65mm x 10mm
Part F  -  165mm x 40mm x 10mm
Part G  -  165mm x 80mm x 3mm
Part H  -  165mm x 80mm x 3mm

I have designed and drawn up the required parts and can provide detailed 3rd Angle projection drawings with all measurements.

I can provide these upon request for a quotation.

Regards

Do you have a educational establishment close to you.  Say a Technical College or University.... 

They are often willing to do "small-quantity" or "one-offs" free of charge as part of the student teaching programme. You just have to contact them and ask.

QuoteI went down to my local Machine shop and they quoted me extortionate prices.....

Which were... ? Would you be able to quote the prices they offered ?

CNC machines dont come cheap, have to be paid for and they are up and running every minute of the day as a result

Peter

Quote from: Peter on January 17, 2018, 05:48:01 PM

QuoteI went down to my local Machine shop and they quoted me extortionate prices.....

Which were... ? Would you be able to quote the prices they offered ?

CNC machines dont come cheap, have to be paid for and they are up and running every minute of the day as a result

Peter

So for example Part A  -  330mm x 130mm x 6mm

This is an oval shaped 6mm Aluminium plate I designed with 5 holes to house the dash dials and 3 holes to accommodate led bulbs, no intricate machining on the edges and no polishing either.

I was quoted £150.....

I totally understand CNC machines are not cheap and there is a couple of hours worth of tooling involved, but just found the quote to be a bit much.... I was happy to pay up to £90 ..... Is this fair or am I being too selfish??

I'd think about laser or water jet cutting if possible

No, you are not being selfish at all, but, this stuff isnt quite a simple as people believe.

There will be time involved with programming and for speed people have to pay for licences,
Solid Works is used at my workplace and is quite unbelievable in what it can do, but licences cost more than your car!

That has to be recouped somehow, small jobs, well, tiny jobs like yours will take a lot more input than people realise.

Its not easy I know and I quite understand your thoughts and position, our CNC has to be running 24/7 to be able to
meet demand and keep the price down.

We have just had 2, 5 axis CNC mills arrive and so far the 30 station tool magazine, which has to be filled to do anything,
is consuming a huge amount of money to populate. You are looking at many many many thousands of pounds just to tool up.

I hope you find a solution that is what you want to pay, I think that usually this equipment is bought and installed to
enable much bigger orders and production runs to be handled, its what it was designed for and it needs it to survive.

Small jobs just dont feature, Laser or Water Jet would be worth looking at and are ideal for cutting 6mm to 35mm...

The only downside to Laser and Water Jet is the finish at the cut faces, it will need a finishing op and the thicker the material the more finishing you will require...

Good Luck I hope it all turns out well

Peter

I know what I would be doing

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ISEL-CPM-3020-CNC-MILLING-MACHINE/322983067214?hash=item4b334a7e4e:g:TmMAAOSwIspaUPr0

 

I knew you'd have the answer Dave 

Thank you for your input Peter, much appreciated...

I am going to try a few more places locally and compare quotes.

Paul - thought about what you suggested too as Brunel Uni. is only 5 mins from me....

If it is flat stuff (as per your example) then I have used Lasermaster, great prices, for anything not in their easy-order just drop them a dxf. For example 2 off 3mm steel exhaust flanges 110mm dia  =£13 posted.

Don't think they do 3d milling though. https://www.lasermaster.co.uk/easy-order

If you use them let us know how you got on please

Again ... try your educational guys. At worst they will say no. Never have to me.  These establishments have workshops with every type of milling, machine. CNC.. 5 axis units, laser cutters, plasma cutters etc.

I have had my eyes opened at these sort of skills.  For example.  My last requirement.. 2 off small brackets bent at right angles with precision position holes to  fit to the torsion bar cover area and the 25mm x 25mm square tube. Now I am no engineer but the guy seemed to, with ease, mark two parallel lines along the middle section which indicated the bend curve, (Outer when bent). The shape was initially laser cut after measurements and marking. 4 holes drilled. Bent to right angles. Lo and behold the bend fit precisely between the two lines. Brackets looked as though they had come out of a factory.

(Cost nothing as the brackets gave the guys something practical to show the students "how it`s done).   It pays to be cheeky & just ask 

I have sent an email to the workshop Technicians at Brunel  -  lets see what happens.

QuoteI have sent an email to the workshop Technicians at Brunel  -  lets see what happens.

Excellent!  I am sure they will be able to help, as Paul says, its amazing what you can find and
the colleges do like to give the students something to 'practice' on.

I was allowed to make loads of parts when I was at Engineering College at Brook Street in Tonbridge,
in the seventies! 

Happy Day's they certainly were 

Peter