Custom CNC businesses?

[Dekieon]

I didn't know which category to put this post, and this seemed like the most sensible place.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a good place to get custom CNC on aluminum done?

I want to get two duplicate pieces machined...about 8" diameter gear shaped & about 1/2" thick with a very simple designed carved on the face of one side. I checked out something called emachineshop.com and tried out their software, it seems really easy, but their prices are quite high to get them made.

[macattack]

I may be able to do this on mine, send me over what you need to mameman23@gmail.com

Greg

[Dekieon]

I rendered an image of the 3d model I made of it in Lightwave and emailed it to you.

[Furry131]

Your best bet is to contact a local machine shop. My father runs one here in Denver and tells me he does work like this all the time. The only issue you will have most places are going to charge you a minimum order charge. Since most of the time they have to push back one of the multi-part, big payout jobs.   I would look for a mom and pop type of machine shop.   Since they work on metal all the time I would go with them. They will have the right tooling and knowledge to get what you need done. You might be able to get it done by someone on here but keep in mind they might be able to do it but working with metal is a whole new beast. It has to be cooled while cutting and most people on here with CNC machines do not have the capabilities to oil cool the product and keep it from warping.

[Unstupid]

Cutting aluminum is a lot like cutting some harder woods.  A lot of shops that have real CNC machines (not off the shelf routers) should be able to cut aluminum.  When we cut aluminum we don't need coolant/lube, we do turn on the cold air gun mostly to move the chips off the part as it cuts.

[macattack]

Here's a poc

[Dekieon]

Man that looks really nice. I imagine it in machined aluminium would look spetacular.

I noticed that the back of the round part of the 3 looks a bit pointed, and there are a couple nicks on the gear teeth. Is that a model problem that I need to get fixed, or is that your CNC doing that?

[macattack]

Man that looks really nice. I imagine it in machined aluminium would look spetacular.

I noticed that the back of the round part of the 3 looks a bit pointed, and there are a couple nicks on the gear teeth. Is that a model problem that I need to get fixed, or is that your CNC doing that?

Yeah the 3 may need some tweaking. The nicks on the teeth are from the cnc, just needs sanding, that's straight off the bed.

Still looking at the aluminum practicality.

[Dekieon]

Cool, I will fix the roundness of the 3. Also I plan to modify the model so that the back is essentially carved out so that it uses less metal, and makes it lighter for shipping.

Let me know if you think you can do it in aluminum and how much two of them would cost. Also just a reminder that I won't need to get these for likely a few months, as I am still not in the building process of the cabinet yet. Still in the planning and purchasing controls and materials stage.

[macattack]

Ok will see what it's going to look like. Reducing the shipping weight is all well and good. But in machining out the back your increasing the machining time so likely will offset the cost of shipping with cnc time. Aluminum would be great, but do you really have to have it in aluminum? Pretty sure we could make these look like aluminum and do them in wood or plastic, a lot cheaper.

[PL1]

Ond found a place that can chrome MDF.

Probably won't save you any money though.   

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Scott

[Dekieon]

that looks cool. With that option though, I fear I would loose the crisp edges that I would get with a CNC machine.

[JDFan]

Ok will see what it's going to look like. Reducing the shipping weight is all well and good. But in machining out the back your increasing the machining time so likely will offset the cost of shipping with cnc time. Aluminum would be great, but do you really have to have it in aluminum? Pretty sure we could make these look like aluminum and do them in wood or plastic, a lot cheaper.

What size are they ?? -- if they'd fit in a medium flat rate box (13-5/8" x 11-7/8" x 3-3/8" OR 11" x 8-1/2" x 5-1/2")  it's the same $12.35 price no matter what the weight ( Up to 70 Lbs ! )

[Ond]

that looks cool. With that option though, I fear I would loose the crisp edges that I would get with a CNC machine.

You wouldn’t lose any edge definition; I rounded of all the edges deliberately prior to getting that piece chromed.  You could chrome a razor blade and it would still be sharp.  The only proviso is whether you are chroming a non-metallic or a metallic object.  Non Metallic objects like the piece I did need to be electro plated, the cost lies in setting that up.  I was charged nothing for the metal piece and $120 for the MDF based piece.  The layers are very thin, but the chromium is very tough stuff.