Anyone have reasonable machining prices?
- Thread starter guiri
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gadget_lover
Flashaholic
So much depends on definitions of "small items" and "Reasonable".
A small 2 inch long, 1 inch diameter container with threaded lid will take an hour or two to make. It will also require a couple of bucks of raw materials. It might take a trip to the hardware store to get the right o-rings. Then there's an hour packaging it and getting it to the post office.
So what's fair for 2 hours of machinging and two hours of running around? I sure don't know. That's why I generally don't offer to make things.
Daniel
BTW, the less you care about the fit and finish, the quicker it is to make one-off creations. Less measuring, less careful handling, etc.
A small 2 inch long, 1 inch diameter container with threaded lid will take an hour or two to make. It will also require a couple of bucks of raw materials. It might take a trip to the hardware store to get the right o-rings. Then there's an hour packaging it and getting it to the post office.
So what's fair for 2 hours of machinging and two hours of running around? I sure don't know. That's why I generally don't offer to make things.
Daniel
BTW, the less you care about the fit and finish, the quicker it is to make one-off creations. Less measuring, less careful handling, etc.
Gotcha. I take it, it would be better for me if I ordered more than one which I had intended to do anyway?
As for finish, I'm more into the brushed aluminum more than shiny stuff..what does that mean in time and effort?
Thanks
George
As for finish, I'm more into the brushed aluminum more than shiny stuff..what does that mean in time and effort?
Thanks
George
gadget_lover
Flashaholic
Any "specified" finish takes more time and effort than accepting the finish that you end up with at the end of the machining process. I think brushed should be fairly easy, but that means one more tool to set up and put away.
More than one at a time usually makes things easier UNLESS you insist that they are identical in all respects. More pieces can mean that you don't change tooling as often IF the machinist has the right setups to start with. Without collets and jigs and stops, each piece is about the same work as the first.
On the other hand, if you don't care about the exact length and diameters, then the machinist can use what's on hand and can eyeball a lot of the measurements. That cuts costs too.
The only reason I'm taking the time to write all this is to help maximize your chance of getting someone to help you.
Daniel
More than one at a time usually makes things easier UNLESS you insist that they are identical in all respects. More pieces can mean that you don't change tooling as often IF the machinist has the right setups to start with. Without collets and jigs and stops, each piece is about the same work as the first.
On the other hand, if you don't care about the exact length and diameters, then the machinist can use what's on hand and can eyeball a lot of the measurements. That cuts costs too.
The only reason I'm taking the time to write all this is to help maximize your chance of getting someone to help you.
Daniel
Last edited:
Gadget - you make some very valid points. I worked years back in a prototype machine shop, basically 2 or 3 of an item. We would on occasion get an order for 10 or more. The set up time and the tools used would sometimes be very different due to the quantity. The stops and jigs used for a quantity run would have to be 'heavier' for greater repeatability.
I can do a lot of work by eye. I don't have to stop the machine and measure which takes time. The part does not have to fit into another part.
I left the field a long time ago, I have no idea what the current hourly rate would be. The example above is for 2 jars and lids taking 2 hours or so. If you figure even $40 an hour - that's $80 for 2 jars. I did not account for parts and material pickup for purchase.
I suspect a lot of the custom mods done here are at a loss, but done with the idea of helping out some of the other members.
Even making a simple jar and lid requires a lot of different steps, Threading the lid and threading the jar top requires a certain amount of precison to make sure they fit and work together, not to tight, not too loose.
I can do a lot of work by eye. I don't have to stop the machine and measure which takes time. The part does not have to fit into another part.
I left the field a long time ago, I have no idea what the current hourly rate would be. The example above is for 2 jars and lids taking 2 hours or so. If you figure even $40 an hour - that's $80 for 2 jars. I did not account for parts and material pickup for purchase.
I suspect a lot of the custom mods done here are at a loss, but done with the idea of helping out some of the other members.
Even making a simple jar and lid requires a lot of different steps, Threading the lid and threading the jar top requires a certain amount of precison to make sure they fit and work together, not to tight, not too loose.
PhotonFanatic
Flashlight Enthusiast
guiri said:
Give us some dimensions and a rough drawing and it would be a lot easier to quote something.
Aren't there a gazillion metal container with lids available for purchase? Some even come with O-rings already, if not it might be easier to just add an O-ring groove than to make a complete canister.
TranquillityBase
Flashlight Enthusiast
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- Jun 12, 2005
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gadget_lover said:
So what's fair for 2 hours of machinging and two hours of running around?
$75 x 4 hours = $300
TranquillityBase said:
I had a feeling that amount was around $80 an hour..
even at $40 - that's $80 for two jars
I think that scientific supply houses may have jars in all shapes and sizes. If you can use a glass jar with a top - airbrush containers, or even model paint bottles.
Well, I've looked but never really found anything
There are BIG containers but too big for what I want.
I basically want something cigar tube size or smaller to keep things in such as batteries, drugs, toothpicks and so on and even a salt shaker made that I can close and open and keep in the car at all times instead of having to have salt packs with me.
http://www.totaldesignz.com/images/test-pictures/Tube-Drawing-1.gif
http://www.totaldesignz.com/images/test-pictures/saltshaker-drawing-1.gif
Even though it's expensive it's something I want to do. Today or one day in the near future, I want to do it but just wanted to know how much it would cost.
Yes, if I could find something that could be modified, that would be great but haven't found anything yet.
Found some plastic containers with lid and o ring at wal mart for less than a buck that do great for toothpicks but that's about it.
George
There are BIG containers but too big for what I want.
I basically want something cigar tube size or smaller to keep things in such as batteries, drugs, toothpicks and so on and even a salt shaker made that I can close and open and keep in the car at all times instead of having to have salt packs with me.
http://www.totaldesignz.com/images/test-pictures/Tube-Drawing-1.gif
http://www.totaldesignz.com/images/test-pictures/saltshaker-drawing-1.gif
Even though it's expensive it's something I want to do. Today or one day in the near future, I want to do it but just wanted to know how much it would cost.
Yes, if I could find something that could be modified, that would be great but haven't found anything yet.
Found some plastic containers with lid and o ring at wal mart for less than a buck that do great for toothpicks but that's about it.
George
matrixshaman
Flashlight Enthusiast
I'd suggest a cheap Chinese Xenon flashlight that uses a couple of the bigger batteries like 18650's. That way you've got your waterproof container for very cheap and it can even be used as a light if you keep batteries for it. It's sort of like the deal for a 'survival capsule' being sold for $$$ - just a fancy looking chunk of aluminum but some are up around $150 IIRC. For that price I could never see it - just get a small flashlight and remove the batteries and you've got an even better 'survival capsule' since it can be used as a light also.
That's not a bad idea
A little bit tacky but hell, a lot cheaper.
Dunno, I still think I'll have those made one day unless I find something but that is NOT a bad idea and I DO have a bunch of bad flashlights laying around (used to sell the chinese LED lights) so there were a bunch that never did work.
Good thinking. THanks.
George
A little bit tacky but hell, a lot cheaper.
Dunno, I still think I'll have those made one day unless I find something but that is NOT a bad idea and I DO have a bunch of bad flashlights laying around (used to sell the chinese LED lights) so there were a bunch that never did work.
Good thinking. THanks.
George
gadget_lover
Flashaholic
I'd suggest looking at the nearest store that sells camping supplies. They have all manner of containers used by backpackers.
You might also drop by a cigar store and ask to buy some spare tubes. I know they MUST have some spares.
I turned a nice toothpick holder for my brother out of wood. It was a fun project.
You might also find a beginner machinist who needs the practice, and assure them that you will take whatever they can make that will hold X batteries or X grams of salt.
Daniel
You might also drop by a cigar store and ask to buy some spare tubes. I know they MUST have some spares.
I turned a nice toothpick holder for my brother out of wood. It was a fun project.
You might also find a beginner machinist who needs the practice, and assure them that you will take whatever they can make that will hold X batteries or X grams of salt.
Daniel
Calina
Enlightened
Do you know about these : https://edcdepot.com/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=9&products_id=89
They are not 5 inches long though.
They are not 5 inches long though.
Ha, very cool!
Nice one. Not enough toothpicks for me but nice
Yep, that's what I need, a beginner machinist.
Although I can afford the 80 or 160 bucks I kinda have to look at what it is. Just containers.
Mind you, I'm not knocking their fees, I charge the same myself so that's cool.
Just not sure I want to pay it for the containers
Thanks
George
gadget_lover said:
Nice one. Not enough toothpicks for me but nice
Yep, that's what I need, a beginner machinist.
Although I can afford the 80 or 160 bucks I kinda have to look at what it is. Just containers.
Mind you, I'm not knocking their fees, I charge the same myself so that's cool.
Just not sure I want to pay it for the containers
Thanks
George
dom
Enlightened
matrixshaman
Flashlight Enthusiast
Yes - I forgot about the Coibri Tranzpack dom linked above - looks very cool and priced about inline with the smaller Pelican cases but it's in a tube shape.
Gotta get one of those myself sometime.
Gotta get one of those myself sometime.
dom said:
Sweet Dom!
How would you mod that nickel case though. There's not enough there to make a thread or something..?
That's kinda what I want though.
I still need to hook up with someone that can do it for me.
Like I said in my earlier post, although I have no problem with the hourly rates, for what I'm wanting to have done, not sure if it's worth it.
Some day though, I'll probably pay that price.
The other one (the yellow one) is cool too.
Thanks and keep'em coming
George
Well, I have been looking at cigar tubes and even found one with a screw lid. Again, not exactly what I wanted but it IS cheaper.
Hmmm, what to do. Anyway, this is far from over so I'll keep looking and thanks for the ideas.
I AM expecting some money in the near future and when that happens, I'm thinking I'm still going to have some made.
By the way, if you buy THIS tube, it's not cheaper than getting it made... http://www.elighters.com/da20240.html
George
Hmmm, what to do. Anyway, this is far from over so I'll keep looking and thanks for the ideas.
I AM expecting some money in the near future and when that happens, I'm thinking I'm still going to have some made.
By the way, if you buy THIS tube, it's not cheaper than getting it made... http://www.elighters.com/da20240.html
George
TOOCOOL
Enlightened
Don't put salt into aluminium 
