Where to get a metal part made?

[IMSabbel]

I am not sure if this is the correct forum, but I noticed people in here usually are well equipped with tools and stuff, so maybe somebody can help me.

I need a relatively simple alumnium part made. Before i moved, i could have done it myself. But no i dont have any access to a workshop at all (before i could use the one at work, that was nice. One drawback of having a desk-job now...)

Its a simple matter of getting a small (<10x10x1cm) alu plate cut, and some holes drilled.
Maybe polished and deburred, too, but thats not that essential.

Any ideas where i could get this done without being prohibitively expensive?

 

[gadget_lover]

You don't say where you are, so this advice may not fit.

Many high schools and colleges have machine shop classes. People have had success getting simple work done as training for the classes.

There are machine shops in every town. Some folks have had luck just walking in and asking for a 10 cm x10cm x1cm piece of leftover.

Making a piece that size is not beyond the abilities of a home shop with just hacksaws, files and a cordless drill. Add a belt sander and band saw and some ingenuity and you will be amazed what you can fashion.

Dan

 

[IMSabbel]

Well yeah. That kinda exists as a fallback solution.

Otoh, the "give somebody $ and get shiny, well done part" aspect would be preferable

 

[gadget_lover]

There are some talented people on this forum who might be able to give you a hand.

I don't have any 4 inch stock to make this out of, and my 1/2 inch plate is reserved for other projects.

Good luck,

Dan

 

[IMSabbel]

You know, thats why i made this thread. Maybe i was trying to be a bit to suble

(also, the thickness is only a ballpark figure. Wouldnt matter if it were 8 or 12mm instead)

 

[precisionworks]

The metric sizing may be harder to find...

You're asking for a part that's 3.937 x 3.937 x .393.

If you can use a part that's 4.0 x 4.0 x .50, it would be much easier to find the stock (as would 4.0 x 4.0 x .375). Metals Depot sells a one foot long piece of .50 x 4.0 flat stock for $15 + $10 shipping, about as cheap as you'll find.

McMaster carries 10mm thick, but not the width you need. And their price for a foot of .50 x 4.0 is double the price from Metals Depot.

 

[IMSabbel]

Well, i managed to get a part thats close enough (88x80x10mm^3).

I guess the lapping will be a bit difficult on a part that big, especially considering that it was more or less discarted waste material (and this scratched quite a bit)

But that isnt the problem, because there is plenty of material thickness to make up any misstakes.

Any tips how to best get groups of holes done in the right spot, without any angle between them? In the past, i just used a drill press for something like that. Now i have a decent power drill, but no real way to make the alignment correct...

 

[LukeA]

Well, i managed to get a part thats close enough (88x80x10mm).

I guess the lapping will be a bit difficult on a part that big, especially considering that it was more or less discarted waste material (and this scratched quite a bit)

But that isnt the problem, because there is plenty of material thickness to make up any misstakes.

Any tips how to best get groups of holes done in the right spot, without any angle between them? In the past, i just used a drill press for something like that. Now i have a decent power drill, but no real way to make the alignment correct...

Buy a small drill press.

 

[precisionworks]

If you will locate all holes with a centerpunched mark, and include a drawing with desired hole diameters, I'll drill & return without any charge. PM if you want.

If there's excess thickness, I can face mill both sides flat & parallel, perhaps taking out the imperfections. Just need to know final desired thickness, either mm or thousandths of an inch.