Milled lump of aluminium
Discussion
Can anyone give a rough idea please, of what a lump of aluminium of about 125x125x17mm should cost, and possibly what a reasonable price to pay to have most of it milled out - 100x100x14 of it.
Basically imagine I've got this square slice of alu and it needs to be milled out so it looks like some sort of ash-tray/soap-dish type of shape. How much should it cost to have this made?
Basically imagine I've got this square slice of alu and it needs to be milled out so it looks like some sort of ash-tray/soap-dish type of shape. How much should it cost to have this made?
There is not much cost in the material for a piece that size, it'll all be in the machining.
Basically, if it's simple geometric pockets with big corner radiuses it will be quick to cut and relatively cheap, if its a swoopy shape with tight curvature a small cutter will have to sweep over the surface and it will be expensive. I'd be inclined to guess at £50-500 depending on complexity and surface finish.
Basically, if it's simple geometric pockets with big corner radiuses it will be quick to cut and relatively cheap, if its a swoopy shape with tight curvature a small cutter will have to sweep over the surface and it will be expensive. I'd be inclined to guess at £50-500 depending on complexity and surface finish.
I think I might have been unintentionally misleading with the shape - basically I want to replicate this out of metal/alloy at a lesser cost if possible:
These are about GBP12 excl delivery, just an enclosure/project box.
I'm looking for a cheap metal box of similar dimensions, so thought getting a a slice of square aluminium milled out might be a cheaper alternative. It doesn't need a lid, really, I can add that on from sheet.
Does this change the estimated cost?
These are about GBP12 excl delivery, just an enclosure/project box.
I'm looking for a cheap metal box of similar dimensions, so thought getting a a slice of square aluminium milled out might be a cheaper alternative. It doesn't need a lid, really, I can add that on from sheet.
Does this change the estimated cost?
Doubt it'd ever be cheaper than something that's cast in mass production?
But - depending on the application/envirnoment/etc - could you produce it from 3 bits of alu? I.E. the top and bottom are the same sheet in say 1mm alu, and the 4 sides are formed by a thicker layer that's been punched/lasered/plasma-cut with a hole to make a sandwich enclosure.
But - depending on the application/envirnoment/etc - could you produce it from 3 bits of alu? I.E. the top and bottom are the same sheet in say 1mm alu, and the 4 sides are formed by a thicker layer that's been punched/lasered/plasma-cut with a hole to make a sandwich enclosure.
Escapegoat said:
Doubt it'd ever be cheaper than something that's cast in mass production?
But - depending on the application/envirnoment/etc - could you produce it from 3 bits of alu? I.E. the top and bottom are the same sheet in say 1mm alu, and the 4 sides are formed by a thicker layer that's been punched/lasered/plasma-cut with a hole to make a sandwich enclosure.
I'd agree, you'll need to be ordering decent quantities to compete on cost. I'm not sure splitting it up would save you anything - cutting the centre out if the middle wastes a large amount of material, without the benefit of getting the "free" base that you would with milling.But - depending on the application/envirnoment/etc - could you produce it from 3 bits of alu? I.E. the top and bottom are the same sheet in say 1mm alu, and the 4 sides are formed by a thicker layer that's been punched/lasered/plasma-cut with a hole to make a sandwich enclosure.
OP: The item is down to the simple end of the spectrum I described earlier, so maybe around £50 for a 1 off. It comes down to volumes, and technical requirements which will dictate what manufacturing routes are open to you.
ReaderScars said:
I think I might have been unintentionally misleading with the shape - basically I want to replicate this out of metal/alloy at a lesser cost if possible:
These are about GBP12 excl delivery, just an enclosure/project box.
I'm looking for a cheap metal box of similar dimensions, so thought getting a a slice of square aluminium milled out might be a cheaper alternative. It doesn't need a lid, really, I can add that on from sheet.
Does this change the estimated cost?
About £12 + p&p?These are about GBP12 excl delivery, just an enclosure/project box.
I'm looking for a cheap metal box of similar dimensions, so thought getting a a slice of square aluminium milled out might be a cheaper alternative. It doesn't need a lid, really, I can add that on from sheet.
Does this change the estimated cost?
In very high volumes, that should be made finished for less than £2 plus material, but you'd want custom tooling to hold it on a machine with a pallet changer. For a few off then it's not worth spending on the tooling, it will take much longer to make and could easily end up costing more than the bought in version. If you're buying lots of those boxes you should be able to buy them cheaper than £12.
Simpo Two said:
Suely this just needs a lump of aluminium and a bloke with a Myford ML7?
If the only tool you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. Using a lathe to make a square hole in a square plate would be interesting and inefficient.spikeyhead said:
If the only tool you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. Using a lathe to make a square hole in a square plate would be interesting and inefficient.
But an ML7 mills, and he only needs one box made. Point I'm making is that you don't need to smother it with tech.Simpo Two said:
spikeyhead said:
If the only tool you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. Using a lathe to make a square hole in a square plate would be interesting and inefficient.
But an ML7 mills, and he only needs one box made. Point I'm making is that you don't need to smother it with tech.ReaderScars said:
Thanks for the various suggestions. At the moment I'm not in a position to consider tooling costs and working with large scale machining outfits. If I can find a guy with a home workshop that would be a good solution, although also looking at the same item out of 1" thick slate.
If you went with wood you could try making it yourself
Simpo Two said:
spikeyhead said:
If the only tool you have is a hammer then everything looks like a nail. Using a lathe to make a square hole in a square plate would be interesting and inefficient.
But an ML7 mills, and he only needs one box made. Point I'm making is that you don't need to smother it with tech.An ML7 is a lathe to which you can add a milling attachment, but using one is a pain compared to a real mill.
The thing is, if I end up needing more than one (I bought two, cost £30 incl delivery, no discount for up to x250 off) then I need to find the cheapest alternative.
A quote from a company which already makes aluminium enclosures of that type quoted tooling costs of 17-20K plus MOQs of 2000 units to make them in bulk.
A quote from a company which already makes aluminium enclosures of that type quoted tooling costs of 17-20K plus MOQs of 2000 units to make them in bulk.
The easiest way to get cost down is to buy a standard item. These are sensibly priced, however I'm sure a hunt would produce better value.
http://www.rapidonline.com/mechanical-fastenings-f...
http://www.rapidonline.com/mechanical-fastenings-f...
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