CNC machining - advice please!

Skidder · 11 Nov 2009 at 14:29

Hello,

I have some ideas for some watch dials which I would like to machine from thin sheets of brass, aluminium etc. (1mm thickness max, more likely 0.5mm).

I presume if I design dials with cut away sections in CAD (which I have no experience of!) I can send the materials and files off and get them cut. Does anyone have any idea what the cost could be? Obviously these are small parts and I would only want a few.

Any advice on companies I could use, people here which do it, what I would need to prepare etc. would be great. Thanks

Glaucus · 11 Nov 2009 at 15:32

The machine time and material costs will be negligible on such a small item.

Best thing is to google for some companies find out what files they except, draw it up and send it off for some quotes.

You don't need to do cnc drawings. But check what files they except.

waso_dude · 11 Nov 2009 at 15:42

Yell.com or the yellow book, and ring about all the local companys.

D.P. · 11 Nov 2009 at 15:43

Just ask them for a quote.

The materials and production cost is minimal but I would expect for such a small quantitiy the overheads will not be so cheap.

Bear · 11 Nov 2009 at 15:46

D.P. said:
Just ask them for a quote.

The materials and production cost is minimal but I would expect for such a small quantitiy the overheads will not be so cheap.

This is true, the cost for setting up a machine for a very short run means the charge will be quite large.

Col_M · 11 Nov 2009 at 16:33

Yup, you'll have to have someone who can program paths into the milling machine, that will be the main cost. I learnt some basic FANUC programming at uni and it takes experience to write an efficient path, I'd imagine their time isn't cheap.

Skidder · 11 Nov 2009 at 16:37

Thanks - I will have a phone around and see what the form is.

Glaucus · 11 Nov 2009 at 16:44

http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search;_...metal+cutting&fr2=sb-top&fr=yfp-t-702-s&rd=r2

Just click on them find some offering small batches liek the first http://www.cutcnc.co.uk/contact.htm

Give them an email. once you know what file format they need. You can get a drawing, if you can't do it. Do a sketch and ask on here. Someone will probably help you out. You don't need to program anything. They will do that for you.

Hamzter · 11 Nov 2009 at 17:24

I wouldn't have thought you'd be able to machine such small and delicate parts as watch dials, laser cutting or wire EDM might be what you're wanting. For simple profile shapes, programming is very simple, I could probably knock out a tool path in a few minutes with the limited software I have, although they'll probably still charge you something silly to do it.

A file format such as DXF (2D Autocad format) should be pretty much universally accepted, you don't need any fancy software to do it, I'm sure there's some free software out there. Do the drawings/cad yourself, much cheaper than getting someone else to do it.

RobH · 11 Nov 2009 at 17:56

In terms of free software there is a new piece called OpenSCAD which has become quite popular recently, might be worth having a look at. You also have things like Blender and SketchUp.

Skidder · 11 Nov 2009 at 17:59

great, thanks will have a look at those

I've designed some dials in photoshop before but I guess these will need some re-learning

Skidder · 11 Nov 2009 at 18:01

Hamzter said:
I wouldn't have thought you'd be able to machine such small and delicate parts as watch dials, laser cutting or wire EDM might be what you're wanting. For simple profile shapes, programming is very simple, I could probably knock out a tool path in a few minutes with the limited software I have, although they'll probably still charge you something silly to do it.

A file format such as DXF (2D Autocad format) should be pretty much universally accepted, you don't need any fancy software to do it, I'm sure there's some free software out there. Do the drawings/cad yourself, much cheaper than getting someone else to do it.

thanks, good info.

I have seen a small time watch maket in the US state that he uses CNC machining for his dials. I might get in touch and ask some advice - it's not commercial for me so he may be helpful.