Metalwork Fabrication

Hussman · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:03

Hi,

Not sure if this is the right area of the forums to post this, if not please move as required.

I am looking for a way of getting a spare part for my flight sim rig and have contacted some local metal fabricators asking them if they can make the item in the photos.

Their costs seem very expensive. I am happy to pay, but they are asking significantly more than I'm happy to fork out.

Anyone on OCUK forums able to help or point me in the right direction perhaps?

Please note I do not have access to welding equipment, metal work tools etc, so please no comments relating to, "That's easy, make it yourself".

Thanks, Hussman

https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZR3pSkZqKzHvNfvhAJ3uK80EEFqXF1TfBkV

https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZQ3pSkZmQdMcJrL7gzB9eXCzqJxQjq75rWy

https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZf3pSkZnttsLKXgUD8tkCwoDOy1MuAmDBB7

https://my.pcloud.com/publink/show?code=XZD3pSkZdQ9lddBSVuSUNzQJQ737QSSeyLPy

Diddums · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:05

What sort of load is it going to see? This is the kind of thing that could easily be 3D printed with a bit of creativity.

How much are they asking for anyway? I can't see this costing more than £100, it's very straight forward stuff. I could knock that up in an hour in a workshop.

Lakeland · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:07

What were you being quoted?

Were you supplying the materials or was that included in the price?

Fusion · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:08

How much are they charging? Got to remember that it's not worth a machine shop taking on a job if there's no money in it, so they might have minimum labour times that they charge. Costs of machining only come down when it can be automated and they're running high batch quantities. One offs are very expensive in terms of what you get.

Hussman · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:08

I was being quoted around £150 inclusive of materials?

I know it's a one off piece, and as such costs would be higher, but it seems a bit steep to me - thanks

Fusion · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:11

Hussman said:
I was being quoted around £150 inclusive of materials?

I know it's a one off piece, and as such costs would be higher, but it seems a bit steep to me - thanks

I'm not surprised, and that's probably going rate. We're just conditioned to such items being cheap when bought from a store because they're mass produced in China et al.

Hussman · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:13

If that's the general consensus then fair enough.

I really had no idea, hence the question.

Fusion · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:17

Can always ask them if there's any way you can save money by changing the design slightly.

Tom_ed1987 · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:18

Hussman said:
I was being quoted around £150 inclusive of materials?

I know it's a one off piece, and as such costs would be higher, but it seems a bit steep to me - thanks

I think that's a reasonable price TBH.
You could join a local 'makers space' type place & maybe get some hobbyist help to make it cheaper.

Hussman · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:18

Fusion said:
Can always ask them if there's any way you can save money by changing the design slightly.

Good point, hadn't thought of that.

For example the platform does not need to be adjustable up and down, so that option can be removed which may save a few quid.

Diddums · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:26

Hussman said:
Good point, hadn't thought of that.

For example the platform does not need to be adjustable up and down, so that option can be removed which may save a few quid.

I don't know your situation but the majority of the steps in the fabrication of that bracket can be done at home in a shed. The most expensive part of that job is the welding, the rest is easy and takes literally minutes to do.

If you know someone with a workbench with a vice on it you can buy the profiles and cut them to size, drill the holes (ONLY IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING), in fact you could get the whole job ready with nothing more than welding left, and take it to a workshop to weld for you, it'll take minutes.

Another suggestion? Find a hackspace near you. Pop in and have a mooch around, see if it takes your fancy and if it does, join. It's great fun, you'll be productive, save tons of money, and most importantly, you'll learn a TON of new stuff.

https://www.hackspace.org.uk/

touch · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:40

Build it yourself from aluminium extrusion. It's just like giant mechano. The only tools you'll need are a screwdriver/allen key (depending on what fastners you buy) and maybe a hacksaw if you can't buy it in exactly the lengths you need.

(Yes, I know you said you didn't want to make it yourself but this stuff is really simple)

Hussman · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:52

Diddums said:
I don't know your situation but the majority of the steps in the fabrication of that bracket can be done at home in a shed. The most expensive part of that job is the welding, the rest is easy and takes literally minutes to do.

If you know someone with a workbench with a vice on it you can buy the profiles and cut them to size, drill the holes (ONLY IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING), in fact you could get the whole job ready with nothing more than welding left, and take it to a workshop to weld for you, it'll take minutes.

Another suggestion? Find a hackspace near you. Pop in and have a mooch around, see if it takes your fancy and if it does, join. It's great fun, you'll be productive, save tons of money, and most importantly, you'll learn a TON of new stuff.

https://www.hackspace.org.uk/

Another, good idea - thanks. Typically, when I visit the website the one nearest me in Maidstone results in a 404 page not found error. :rolleyes:

Hussman · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:52

touch said:
Build it yourself from aluminium extrusion. It's just like giant mechano. The only tools you'll need are a screwdriver/allen key (depending on what fastners you buy) and maybe a hacksaw if you can't buy it in exactly the lengths you need.

(Yes, I know you said you didn't want to make it yourself but this stuff is really simple)

Thanks for this. Never thought of that. Again, another good idea to look into - cheers!

Diddums · 23 Dec 2019 at 14:54

Hussman said:
Another, good idea - thanks. Typically, when I visit the website the one nearest me in Maidstone results in a 404 page not found error.

Have a look on Facebook and whatnot, I suspect that's where most of these things are organized nowadays.

dirtychinchilla · 23 Dec 2019 at 15:01

£150 sounds about right to me. Minimum order cost is probably something like £100, then with labour and materials on top I think that's actually not a bad price.

Diddums · 23 Dec 2019 at 15:05

I used to be a fabricator at Boon Edam (yes, the massive company which have a 90% global market share in revolving doors). I used to make the rails at the top and bottom of doors, this was basically my bread & butter, this exact project. With the correct tools, and assuming you have the materials to hand, this will take an hour max.

Of course, that's with the backing of a 100 million euro factory, so take that with a grain of salt. £150 isn't too bad if it includes powdercoating (you can also opt for blank steel and just paint it yourself if it's not going to be subjected to moist environments and you're happy with the finish you'll be able to do yourself).

Hussman · 23 Dec 2019 at 15:11

Hi,

That didn't include powder coating as I said I could paint it myself.

The quality of the finish isn't so important.

Appreciate the responses fellas.

alchal · 23 Dec 2019 at 15:43

As someone who works in the fab industry I'd say it's a fair price.
People are unreal with thier expectations on the cost of fabrication and especially welding work!

I had an electrician around and he said 'i charge this much due to my tools I had to purchase and training.

Well welding and fabrication is a hell of a lot more expensive!

Lakeland · 23 Dec 2019 at 16:49

As mentioned a few times, that's a decent price for a professional company.

Some good suggestions too, nothing much to add!