Quick prototype turning (lathe) parts - is there such place? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: dimbmw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 08:01:49 pm
content: Just need a small steel part for the instrument I am designing , is there a web site with the instant quote where I can upload the STL for an instant quote, and they will quickly make it and mail it to me ?A place in China or elsewhere with the cheap shipping to US can work, as I assume any US place will be too expensive. I am willing to pay like $100 for the part shipped, no more. It is tiny (15 mm length, 10 mm diameter), and I think will take about an hour for the machinist to make.Thanks!

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 09:25:38 pm
content: Heres some sample prices from US:http://www.emachineshop.com/machine-shop/Sample-Prices-of-Custom-Machined-Parts/page573.htmlShapeways might be an option, they do instant quotes on 3d printed metal. Depending on what the part is being used for.Maybe you can upload the file here and provide more info.I remember a post fromhttp://www.etotheipiplusone.net/about using mfg.com to source a few one off machined metal hubs, but can't find it at the moment. It had a lot of good information.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 10:01:56 pm
content: I was in that situation once (> 50 years ago). The solution was to go to the local high school. Delivery was faster than from China. It was a 6" to 8" diameter sheave for a drive shaft on an auto engine. Material = aluminumDo you have a picture of the part you can share?John

author: dimbmw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 10:17:02 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on January 09, 2017, 09:25:38 pmThank you so much, just placed an order with Shapeways! I hope the quality is OK there!

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 10:26:50 pm
content: If the part isn't any good, let me know and I can make it for you for the price of shipping from NZ

author: dimbmw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 10:37:43 pm
content: Quote from: Dubbie on January 09, 2017, 10:26:50 pmThat is too generous from you !!!! Can I email you the part for you to take a look at? Thanks!

author: dimbmw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 10:42:34 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on January 09, 2017, 10:01:56 pmHonestly I was even thinking that maybe I should just buy one of these micro lathe machines. But I work from home and I don't have that much space in the garageI have a 3D model.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 10:56:09 pm
content: My good machines are in storage right now. However, I can't live without a lathe, so I got an Prazi SD300, which is a small step up from a Unimat. That is, technically you can thread with it (and I have), but there are no half nuts. The saddle is too short to thread anything more than 1/4" at most by reversing everything (i.e., thread off the back side), so right hand threading is done toward the chuck. Moreover, I like to taper the final thread. So it is quite a dance controlling the cross slide and hitting the stop button. Internal turned threads would be impossible.Just how complicated is the part? What precision and what material? If CR steel, is a leaded alloy OK? If copper, is a tellurium alloy OK? If aluminum, I assume you don't need dead a soft alloy.John

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 11:16:28 pm
content: I have PMed you dimbmw.

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2017, 11:25:18 pm
content: I know this isn't helpful -- but just for future reference: STL is massively the wrong format for providing for a turning job. It makes about as much sense as sending a PNG or JPEG photo/render of a finished board to a PCB manufacturer to manufacture. I mean, you're giving the machinist a bunch of triangles, and he/she has to reverse-engineer the dimensions, thread types, etc, etc. I don't even know which tool I'd use to do that. Unless you're providing all the dimensions "out of band", i.e., as text in an email; in which case you're halfway to providing a proper drawing anyway.Much better to just provide engineering drawings. Less total work for you to produce, absolutely crystal clear, and less work for machinist to interpret.I'm open to correction though, especially if there's an industry I'm not aware of centered around automating this un-STLing process.

author: dimbmw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 12:26:02 am
content: Quote from: rs20 on January 09, 2017, 11:25:18 pmI totally agree and I've exported 2D as well now. With all that 3D printers around I forgot about 2D drawings

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 01:52:06 am
content: Quote from: Dubbie on January 09, 2017, 11:16:28 pmDo we need to have a "compare lathes" day Rhys ?

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 02:15:57 am
content: Haha,They say it's not how much you can swing, but how you use it.... or something like that..

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 03:01:45 am
content: Quote from: Dubbie on January 10, 2017, 02:15:57 amNah, it's more about how big your hollow spindle is.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 03:17:47 am
content: Little break from the office today and knocked up one of these but in alloy not brass:http://www.ebay.com/itm/RCBS-Chargemaster-Reducing-Insert/192065549623?_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D40778%26meid%3Dd16a0431c64a4006a3ec1f755f43110e%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D192059579977

author: rs20
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 04:20:26 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on January 10, 2017, 03:24:40 amYikes. If I owned a CNC lathe I wouldn't let some random just "give me some G-code" -- how do I trust that they'll have machining experience and know the correct feeds & speeds? Or maybe I'm just unreasonably scared.I guess I'm saying it feels like the G-code for a lathe would be less portable than for G code for a milling machine.

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 10, 2017, 04:42:45 am
content: lol yep same here.No way in hell am I going to run someone elses G-Code.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 12, 2017, 05:16:45 am
content: Quote from: dimbmw on January 09, 2017, 10:42:34 pmIf you want, send me the 3D model and I'll take a look. We do all our own CNC machining (turning and milling) in-house and if it's something I can bang out with the existing tooling setups and materials we have, I would do it for you at no charge to help out a fellow EEVBlogger. If it's not something I can run off quickly, I could give you some tips on the part from a machinists perspective if you are looking for ways to make it more cost effectively, or perhaps put you in touch with someone that can make it for you moving forward.

author: Dubbie
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 12, 2017, 07:26:17 am
content: I have made and mailed the part corporate666.Sent from my phone using Tapatalk

author: technotronix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2017, 11:39:46 am
content: Did you try to find it out on ebay, alibaba or amazon? The price may be much effective here.

author: Corporate666
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 03:43:22 am
content: Quote from: Dubbie on January 12, 2017, 07:26:17 amVery generous of you!

author: dimbmw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 08:16:28 am
content: Quote from: Corporate666 on January 12, 2017, 05:16:45 amThanks! A lot of very nice people here

author: dimbmw
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2017, 08:01:38 pm
content: Quote from: technotronix on January 12, 2017, 11:39:46 amAre there any prototyping services on amazon and ebay? I did not know! Any links?

author: richardlawson1489
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2017, 06:40:45 am
content: I don't know about ebay but I think aliexpress may provide Quick prototype turning (lathe) parts.