Australia - plastic housing routing / machining - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 07:21:01 am
content: Who do people use to get their plastic housings routed and machined in Australia.Mainly circular holes, one rectangular slot, a few of the holes are tapped. Probably lots of 200 boxes per batch.We've got some silly prices from our regular CNC sheet metal place, I figure someone must do this at a reasonable price.Who do you use?

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 07:53:51 am
content: It sounds like a good enough reason to acquire or build your own CNC machine.

author: David_AVD
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 08:04:37 am
content: I think I saw that Switches Plus offer this service, but probably only on boxes they sell?

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 11:30:25 am
content: Hammond offer custom machining on their boxes, but I somehow doubt they do the work locally in Australia.I have a laser cutter and several CNCs so I do mine in house, but I am generally building in smaller batches for my clients.

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 11:51:47 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on April 15, 2022, 07:53:51 amHa! I have but it's really only good for prototype quantities (small bed & low speed spindle)The thought did cross my mind to see what a machine would cost to buy but then I thought of the noise and the space needed......

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 11:56:55 am
content: Quote from: David_AVD on April 15, 2022, 08:04:37 amThanks - I'll check them out.

author: DTJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 12:20:41 pm
content: Quote from: Kean on April 15, 2022, 11:30:25 amCheers - Hammond are on our list to talk to.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 03:23:29 pm
content: I guess the advantages of getting them machined by the supplier/manufacturer is that they likely already have machines set up for the task, as well as appropriate holding jigs all ready to go (or experience making them cost effectively). Similarly they would be able to assist with additional common tasks like screen printing if that was needed. They'd also have quick access to more stock if something went wrong.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2022, 08:13:48 pm
content: I have a machine with a spindle capable of 100KRPM.I machine plastic box lids at less than 15KRPM.The tool needs to be designed for plastics cutting.

author: Mangozac
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2022, 09:31:31 pm
content: We process thousands of plastic enclosures per year so we built a custom CNC setup from a 600x400 Chinese CNC router. Best thing we ever did!

author: MR
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2022, 09:03:31 am
content: Some Fablabs have laser cutters, 200 is not that much maybe you can rent in for some time.look for "fablab australia"we sometimes mill plastic when we can't get access to a laser cutter in our town.

author: Mangozac
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2022, 09:22:25 pm
content: Quote from: MR on April 20, 2022, 09:03:31 amNote that this can be problematic with flame retardant plastics. We did some testing with this but the super corrosive halogen gases made a mess of our laser platform so we binned it and went with a traditional router.