[Tabclear]

Hi all,

I'm new here... wow this forum is large. Wasn't sure if this is the best place to post this question. Please advise if not.

I have a CAD object that is around 17x27x5 mm in size, it has fairly detailed embossing, a few holes between 3 and 4 mm, and some general cut outs.

I have contacted numerous CNC machinists in the hope of getting this thing made out of wood, however every last one of them have said its too small for their machines.

I think I may be lacking the terminology to properly Google search for someone to create this for me, can anyone here help?

I am hoping to mass produce this little object in wood, but at this stage I am thinking that may just not be possible.

All help appreciated.

Thanks
Tab

[Charlie Gary]

When they tell you it's "too small for my machine", what they really mean is they think your budget is too small for their invoice. Experience has taught them preconceived notions about walk-ins with one-offs.
Now that I've typed all that, I have to confess I haven't seen your part so I don't have a good basis to give an opinion worth reading. Got any pictures you can share?

[awerby]

What kind of wood did you have in mind? Some of them might be suitable for your detailed embossing, others might not. Most CNC machinists are used to working with metal; few do much with wood, and aren't eager to get wood involved with their machines, which can get clogged up with wood dust, particularly if they are flood-cooled. People running wood routers will likely be more receptive to the idea, but they are used to dealing with bigger pieces. Have you thought of getting a small machine of your own and doing the work yourself? It seems that your project would be perfect for one of the small mills made by Sherline, Roland, or Taig.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[SquibLoad]

I do quite a bit of detailed wood machining, mostly for luthiers. It is quite possible, depending on the wood and type of features needing machining.

I use a variety of strategies to get the work done; a CNC mill (Tormach), a CNC Router (TechnoIsel), and a laser cutter/engraver (Epilog). Some detailed or special pieces may require work on all three machines.

Drop me a PM and we can make contact regarding your project and see if it is possible with my equipment and skills, and your budget.

[Tabclear]

Thanks for the all replies.

After a bit more searching I have come to the conclusion that it will be far to time consuming and complicated to machine affordably. My object needs cutting, engraving and drilling on all of its sides, it will need re-positioning at least 3 times.

It may be worth having this done once to create a mold and then use resin or some such to mass produce. I'm not sure....

Any other suggestions welcome.

[awerby]

Some of the little mills I was suggesting come with rotary tables that let you carve on more than one side of your workpiece without refixturing. But if you needed to carve on the ends, then you'd have to figure out a way to reach them with your tool.

If casting is a viable way to produce these parts, then yes, it's usually cost-effective to make the master by CNC and then to cast the production parts. But you said you wanted to make these pieces in wood. If you're making a master for molding, there are other materials to use which don't have the same problems that wood does, like grain direction, irregularities, tear-out, and porosity.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[w i l l]

Can't you just have an SLS (rapid prototype) of the part made and do it that way?

[Tabclear]

Some of the little mills I was suggesting come with rotary tables that let you carve on more than one side of your workpiece without refixturing. But if you needed to carve on the ends, then you'd have to figure out a way to reach them with your tool.

If casting is a viable way to produce these parts, then yes, it's usually cost-effective to make the master by CNC and then to cast the production parts. But you said you wanted to make these pieces in wood. If you're making a master for molding, there are other materials to use which don't have the same problems that wood does, like grain direction, irregularities, tear-out, and porosity.

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com ? Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

Yeah I have checked them out out, thanks for that. Bit of an initial outlay and I am not sure I would use the machine fro anything else. I am considering it though.

I have been looking in to molding it, and it doesn't look like it will be viable either...

Can't you just have an SLS (rapid prototype) of the part made and do it that way?

I do not know what SLS is. But if you mean 3D printed, I have already had it 3D printed for prototype purposes. It's not going to work for a mass production.