Making an aluminum part?

[930dreamer]

Could someone give me an idea of the cost to make this part. It's a replacement watch guard out of aluminum, the plastic piece breaks and is no longer available.

 

[rsanter]

$200 to $400 unless someone wants to do it for the fun of it

bob

 

[Griff93]

That's not exactly going to be an easy part to make. Can you get one that is made out of aluminum from somewhere or is that a picture of a custom one?

 

[930dreamer]

That's not exactly going to be an easy part to make. Can you get one that is made out of aluminum from somewhere or is that a picture of a custom one?

Ebay $100
This shroud is made from 6061 Aircraft Grade Aluminum and is anodized with a type II black hard anodize. Probably the cheapest route.

 

[Kevin54]

That's not exactly going to be an easy part to make. Can you get one that is made out of aluminum from somewhere or is that a picture of a custom one?

Not a hard part to make if you have a lathe and mill. I'd make 'em all day for $200-$400 a piece

 

[APEowner]

$100.00 is not a bad price at all. I could probably get them made for under $10.00 if you want to commit to several thousand of them but in smaller quantities that's quite reasonable. I'd need around $300-$400 to make them in lots of 10 or so.

 

[Boiler]

Do you guys make parts just by measuring an old part? How do you replicate something like that? Is it just using your calipers and gauges and stuff to get it close as you cut, or do you draw it or something first?

 

[APEowner]

Do you guys make parts just by measuring an old part? How do you replicate something like that? Is it just using your calipers and gauges and stuff to get it close as you cut, or do you draw it or something first?

It really depends on the part and how many I'm making. I prefer to measure where it goes rather than the part itself. That way I can minimize tolerance stack up errors.

If it's a simple part and I'm only making one I measure as I go. If it's more complicated and/or I might want more than one I draw the part first (actually 3d model it and then generate shop prints). If it's really complicated or precise I send the prints to one of my sub-contractors so a real machinist can make it.

 

[Boiler]

...I draw the part first (actually 3d model it and then generate shop prints). If it's really complicated or precise I send the prints to one of my sub-contractors so a real machinist can make it.

See now that's what I'd do, and thats why it would cost more that $200 for me to do it. I'd have 3-4 hours in just the model and prints I'm guessing.