Re: REPRAP COST EFFECTIVE?

it sounds like you can take half in stock, use a table saw to make the rough blanks.

if the outside has a tight tolerance, I would clamp it and machine the large hole.

then with a fixture, machine the outside
then with a third fixture, drill the final holes

to completely automate it, you would need the ability to rotate the part and clamp the part.

on the surface, it sounds like you could use one cutter to drill the holes, cut the perimeter and the center hole.

your Fireball would be good for everything but the two end holes.
for that you can do all the work on Fireball, then have a simple fixture for your drill press. using drill guide bushings, your fixture would be very accurate.

you could easily make a couple tombstones, put your parts on them, then just swap them on your table. that would allow the Fireball to run all the time.

your clamping and drilling would take the longest time.
with drilling being the longest procedure.

hope this helps.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, 556RECON <556recon@...> wrote:
>
> I love gadgets and stuff like this machine. and I want one. but I have
> to know how much I would use it an if it would be cost effective.
>
> An example: A part I make for a company is a spacer. It is 0.500"
> thick, 1.625" by 2.500". there is 1.125" hole centered on the piece and
> 2 0.1875" holes one on each end. They cannot be wood or metal so that
> means plastic.
>
> Can any one give me an idea of what the cost of materials and time to
> make the parts.
>
> I realize that the faster the machine is the more they cost.
>
> I have a prototype probotix V90with a 8.5" X 12" XY axis and 3" Z axis
> OR a Sherline CNC milling machine that I could probably convert.
>
> How fast could the part be made and how expensive is the material.
>
> I would love to justify building one.
>
> OR
>
> Can some one suggest a better group to ask this kind of question?
>
> BOB
>
>
> Ron Thompson wrote:
> >
> >
> > The price is coming down, due mostly to lower part count designs and
> > Arduino based electronics.
> > And print quality is improving due to better software and smaller
> > extrude size. The more people who get involved, the faster the
> > improvements.
> >
> >
>