For the price of an original anything in the mech world, I am inclined to pay a little more and get with a local machine shop to have one made custom for me from the ground up. Name it, give it appropriate logos and and serial number of 001. If it came out amazing and it functioned well, maybe I would even consider producing a few more and trying to sell them. Is this idea reasonable by anyones standards? Is this legal even?
Considering machining my own custom mech mod
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Sure it's legal, why not. I woud be careful about seriously talking about selling things though, lest you be considered hawking wares as an unregistered supplier and possibly losing your account. If you do actually plan to sell things check out the Suppliers TOS here before going to far.
draw up some "blue prints" or a CAD file, choose your material, present it to a local machine shop and see what they will charge for it. Im willing to bet it will be close to or over 1000$.... but thats just for 1 if you start talking many ( 100+) the price drops...
the expensive part is tool setup...
the expensive part is tool setup...
It wouldn't cost anywhere near that, especially if you have already done all of the design work. You're going to have the cost of materials and then pay +/- $90 per hour (depending on the rates in your area) for machine labor. If you have them do the design and layout for you, you can tack on another +/- $60 per hour for that.
$1000? Are you nuts?
I know autoshops specializing in antique cars that will hand-machine a part like a brake disk or water pump for less than $300. They'll even make you a new wheel identical to the OEM part for less than $500.
I don't know where the idea that these are difficult or expensive came from, but anyone using 1970s metal lathes can make the caps and thread the tubes by hand for a small fee plus materials. You just put a blank disk in the lathe and cut it down to size as needed. It's not hard. And once you have one done you have a template to use that will shorten the production time for any future ones to just a few minutes.
I know a guy that sells hand-made metal chess sets to sell. It takes him less than 10 minutes to cut a chess piece by hand and he sells them for $5 each. I know a gunsmith who makes his own firing mechanisms for flint-lock guns that he builds and those only take him 2 days to produce despite being FAR more complex than any mech mod, and he doesn't charge anywhere near $1,000 for a trigger assembly.
Making a mech mod wouldn't take any longer and shouldn't cost any more than an expensive clone costs to produce. Much less than original mech makers charge.
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Any machinist worth his salt should be able to turn one out in 30 minutes or less and it will cost you $60 - $100 plus material cost. If you wanted more than one made, I'm sure they would work you up a deal.
Legal? Sure. Reasonable? Define that one.
If you think it will be cheap - forget that. First you have to come up with a doable design - not just an idea of a design. That means basic CAD skills and an understanding of machining and design. If the job requires specific cutting dies not normally used by the machine shop - consider having to pay for that as well. And stuff like that.
The most it will typically cost I see quoted for basic machining work when this idea comes up is going to be in the range of $250.00 - $300.00. How much it really will cost - entirely dependent on your design.
If you think it will be cheap - forget that. First you have to come up with a doable design - not just an idea of a design. That means basic CAD skills and an understanding of machining and design. If the job requires specific cutting dies not normally used by the machine shop - consider having to pay for that as well. And stuff like that.
The most it will typically cost I see quoted for basic machining work when this idea comes up is going to be in the range of $250.00 - $300.00. How much it really will cost - entirely dependent on your design.
Check this guys: www.industrialochoa.com. 3D CAD computerized machining. Friends of mine. Love challenges and fun stuff. Don't shy away from minute or humongous jobs. 
Enviado desde mi SGH-I337M mediante Tapatalk
Enviado desde mi SGH-I337M mediante Tapatalk
PS they do work for VW México suppliers in case you wonder ability.
Enviado desde mi SGH-I337M mediante Tapatalk
Enviado desde mi SGH-I337M mediante Tapatalk
"Considering machining my own custom mech mod"
To clarify, "Considering having my own custom mech mod machined" if you're not the one doing the machining.
I don't think it would be affordable over buying an original. However if you had the equipment and were doing it yourself as a hobby a 1-off would be right up your ally. Coincidentally if you shop right you could probably find a used small lathe in the same price range and actually machine your own.
It hasn't hit paper yet but I'm floating around some mech ideas, but I'm more interested in making my own gennie.
To clarify, "Considering having my own custom mech mod machined" if you're not the one doing the machining.
I don't think it would be affordable over buying an original. However if you had the equipment and were doing it yourself as a hobby a 1-off would be right up your ally. Coincidentally if you shop right you could probably find a used small lathe in the same price range and actually machine your own.
It hasn't hit paper yet but I'm floating around some mech ideas, but I'm more interested in making my own gennie.
Thank you all for the great answers. I do mean having it machined for me, I should have made that clear. I have been playing around with design and I will send it off to the shop soon to get a quote. It would help Im sure to go to the shop in person and bring a mech I have already just so they understand, conceptually what it is. I cant i
image price would be anywhere near 1000. I expect maybe 60-100 in raw material and another 300-400 for the machine, laser engraving and polishing. And while this is far more spent than any mech on the market (that I know of, minus an original Caravela) it would be an original of my own design, there would be only 1 (to start).
image price would be anywhere near 1000. I expect maybe 60-100 in raw material and another 300-400 for the machine, laser engraving and polishing. And while this is far more spent than any mech on the market (that I know of, minus an original Caravela) it would be an original of my own design, there would be only 1 (to start).
You can get the materials cheaper than you think.
I'm assuming you'll want to use stainless? You can get 6 feet of seamless 321 stainless - specs - .93 OD w/ .035 ID tubing for about $110.
That's WAY more material than you need but it may be the way you have to buy it unless you can find a supplier or a shop that will sell you some scrap.
You may have better luck with 304 than 321 stainless, but 321 is more corrosive resistant.
I'm assuming you'll want to use stainless? You can get 6 feet of seamless 321 stainless - specs - .93 OD w/ .035 ID tubing for about $110.
That's WAY more material than you need but it may be the way you have to buy it unless you can find a supplier or a shop that will sell you some scrap.
You may have better luck with 304 than 321 stainless, but 321 is more corrosive resistant.
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Similar specs in copper... $119 for 6 feet
Similar specs in brass... $87 " "
Check out a place called MSC direct
Similar specs in brass... $87 " "
Check out a place called MSC direct
I'd expect materials to be more like $20. I think it's $20 for a 12" piece of steel I was looking at for RBA/RDAs.
My lathe cost me $300. It's a '60s South Bend.
I don't know if it would be big enough but you can get modern 7x12 lathes for about $600 at Harbor Freight. I wouldn't expect them to be perfect but you don't really need perfect to make a mech.
My lathe cost me $300. It's a '60s South Bend.
I don't know if it would be big enough but you can get modern 7x12 lathes for about $600 at Harbor Freight. I wouldn't expect them to be perfect but you don't really need perfect to make a mech.
Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies
Enco is another place for metal and tool bits. (Note that shipping on metal is nuts so it's good to find a local that sells small amounts, or find a friend that works at a large place to get you cut offs.)
Enco is another place for metal and tool bits. (Note that shipping on metal is nuts so it's good to find a local that sells small amounts, or find a friend that works at a large place to get you cut offs.)
One thing that has not been mentioned is liability if you decide to sell them. In our society there is a strong chance that a buyer will sue, even if he put a .06 ohm coil on with cheap batteries. I would seek legal council before I sold anything.
I am not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV.
I am not a lawyer nor do I play one on TV.
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