CNC services for small jobs?

REK Knives

REK Knives

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Apr 3, 2011
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Hey guys, I know this may be a pipe dream, but... I'm having trouble finding somewhere that can CNC some things for me (milled ti clips and ti bolsters for my folder) - most either have large minimums, very expensive, or don't know how to work on titanium. Looking for maybe 50-100 clips and 20 pairs of bolsters - I know there is vast knowledge on here so any suggestions on where to look or go?

Sure I could have these lasered or waterjet out and then grind them by hand but that defeats the purpose I'm trying to accomplish lol.

Here's an idea of the clip

i-Hjgtwv5.jpg

i-4BRVds9.jpg
 
What an elegant looking clip.

speaking from first-hand experience I can tell you that most small shops view a little guy coming in with something like that as a potential headache and will give you high pricing. I'm guessing you got something along the lines of $1,000 setup and $100 a piece?

the best way to get taken seriously and also get good pricing is to show an example of something similar to what you're looking for and give them a warm fuzzy that you're not difficult to work with. It helps to go in person with a thumb drive with data, and a toleranced inspection print in hand. Obviously you need to find a shop that specializes in parts run from 3D data. They're not as common as you might think.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
What an elegant looking clip.

speaking from first-hand experience I can tell you that most small shops view a little guy coming in with something like that as a potential headache and will give you high pricing. I'm guessing you got something along the lines of $1,000 setup and $100 a piece?

the best way to get taken seriously and also get good pricing is to show an example of something similar to what you're looking for and give them a warm fuzzy that you're not difficult to work with. It helps to go in person with a thumb drive with data, and a toleranced inspection print in hand. Obviously you need to find a shop that specializes in parts run from 3D data. They're not as common as you might think.
Click to expand...

Thank you Nathan, I greatly value your opinion here. If I can ever get up to your minimums on scales I will definitely be hitting you up.

Thanks for the advise. When you say "toleranced inspection print" are you referring to the drawing? I do already have that. The problem, especially w/ finding someone local is that it's very difficult to find someone who is comfortable working with titanium. I am no stranger to knife making and have a prototype of my knife in hand (for which I will need the bolsters), and the clip design is based upon this one off that I made by hand. So I am very serious about making it. The clip I am planning on making and selling for popular knives.

i-vmtQvqd-X2.jpg
 
nice clip and it actually looks functional :)
along with what Nathan said, part of the problem with a small piece like this is how to hold and fixture it.
so that $1,000 setup may or may not including a tooling charge, a plate or something that holds a dozen or so.
There's at least two setups for this part.
A fully sculpted surface with radii everywhere takes alot of time to cut.
It's another day of CAD/CAM time to make a useable program from your 3D file
A CNC machine in Los Angeles has to produce/bill about $700 a day
The finish requirements also will dictate the price. Do you expect it to be fully deburred and finished etc? Your dwg. should specify this.

You may have better luck expanding your reach to beyond local.
CNC shops need long running jobs that they can setup quickly.

you might need to try someone like this - https://greenville.craigslist.org/sks/d/machining-services-cnc-cad/6695706143.html

Maybe you could start with another material and ease them into working with titanium later....
 
rather than bring your hand made prototype it would be better to bring a machined example of something similar that shows what you're looking for. Seeing a handmade prototype they look at that and go "oh hell no". seeing a machined example that is an example of what you're looking for they'll look at that and go "oh that doesn't look too bad"
 
Also, finding a machined example of something similar to what you want might help show YOU what is possible and what is not. For example a full round on the side will require a cutter to go where the jaw needs to hold the part. You're going to have two Ops here, you need a way to hold it. Something somewhere needs to be gripped. it's a lot cheaper and you're going to get a lot more mileage at a shop bringing in something that can be made without changes. people who bring in stuff that does not lend itself to the process and needs their hand held to walk them through it become big time sucks and then complain when they get parts that aren't exactly like they imagined them. Most Shops try to run people like that off to avoid the misery.
 
"Titanium" is not probably good enough, you are probably going to want 6AL4V for that kind of application. a lot of shops are scared of that but honestly it's not a big deal, particularly on such a small piece, you're not really hogging lot of it. Hell a Haas could do that.

Edit to add: in case I didn't mention it your clip looks really good, it is manufacturable although you might should take that tiny radius off and just apply an Edge break by hand.
 
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you are in BMW country and there should be many machine shops nearby. sit and figure the easiest way to make, change plans as needed, then bang on doors. maybe get the machine shop to do 85% and you do the rest.
 
Now the bad news may be that the rounded edge is what makes it look good...........;)
Nathan the Machinist said:
"Titanium" is not probably good enough, you are probably going to want 6AL4V for that kind of application. a lot of shops are scared of that but honestly it's not a big deal, particularly on such a small piece, you're not really hogging lot of it. Hell a Haas could do that.

Edit to add: in case I didn't mention it your clip looks really good, it is manufacturable although you might should take that tiny radius off and just apply an Edge break by hand.
Click to expand...
 
Im in southern california. I cut titanium 6al4v all day. I'd have to come up with a plan and only have a 440 cnc. It wouldn't be cheap but could probably help you out. Pm me if interested
 
HSC /// said:
nice clip and it actually looks functional :)
along with what Nathan said, part of the problem with a small piece like this is how to hold and fixture it.
so that $1,000 setup may or may not including a tooling charge, a plate or something that holds a dozen or so.
There's at least two setups for this part.
A fully sculpted surface with radii everywhere takes alot of time to cut.
It's another day of CAD/CAM time to make a useable program from your 3D file
A CNC machine in Los Angeles has to produce/bill about $700 a day
The finish requirements also will dictate the price. Do you expect it to be fully deburred and finished etc? Your dwg. should specify this.

You may have better luck expanding your reach to beyond local.
CNC shops need long running jobs that they can setup quickly.

you might need to try someone like this - https://greenville.craigslist.org/sks/d/machining-services-cnc-cad/6695706143.html

Maybe you could start with another material and ease them into working with titanium later....
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input and the link! Yes I am hopefully wanting this finished and ready to sell if possible. I could tumble it for a bit I suppose, but I don't want to do any hand finishing work if I can help it. I have google searched and sent out the files to over 15 companies. I may have found another knife maker to take this on though so I'm looking forward to that. The biggest thing for me is that it's difficult to know what finish the part will be upon coming off of the mill - even though I have it specified in the drawing (RA 1.6) I'm not sure if that's practical for this piece. The difficult thing is that it's not practical for a CNC shop to make a one off sample piece before proceeding w/ the entire order.

scott.livesey said:
you are in BMW country and there should be many machine shops nearby. sit and figure the easiest way to make, change plans as needed, then bang on doors. maybe get the machine shop to do 85% and you do the rest.
Click to expand...

Thanks Scott, appreciate the tips =)

Nathan the Machinist said:
"Titanium" is not probably good enough, you are probably going to want 6AL4V for that kind of application. a lot of shops are scared of that but honestly it's not a big deal, particularly on such a small piece, you're not really hogging lot of it. Hell a Haas could do that.

Edit to add: in case I didn't mention it your clip looks really good, it is manufacturable although you might should take that tiny radius off and just apply an Edge break by hand.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all your input Nathan, yes I was planning on going w/ 6AL4V for this application to be sure (my drawing specifies this) but you are right, many shops have turned me down because they aren't familiar w/ working w/ Ti even though I tell them that it's just a matter of speeds and feeds. But TBH I don't really want someone that's not familiar w/ Ti doing this project if I can help it because the finish probably won't be appropriate.

One guys laid out the CAM preview w/ different machining times which showed the type of grooves/surface the machining would leave w/ longer vs shorter run times. Do you have any tips on how to achieve the best finish for this project or specific end or form milling?

I have been sending out this video of the Grimsmo bro's and how they mill their clips, curious on your thoughts based upon your experience.


(At 1:07 and 21:52 and on you can see the back sides of the clip milled out of a single sheet and how he fixtures and mills the front side.)
 
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