Recommendation? looking to start a balisong project and need some way to make accurate prototypes

S

Salticidae2

Joined
Sep 16, 2020
Messages
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hi looking to start prototyping a balisong concept and have no clue on where to start
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  • I want to start making some prototypes of balisongs should I CNC mill them out of material that will give me an accurate weight and feel of what it should be like?

  • I plan on making this a final product would a CNC machine be cheaper in the long run than using other resources?

  • if I should CNC mill the prototype and final product what would be a decent automated mill under 35000$?

  • If I use the CNC machine to make the prototype and create the final product would it cheaper in the long run?

  • If I 3d print the prototype than use the CNC machine to create the final product would that be more cost-effective or time-effective or both?

  • also not sure if anyone will know this but can I mill a rough shape of a live blade from and then use a file, sander, etc to make sharp and more blade-like a billet or would I need to hand do that? I know I can make a trainer blade aka a dull milled out slab of metal?

  • and how do anodize aluminum and titanium?
some specifics on what the final product should be made of if this helps any

  • 7075 or 7068 aluminum handles I might move onto titanium once I get more experience and stuff?

  • bushing or bearings?

  • 440c heat-treated blade?
thanks in advance
 
Do you know how to use a belt grinder?
 
Probably best to make one by hand and once you have all the kinks work out have it drawn up on CAD.

Then you can shop around to have it made.
 
Learn g code.

There are sweet mills that can be had for under 20k.

If you prototype on a cnc then you will have worked out 99 percent of bugs that would keep you from your final product.

If you have zero experience with cnc and mills I wish you luck. Its not easy. The equipment needs to be treated with respect as you can lose limbs if not careful

Good luck
 
tinfoil hat timmy said:
Learn g code.

There are sweet mills that can be had for under 20k.

If you prototype on a cnc then you will have worked out 99 percent of bugs that would keep you from your final product.

If you have zero experience with cnc and mills I wish you luck. Its not easy. The equipment needs to be treated with respect as you can lose limbs if not careful

Good luck
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thanks for your help :)
how big of a mill do you think will work do you think this is fine https://pocketnc.com/collections/all-products/products/pocket-nc-v2-50?variant=11701775040559
 
So....are you going to manufacture balisongs?
Maybe you need more than one $35,000 CNC mills, just so you have a spare.
 
That machine is way to small.

To mill stainless steel blades you will need a much bigger CNC machine and probably run 20k+ with tooling
 
Start by learning fusion 360 it's free for a year

Draw up your design, work out all the dimensions and clearances that way.

Then try to work with someone like balibalistic to help you make your first one.
 
12345678910 said:
Start by learning fusion 360 it's free for a year

Draw up your design, work out all the dimensions and clearances that way.

Then try to work with someone like balibalistic to help you make your first one.
Click to expand...

I would double check with that as I was just notified by autodesk that thy are limiting the free version in October. Thy are cutting back what the free version will export.

As for cnc machining. I am a machinest by trade and have spent a lot of years programming and running cnc machines. General rule of thumb is plan on spending as much on tooling as you spent on the mill. I started as programming g code by hand which is super helpful when running a mill. When your mill wants to shoot off into left field you will know why and you can change it on the spot. But if you don’t have any experience with knife making, machining, cnc and cad drawing your in for a VERY steep learning curve. Not saying it can’t be done but if I invested 50k into a setup I would want to be making money ASAP. Honestly you would be better off having a machine shop make your prototype parts at first. Sure it will cost you a good bit of money but not as much as the first time you push go on a cnc mill and it slams into the vise or table.
 
JTknives said:
I would double check with that as I was just notified by autodesk that thy are limiting the free version in October. Thy are cutting back what the free version will export.

As for cnc machining. I am a machinest by trade and have spent a lot of years programming and running cnc machines. General rule of thumb is plan on spending as much on tooling as you spent on the mill. I started as programming g code by hand which is super helpful when running a mill. When your mill wants to shoot off into left field you will know why and you can change it on the spot. But if you don’t have any experience with knife making, machining, cnc and cad drawing your in for a VERY steep learning curve. Not saying it can’t be done but if I invested 50k into a setup I would want to be making money ASAP. Honestly you would be better off having a machine shop make your prototype parts at first. Sure it will cost you a good bit of money but not as much as the first time you push go on a cnc mill and it slams into the vise or table.
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I didn't' reccomend him to spend fifty thousand bucks on a mill.

I suggested that he go draw something.

Learning that, once he has good drawings, the next step is as you suggested, get some help, get someone else to make it.
 
12345678910 said:
I didn't' reccomend him to spend fifty thousand bucks on a mill.

I suggested that he go draw something.

Learning that, once he has good drawings, the next step is as you suggested, get some help, get someone else to make it.
Click to expand...

sorry if it came across that way. I was just quoting you to say that fusion 360 was changing there free options. Sorry if it sounded like I was saying you wanted him to. It a cnc mill lol.
 
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