If I bought a CNC Lathe, would you guys want custom hosts of your own design?

Rivem · Mar 27, 2016

I haven't been very interested in a custom host, but I've heard they're getting harder to purchase. For other reasons, a CNC Lathe has been offered to me as a project. I could get it up and running sometime this summer if I decide it's worth it.

I'm willing to buy it if you guys could make it worth it to me if I get it running. The only thing I'd like is for you to send me CAD files that I would only have to touch up.

What I'd like to know outside of the poll is what you all think fair pricing on a host machine job would be.

Isaac Clarke · Mar 27, 2016

hmm sound like a great idea... i can help with cad file..
it might start slow at first but eventually you will be flooded with request, another the thing to consider...the machine that you're about to purchase what kind of metal can it machine and so on....

Rivem · Mar 27, 2016

Isaac Clarke said:
hmm sound like a great idea... i can help with cad file..
it might start slow at first but eventually you will be flooded with request, another the thing to consider...the machine that you're about to purchase what kind of metal can it machine and so on....

I'd start with aluminum, but I think the particular machine could at least handle a few of the milder steels, maybe stainless, and of course copper if necessary.

Isaac Clarke · Mar 27, 2016

well maybe a little bit research and asking will help you in long run....it's one of the important factor...

Rivem · Mar 27, 2016

Isaac Clarke said:
well maybe a little bit research and asking will help you in long run....it's one of the important factor...

That's the plan if there's lots of interest. The machine itself is rare enough not to have internet data, but I'm willing to go look into it more if at least 8 people are interested here. Luckily, I'm at least a somewhat competent machinist, and I know CNCs.

Isaac Clarke · Mar 27, 2016

I've already have 10+ differing design ready to send to you... i wanna see how a machine will handle the job compare to a human...(i've been busy making my on host as well but manually though).

OVNI · Mar 27, 2016

I'm accustomed to Eghemus' pricing which runs roughly $90-$120. Plus I've been meaning to learn some CAD as I'd like to start making custom enclosures for electronic projects. Buy a CNC router, 3D printer, something like that. I'm at the point where making the enclosure is taking more time than making the insides and I hand solder everything but have PCBs custom made. It's also wreaking havoc on my shoulders and elbows cutting out all the holes. My bones ain't what they used to be.

Rivem · Mar 27, 2016

OVNI said:
I'm accustomed to Eghemus' pricing which runs roughly $90-$120. Plus I've been meaning to learn some CAD as I'd like to start making custom enclosures for electronic projects. Buy a CNC router, 3D printer, something like that. I'm at the point where making the enclosure is taking more time than making the insides and I hand solder everything but have PCBs custom made. It's also wreaking havoc on my shoulders and elbows cutting out all the holes. My bones ain't what they used to be.

If you make enclosures, I love desktop laser cutters for this. On the much pricier side, but easier and cheaper to use. They're pretty great on thin woods and acrylic/plastics. Engraving is awesome too. Plus: lasers

Isaac Clarke · Mar 27, 2016

hmm....still something bugging me is that the cost of material....labor.....and so on...

OVNI · Mar 27, 2016

Rivem said:
If you make enclosures, I love desktop laser cutters for this. On the much pricier side, but easier and cheaper to use. They're pretty great on thin woods and acrylic/plastics. Engraving is awesome too. Plus: lasers

Thanks. I had not looked into those. And I would like to engrave or otherwise put precision labeling on it. Another criteria for me is the availability of good SW. I don't think I'll make a project trying to do SW too. Would rather buy it.

ElectricPlasma · Mar 27, 2016

Saw you post on another thread about this topic, I'm rather glad you made a different thread about it.

Here's my take on it; I think if you were to go forth with this, you should have a few CAD files on hand from people to choose from, as some people (myself) aren't too design savvy.

Another alternative, if you weren't to have CADs to choose from I would probably go to someone like Isaac to design me a host and then pay to have that made.

Rivem · Mar 27, 2016

ElectricPlasma said:
Here's my take on it; I think if you were to go forth with this, you should have a few CAD files on hand from people to choose from, as some people (myself) aren't too design savvy.

Another alternative, if you weren't to have CADs to choose from I would probably go to someone like Isaac to design me a host and then pay to have that made.

That would be doable. I'd probably set up a simple site with a selection of stock designs I could make or minimally modify for somebody that didn't have CAD files. Maybe you could pick a design, material, and color/surface treatment.

If other members were willing to design models from sketches and requests, I'd be willing to work with them. I'd just rather not do a whole bunch of CAD myself. Making a design machinable is already a pretty involved process.

Rivem · Mar 27, 2016

Isaac Clarke said:
hmm....still something bugging me is that the cost of material....labor.....and so on...

Well, I don't have a great idea of this either. I assume as long as I could keep my labor minimal by just taking mostly complete CAD files and running CNC, I don't think I'd have to charge too much on labor. On materials costs, I'd only use aluminum for a while. I can get it cheap, and it won't take as long.

Alaskan · Mar 27, 2016

Ehgemus was busting his butt and not making much money building hosts for people, unless an unusual custom job, those pay better but still, too many of us are half broke most of the time. I'd like to buy a CNC to learn how to work metal myself, but I am too busy to get into that right now. I'd like to have a custom host made which is too big for Harolds/Ehgemus machine using a large 4.25 inch diameter piece of aluminum pipe which has 1.5 inch thick wall and 8 inches long. I'm probably going to need to take it to a machine shop to get it built and I expect that will cost me several hundred dollars.

Isaac Clarke · Mar 27, 2016

Yep that's a great start....
-On my part, people can pm me their's idea, then i draw/sketch>> they confirm it>>i start making the final sketch into a CAD and forward it to you....
-Or send me their drawing and i turn it into a cad, etc....

Rivem · Mar 27, 2016

Alaskan said:
Ehgemus was busting his butt and not making much money building hosts for people, unless an unusual custom job, those pay better but still, too many of us are half broke most of the time. Just a word of warning, I'd like to buy a CNC to learn how to work metal myself, but I am too busy to get into that right now. I'd like to have a custom host made which is too big for Harolds/Ehgemus machine using a large 4.25 inch diameter piece of aluminum pipe which has 1.5 inch thick wall and 8 inches long. I'm probably going to need to take it to a machine shop to get it built and I expect that will cost me several hundred dollars.

I'm not looking to start a business. It'd just be nice to offset equipment costs a bit and help some folks out. I wouldn't even mention it if I was going to use the manual lathe.

I do recommend getting into manual machining before you go CNC though. I'd say CNC is at least as difficult and requires the same skills on top of serious computer skills despite the significant effort reduction. Machining is a fun hobby that's a bit useful. Really, I'd recommend getting a little metal lathe to anybody that does DIY projects like this.

As for your huge host project, that's something I'd be happy to do for you if I still hung around the machine shop. Unfortunately, I won't have access to the giant lathe we had in there before I move this summer. Try to befriend a local machinist though. You can get crazy good deals from them if they like you.

If I bought a CNC Lathe, would you guys want custom hosts of your own design?

What do you think

Yes; I'd send you my CAD files. (or willing to figure it out)

Yes; I'd need help with CAD though.

No; not looking for a custom host.

No; not a good idea.

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