19 replies to this topic

[Dennis David]

So far I am looking to Mill with the following materials and have lined up some resources:

C260 Brass
C280 Brass
6061 Aluminum
7075 Aluminum
Acetal Delrin
Carbon Fibre
RenShape 470
High Density Urathane
Machinable Wax
 

Protech Composites

http://www.protechcomposites.com/

 

TCI Precision Metals
http://tciprecision.com/company/

Fibre Glast
http://www.fibreglas...ry/Carbon_Fiber

Machinable Wax
http://www.machinabl...m/technical.php

Precision Boards
http://precisionboard.com

Online Metals
http://www.onlinemetals.com/

Freeman Manufacturing and Supply Company
https://www.freemansupply.com/

McMaster-Carr.
https://www.mcmaster.com

MSC Industrial Supply Company
https://m.mscdirect.com/mobileweb/home

[LCYR]

Dennis, several other good sources are MSCdirect.com & McMaster-Carr. They carry both materials and cutting tools. I use them quite often myself.

[Dennis David]

I found McMaster more expensive than Online Metals but will investigate further.

Thanks for the suggestions I have added them to my list.

[Rob Voska]

If you need smaller pcs ebay has a pretty good selection of drops or cut to length material.

[Ecurie Martini]

I found McMaster more expensive than Online Metals but will investigate further.

Thanks for the suggestions I have added them to my list.

 

Yes, McMaster is expensive but they ae also comprehensive and startlingly fast.  Their east coast warehouse is in NJ.  They have a west coast operation as well.  If I order by late afternoon, my order is delivered to MD the next day.

[Dennis David]

Just in time Manufacturing. LOL

[Ramcatlarry]

McMaster Carr is also in Elmhurst, IL west of Chicago with a will call window.  Order by 10am, pickup after 3pm.  Been there many times.

[Ecurie Martini]

I have been dealing with McMaster for 20+ years.  They have never back-ordered an item.  Where else do you go for 2-56 X 1/4" button head machine screws with a locking thread?

 

Funny/sad story:  There was a hardware store, Andrews Hardware, in my home town years ago (50's)  They were a true hardware store/mill supply.  Need 0-80 machine screws - no problem (and, in those days a box of screws was a gross - 144 - not 100.  The store manager was a very knowledgeable chap, John Constable.  John died unexpectedly and young - 50's.  In less than a year, Andrews was out of business.  John had kept the entire inventory, supplier information and reordering points in his head.  Nothing was written down and, with John gone, no one knew what to do!

[Phil Hackett]

Who supplies you depends on what form and what alloy of material you want. Is it barstock or plate or sheet? Some places do everything but usually are more expensive than businesses who specialize.

[Foamy]

Your local metal supplier should have a remnant section to pick thru. maybe a little more $ a pound than a full bar/sheet.

[Dennis David]

Theres lots of decisions on picking suppliers. But ease of ordering, consistent quality, the right size for the job at hand, flexible minimum ordering, etc.

When choosing sizes how many pieces can I cut with minimum waste is something to consider. I want it to fit my fixture. Have no room for scrap to build up,

[Half Fast]

Also watch out for large shipping charges when you order materials in small quantities.

 

Cheers

[Dennis David]

Nothing that wont fit in UPS Flat Rate boxes

[Phil Hackett]

Theres lots of decisions on picking suppliers. But ease of ordering, consistent quality, the right size for the job at hand, flexible minimum ordering, etc.

When choosing sizes how many pieces can I cut with minimum waste is something to consider. I want it to fit my fixture. Have no room for scrap to build up,

 

This is the company Sonic uses when we have a job that fits the same requirements you state: fits the fixture, little scrap, ect. They can be pricy but good suppliers ARE pricy. If you give them a ±.002 dimension, they'll hold it. We have an order in right now and even though it might sound expensive they take away a lot of processing on our side so we can just make the part. No squaring. No cutting to size. No dealing with sawing. Just drop it in the vise and go.

 

They make the blanks McMaster-Carr sells.

 

TCI

[Dennis David]

Thanks for the heads up Phil. Ive added them to the list above!

[Dennis David]

Carbon Fibre samples

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[Pablo]

Hi Dennis

 

https://www.nasa.gov...ls-engine-costs

[Dennis David]

McLaren actually started to bring a small 3D Printer to the track in addition to the printers they have at the factory, and no it's not to replace failed Honda parts. $9400.00

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[Dennis David]

FormLabs Sample - Glass-reinforced Rigid Resin offers very high stiffness and a polished finish and is great for precise printing of strong, thin features.

Ultimate Tensile Strength 75.2 MPa
Tensile Modulus 4.1 GPa
Flexural Modulus 3.7 GPa

Production Cost
$4.61 @ 30.7ml with 14 per batch

 

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[Dennis David]

Filament Dry Box maintains a 10% humidity to keep the nylon dry. Ordered Polymide CoPA and Taulman Bridge, different formulations of Nylon. 

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