[sdiy] Is it me or...

[phillip m gallo]

While just about every machinist  will take work (we used to call these
"G" jobs), i find "proto" machinists come in two varieties; expensive
and not so expensive.  I've never found "cheap" unless it's somebody's
brother and that has other issues that can often cost heavily just in a
different form of currency.

I agree with Jim in that you need to go to a machinist a ask him what it
is that "reduces" the cost.  Depending upon the shop this can be
surprising (i.e. the implications of the drawing as you've note Jim).

As an example i had 9 rack shelves "drilled".  30 holes each.  It cost
me $25.00 per shelf (or $.83 per hole).   

This would sound expensive except from my accounting standpoint my time
costs more than this, the accuracy was "perfect" (as mine would not be),
the turn around was very fast (again would mine?),  but most
importantly, my drawing was a "sketch" that told the machinist what i
wanted, not a print of actual fixed locations.   This is why i work with
this fellow, by indicating what i want, he advises me on what lowers his
cost, what is easiest done, and then i just communicate my desired end
product from a cosmetic/functional point of view, he does a 1st article
and wham we are done.

Now this may not be the way to go for everyone, especially those with
mechanical engineer skill. 

I am a product of the '60's educational system where i was sorted into a
group that was thought to never need to get their hands dirty.
I never had 1 minute of wood/metal shop,  I was able to fake things thru
school as the small amount of mechanical engineering was conceptual, but
once on the job i was the lowest class of rookie as i didn't know the
simplest thing about a tool room, (there's this story about one of the
guy's asking me to take a sheet of aluminum down to the tool room to
"brake" with such and such a dimension...).  Luckily an old codger of a
machinist (who delighted in my ignorance) took me from shearers to
Mig/Tig welding.  But to this very day i value a talented machinist.

regards,
p


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
[mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl] On Behalf Of James Patchell
Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2004 1:11 PM
To: Peter Grenader; synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
Subject: Re: [sdiy] Is it me or...


If you ordered two pieces, it would probably still cost about
$500....the 
main cost for a machine shop is the setup.  Also, ask the person giving
the 
quote why it is $500.  Sometimes you may make a drawing that something
on 
it that is difficult to do which can really make the cost go up.  By 
changing the drawing, in that case, you can greatly reduce the price of
the 
object...one common mistake, specifying too tight a tolerance...

At 12:25 PM 7/24/2004 -0700, Peter Grenader wrote:
>I was just quoted $500 from a machine shop to cut a single piece of 1/8

>inch steel about 5 x 3.5 inches and drill 24 holes in it. OK, there are

>four drill sizes involved, but..
>
>GIVE ME A #*)#(*#()*@*&? BREAK!
>
>Is this what these guys are making nowdays?  I mean, is this normal?

         -Jim
***************************************************************
http://www.oldcrows.net/~patchell

***************************************************************