I have a furniture workshop in which I make bespoke fine furniture.
I have the option to purchase a CNC machine, from a friend, which will fund him to buy a laser cutter to also be housed in the workshop.
I am just putting out some feelers, to see if there is interest in having custom speaker cabinets, flat pack kits or other diyaudio related items being made and shipped from Bristol, Uk.
At around £5000 it is a substantial investment, but one that could yield some amazing results.
I have the option to purchase a CNC machine, from a friend, which will fund him to buy a laser cutter to also be housed in the workshop.
I am just putting out some feelers, to see if there is interest in having custom speaker cabinets, flat pack kits or other diyaudio related items being made and shipped from Bristol, Uk.
At around £5000 it is a substantial investment, but one that could yield some amazing results.
It would depend on cost. The problem is that shipping wood is heavy and therefore expensive. The other killer is the setup charge.
I've used a company in the south east before who were excellent and reasonably priced, but it's still beyond what I'd like to pay. A 40cm cube sub cabinet in veneered 25mm MDF cost 50 quid setup and 75 quid for the wood. I think postage was 25 quid.
I have a small CNC machine for making PCBs and hence the software needed to generate g-code for your machine. If setup charges could be avoided by this route then I would probably order odd flat packs now and again. Maybe even collect when I come down to Bristol occasionally.
I've used a company in the south east before who were excellent and reasonably priced, but it's still beyond what I'd like to pay. A 40cm cube sub cabinet in veneered 25mm MDF cost 50 quid setup and 75 quid for the wood. I think postage was 25 quid.
I have a small CNC machine for making PCBs and hence the software needed to generate g-code for your machine. If setup charges could be avoided by this route then I would probably order odd flat packs now and again. Maybe even collect when I come down to Bristol occasionally.
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I am really looking for ways to offset the cost of the machine, and to re-coop some of the cost, and with the laser cutter as well, both beds are 1200mmx 900mm, there are few operations that can't be done. Especially considering it is housed in a pretty well equipped wood shop, so rebates can be routed and dovetailed grooves cut, wood planed and custom veneers pressed.
But I'd like to make it affordable, especially for diy community.
What sort of prices were they asking? Often by the time the files are loaded and spindle is spinning a hour or two has gone by, with paying yourself a reasonable rate costs can mount.
But I'd like to make it affordable, especially for diy community.
What sort of prices were they asking? Often by the time the files are loaded and spindle is spinning a hour or two has gone by, with paying yourself a reasonable rate costs can mount.
I added costs as an edit. I understand peoples time needs to be paid for and that it's never as quick a job as most customers would think. I think I was charged a fair price.
Really I'm just dreaming that I can get a 6x4 sheets worth of panels for under 100 quid! Then prototyping and just playing with different designs becomes a lot easier.
Really I'm just dreaming that I can get a 6x4 sheets worth of panels for under 100 quid! Then prototyping and just playing with different designs becomes a lot easier.
Excluding the wood, that doesn't seem to be too out of the realms of possibility.
Off the top of my head and strictly for Diy'ers and prototypers. I was thinking along the lines fo £25 set up fee. And £30per hour running cost. Minimum £55.
I'd have to crunch some numbers, but I'd too love to be able to get flat pack speaker kits for under £100, or veneered and assembled, glued and finished for under £150. Or solid wood American Black Walnut for under £200.
Hopefully there could be a few big projects, commercial things that can offset a lot of the cost, allowing "Rock Bottom" pricing for the hobbyist.
Off the top of my head and strictly for Diy'ers and prototypers. I was thinking along the lines fo £25 set up fee. And £30per hour running cost. Minimum £55.
I'd have to crunch some numbers, but I'd too love to be able to get flat pack speaker kits for under £100, or veneered and assembled, glued and finished for under £150. Or solid wood American Black Walnut for under £200.
Hopefully there could be a few big projects, commercial things that can offset a lot of the cost, allowing "Rock Bottom" pricing for the hobbyist.
I'd be using moisture resistant MDF rather than veneered birch ply, as they would be getting painted. So this would save quite a bit on meterials? If I could break the 100 quid/sheet barrier I'd sell the table saw and not mess about myself any more.
Seems interesting.
What about metal work? ( thinking front panels basically.)
It would be handy if as a diner it would be possible to send a dxf or other suitable cad drawing and just get it cut.
Finally what about a similar approach to the pcb places in the US where they wait until they have enough layouts to populate a panel then each person pays a percentage. Seems to work well but the lead time can be long.
Sounds like a good idea though.
What about metal work? ( thinking front panels basically.)
It would be handy if as a diner it would be possible to send a dxf or other suitable cad drawing and just get it cut.
Finally what about a similar approach to the pcb places in the US where they wait until they have enough layouts to populate a panel then each person pays a percentage. Seems to work well but the lead time can be long.
Sounds like a good idea though.
A CNC (unless 5 axis) can only do rough cuts of many pieces for the most interesting designs. Good for doing driver rebates -- especially those that aren't circles.
dave
dave
I live in Bristol so would be interested. Even more interested if it was capable of cutting aly sheet for front panels and chassis.
Rectangular boxes are easy.
Doing curves are trickly things less so. But with the wealth of other machines, vacuum bag, lathe, laser cutter, upholstery equipment, etc, few things can't be fabricated.
Doing curves are trickly things less so. But with the wealth of other machines, vacuum bag, lathe, laser cutter, upholstery equipment, etc, few things can't be fabricated.
Hi Anima. I'm sure it can be fitted with bits to cut metal.
The laser cutter on the other hand would excel!
The laser cutter on the other hand would excel!
Interesting stuff. I had no idea there were so many Bristolians on the forum.
I'm not in a suitable position to need your services at the moment I'm afraid, but probably could do with at least some aluminium cut and possibly drilled. Longer term, I'm interested in building some frugalhorns, or similar, so it's good to know you're about.
Phil
I'm not in a suitable position to need your services at the moment I'm afraid, but probably could do with at least some aluminium cut and possibly drilled. Longer term, I'm interested in building some frugalhorns, or similar, so it's good to know you're about.
Phil
The "pool" idea is a good one. I've been looking at getting a dowel jig so that I can avoid the need for rebates on the back side of panels. So all work is done from the sheet and on one side. The dowels would also hold the panels together while assembling and make it possible to be a one man job.
I'd have to talk to the designer, but I did think about making a few flat oak kits. This Frugalhorn design being one of them.
My workshop is in Bedminster. Pop by and say hello if your ever in the area.
My workshop is in Bedminster. Pop by and say hello if your ever in the area.
Have used router bits for cutting Ali sheet in the past, but slot drills or end milling cutters do work better. Both really need adequate cutting oil and coolant.
Good to see another source of CNC in this neck of the woods becoming available
Mik
Good to see another source of CNC in this neck of the woods becoming available
Mik
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Count me in for a couple of aly chassis. Let me know when you're in a position to go forward.
Hi Dave, yeah a pretty good table saw, 3phase, 400mm and solid as a rock, a few teething problems with the rip fence at the moment. Its an Axminster Industrial TCSE-400 with sliding carriage added.
The middle one (website has been updated and is unusable) http://www.axminster.co.uk/wood-working/sawing/rip-saws
Building a drum/speed sander in the next week or so and adding another floor which should free up space for a spray booth and permanent upholstery section, and another big glue up table.
The middle one (website has been updated and is unusable) http://www.axminster.co.uk/wood-working/sawing/rip-saws
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
Building a drum/speed sander in the next week or so and adding another floor which should free up space for a spray booth and permanent upholstery section, and another big glue up table.
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Bespoke Machining
Hi, I have no immediate need for anything at the moment having just finsished a loudspeaker project, but if I decide to make MKII more professional looking I would be typically interested in:
1) speaker routing, both front and rear of the face plate;
2) mortice&tenon edge joints;
3) port routing;
I prefere bitch ply rather than mfd though, what thickness could you manage ?
Can you also handle aluminium plate e.g 10mm thick and above for enclosure front panels e.g. 19" rack units
Regards
Howard
Hi, I have no immediate need for anything at the moment having just finsished a loudspeaker project, but if I decide to make MKII more professional looking I would be typically interested in:
1) speaker routing, both front and rear of the face plate;
2) mortice&tenon edge joints;
3) port routing;
I prefere bitch ply rather than mfd though, what thickness could you manage ?
Can you also handle aluminium plate e.g 10mm thick and above for enclosure front panels e.g. 19" rack units
Regards
Howard
Hi,
I live in Bristol too. I was thinking of a loudspeaker project but got put off by the costs. Perhaps this may make it worthwhile..
Vinod
I live in Bristol too. I was thinking of a loudspeaker project but got put off by the costs. Perhaps this may make it worthwhile..
Vinod
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