Sigh - I must have a sign

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that says i dont have a clue. or i look like a soccer mom.I need to find a machine shop that has CNC capability. So i took a few pieces to test out there service of a couple.Me: i need to get this 1 aluminum hub machined up to receive a 8mm shaft instead of the 6mm it has now. Also there 2 1/8th thick aluminum gears need to be machined out to 1" and mated to these shaft collars.Him: O thats about 4 hours and we charge $90 an hour!me: !!Seriously 4 ****ing hours? This **** isnt titanium. Its aluminum and its not that much machining.If he had said we charge $90 an hour and we have a 1 hour minum so $90. I would have handed the guy cash and all my files for the other 4k parts i need to order but NOO he had to be a dick.Your telling me your techs are so ****ing slow it would take 1 guy HALF A DAY in order to do this?
Reply:If you wanted one part to be set up and CNC machined I would say he was probably in the ball park.  The price for 4000 parts would probably have been very good (read much, much cheaper). CNC is fast but not cheap to set up for a limited run, especially one part. Will it fit in standard hard jaw chuck?  Or will they need to turn soft jaws? What tooling is necessary?  Writing a program is something to consider, not real time consuming but not free. Once set up the per piece price goes down considerably."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:No you mis understood this guy is a full service machine shop with CNC.I had a 6mm shaft Hub. That i needed to fit on an 8mm shaft. *Insert 8mm Drill bit, center part Clamp, DRILL* <5 minutes*I also had 2 Aluminum gears that i needed drilled out and mated to a set of 1" shaft collars. *insert 1" Stepper bit, Center part, DRILL * again maybe 10-15 minutes since its 2 parts* *next step take shaft collar and Gear align on 1" shaft, mark 2 spots Clamp part, Drill, Hand part to customer 10 minutes*and he wanted $300 for THAT. No Setup or Cad Cam work.Just 4 hours of chucking 3 pieces and changing a few drill bits.If he had let me in his shop i could have done all 3 pieces in under 30 minutes.Last edited by socoj2; 06-16-2010 at 02:40 PM.
Reply:Sounds like you need to buy your own lathe.I always love it when a customer tells ME how long it's going to take to fab/weld a part.Fastest way I know to get shown the door.  Wants to argue.  Gets an assist (out the freaking door headfirst/buttfirst, doesn't matter)Sounds like this business owner has been burned a few times by the "it'll only take you 30 min" guys.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIISounds like you need to buy your own lathe.I always love it when a customer tells ME how long it's going to take to fab/weld a part.Fastest way I know to get shown the door.  Wants to argue.  Gets an assist (out the freaking door headfirst/buttfirst, doesn't matter)Sounds like this business owner has been burned a few times by the "it'll only take you 30 min" guys.
Reply:Go to Horrible Freight, buy a cheap drill press, a couple of bits and a few cuss words later you have your parts."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Did you think to ask for an explanation of why?  Maybe there's something involved you didn't think of.  On the very few things around the house that I hire out, when I get bids like that I ask why and when they go over all the things they're going to do I say "no no, I did 4 of those 6 things, i only want you to do the last 2" and the price goes down or I find a new guy, or realistically I end up doing it myself.  Sometimes, however, there's good reason that I didn't think of.  Anyway, I'd take it one step further than Bob the Welder - Go buy your own equip and machine stuff as fast as you say you can.  You'd put everyone out of business!!!Millermatic 135Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by socoj2. . .I need to find a machine shop that has CNC capability. So i took a few pieces to test out there service of a couple.Me: i need to get this 1 aluminum hub machined up to receive a 8mm shaft instead of the 6mm it has now. Also there 2 1/8th thick aluminum gears need to be machined out to 1" and mated to these shaft collars.Him: O thats about 4 hours and we charge $90 an hour!If he had said we charge $90 an hour and we have a 1 hour minum so $90. I would have handed the guy cash and all my files for the other 4k parts i need to order. . .
Reply:Originally Posted by socoj2No you mis understood this guy is a full service machine shop with CNC.I had a 6mm shaft Hub. That i needed to fit on an 8mm shaft. *Insert 8mm Drill bit, center part Clamp, DRILL* <5 minutes*I also had 2 Aluminum gears that i needed drilled out and mated to a set of 1" shaft collars. *insert 1" Stepper bit, Center part, DRILL * again maybe 10-15 minutes since its 2 parts* *next step take shaft collar and Gear align on 1" shaft, mark 2 spots Clamp part, Drill, Hand part to customer 10 minutes*and he wanted $300 for THAT. No Setup or Cad Cam work.Just 4 hours of chucking 3 pieces and changing a few drill bits.If he had let me in his shop i could have done all 3 pieces in under 30 minutes.
Reply:Originally Posted by StroutyWhy didn't you just do it?
Reply:guess it's a good thing you shopped around!Millermatic 135Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by socoj2. . .I just went to another shop. guy said yep 30 minutes no problem. $50Thanks.