CNC services?

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BrunoS

Joined
Dec 17, 2014
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Does anyone know who can CNC some knives and handle scales for me? (The whole profile AND the bevels).
I contacted leading edge fabrication already but they dont machine bevels.
I only need 3 knives either in 5160 or 3v and I already have the CAD files more or less done right.
Any help is appreciated, thanks!
 
If you wanting finished blades and finished scales why not just buy a custom knife from a custom maker. Give them your designs. Most likely cnc work will be more money then having someone make you the complete knife.
 
You will be extremely hard pressed to find a cnc shop that will only make 3 for you... Cnc shops like quantity.
 
Here’s some help- what’s your budget?

What you outlined Sounds like about 2-3 days minimum to check your CAD work, convert to usable CAM files, make the tooling to hold the parts and do the setups and proof it out. In Los Angeles that’s about $3,000 if everything goes well and it almost never does on a small prototype run....
 
I cnc plasma cut blade blanks but usaily the buyer does the edge bevels.
 
razor-edge-knives said:
You will be extremely hard pressed to find a cnc shop that will only make 3 for you... Cnc shops like quantity.
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It might not be hard to find a shop to prototype the knives. What would be hard is affording the price tag thy put on thoes blades.
 
Thanks for the responses, I didn’t know it was that expensive I will definitely change the approach of my project!
 
JTknives said:
It might not be hard to find a shop to prototype the knives. What would be hard is affording the price tag thy put on thoes blades.
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Yeah that's true! Some will no quote, others will do it but be very expensive.
 
My first machine shop job was a job shop so we got all kinds of odds and ends. But at $100-$150/hr it adds up quite fast.
 
Post your request in Services Wanted in The Exchange. Keep the business part out of shop talk.
I would change your request to wanting 3 knife blades made to your specs instead of CNC. Lots of folks can make 3 identical blades.
 
Running a job shop it's frequently awkward when working with people who are accustomed to buying things at Walmart for $100 and aren't familiar with low volume pricing where that $100 item might be thousands of dollars custom made. And remember, machinists aren't getting rich doing this. A typical machine shop can't even run CNC from a 3D CAD file yet and those who do are probably going to approach the project like a tool or mold. So you're looking at thousands of dollars and an as-machined surface finish unless you go somewhere setup for it. Be ready for disappointment.

Your best bet might be to find a hobby cnc guy looking for a project. Plan on a fair bit of hand finishing. Or find a custom knifemaker...
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
Running a job shop it's frequently awkward when working with people who are accustomed to buying things at Walmart for $100 and aren't familiar with low volume pricing where that $100 item might be thousands of dollars custom made. And remember, machinists aren't getting rich doing this. A typical machine shop can't even run CNC from a 3D CAD file yet and those who do are probably going to approach the project like a tool or mold. So you're looking at thousands of dollars and an as-machined surface finish unless you go somewhere setup for it. Be ready for disappointment.

Your best bet might be to find a hobby cnc guy looking for a project. Plan on a fair bit of hand finishing. Or find a custom knifemaker...
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Hi Nathan!
Actually I contacted carothers brothers to see if you could make it for me, spoked with Jo but she told me you didn’t do others designs just profiles. I was actually trying to get a design I have been working on for months done and finish it and assemble it myself but the guys here just told me to better have it completely done as it is cheaper, I wasn’t aware machining was that expensive. But could you make the profiles out of 5160? How much would it cost?
Thanks for the reply!
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
A typical machine shop can't even run CNC from a 3D CAD file yet and those who do are probably going to approach the project like a tool or mold.
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Nathan, could you elaborate? How do machine shops that have CNC mills not have the ability to run their mill from a 3D CAD file? and what's the difference between approaching it like a tool/mold and what is the proper way to approach it?
 
BrunoS said:
Hi Nathan!
Actually I contacted carothers brothers to see if you could make it for me, spoked with Jo but she told me you didn’t do others designs just profiles. I was actually trying to get a design I have been working on for months done and finish it and assemble it myself but the guys here just told me to better have it completely done as it is cheaper, I wasn’t aware machining was that expensive. But could you make the profiles out of 5160? How much would it cost?
Thanks for the reply!
Click to expand...

Machining isn't expensive. Set up and programming is expensive. The first part might be $2,000. The second one might be another $20.
 
razor-edge-knives said:
Nathan, could you elaborate? How do machine shops that have CNC mills not have the ability to run their mill from a 3D CAD file? and what's the difference between approaching it like a tool/mold and what is the proper way to approach it?
Click to expand...

It's not uncommon at all. Many shops, perhaps even most, still program manually or used canned cycles and conversational programming or a simple 2D CAM package and work from prints rather than programmers sitting at computers immersed in 3D CAD/CAM. It's changing, but slowly.

Other shops that do more complex work use CAM from CAD files but would probably approach it like a mold maker with surface milling.

The right way to approach milling a knife, in my opinion, usually uses the end or the side of a cutter or grinding wheel and cuts the geometry directly rather than a ball or bull mill and lots of tiny surface milling cuts. There are exceptions, of course, but as a rule. But that's not an approach most job shops are going to consider. The setup for directly milling a bevel on a knife, unless it's a straight edge, is outside the normal practice of most job shops. Even those with CAD/CAM. But production knife shops have it figured out.
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
It's not uncommon at all. Many shops, perhaps even most, still program manually or used canned cycles and conversational programming or a simple 2D CAM package and work from prints rather than programmers sitting at computers immersed in 3D CAD/CAM. It's changing, but slowly.

Other shops that do more complex work use CAM from CAD files but would probably approach it like a mold maker with surface milling.

The right way to approach milling a knife, in my opinion, usually uses the end or the side of a cutter or grinding wheel and cuts the geometry directly rather than a ball or bull mill and lots of tiny surface milling cuts. There are exceptions, of course, but as a rule. But that's not an approach most job shops are going to consider. The setup for directly milling a bevel on a knife, unless it's a straight edge, is outside the normal practice of most job shops. Even those with CAD/CAM. But production knife shops have it figured out.
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Thanks... You're like a CAD/CAM genius so I always love reading your posts :D even if I don't always 100% understand!
 
20190715_160534.jpg

The setup and programming for directly milling a blade isn't something most job shops will want to tackle, but it works well and is an effective approach.

It take a couple days to setup the first time so it isn't a good approach for just a few pieces.
 
20190415_144612.jpg

The other approach, surface milling like a mold maker, is slow and leaves a little more of a messy surface finish. There are applications for it though, there are some geometries that can't be made any other way.

If someone were to have something made this way somewhere, they should be prepared for high costs and disappointing surface finish.
 
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