I'm looking at getting some plastic/nylon "things" made that will be used to attach 2 other things together.

Depending how it goes I'll probably need about 4-5 different designs. They can probably all be a 1 piece construction and will be something like a lump of plastic/nylon the size of a smokes packet/mobile phone with a few holes, grooves, and/or slots. Relatively simple - no moving parts or anything like that.

Initially would be looking for about 100 of each design but quite possibly will need more (all going to plan).

Does anyone know where to start with a project like this? Stuff like what to consider in the design, material selection (will need to be non-conductive, pretty UV stable, and strong - other than that no real requirements), who can make them and how much they might be, minimum quantities to make something like this worthwhile etc?

Thanks.

Sure does helps, thanks for that Skid.

Am I right in thinking that machining would be cheaper initially because I wouldn't have to pay to have a mould (tool?) made, but that the unit cost for moulding would be cheaper in the long run after a certain number are done?

Based on my admittedly limited, vague and cagey details, I don't suppose anyone is able to have an educated guess at a unit cost for making these things do they?

Have a look at 3D printers, about $1500 I believe for entry level. But you could run off as many protos as you wanted then, and if you're really serious then it's not that much to spend.

ginger pom said...
www.shapeways.com/

Bloody hell, that's freakin awesome. Thanks heaps.

If you need some help, I may be able to give you some confidential assistance on some 3D modelling for output to a 3D printer.
If you go for making a mold and casting the production yourself, making the master model with a 3D printer could be a good way to go.

Here's a recent model I had made as part of a project I was involved in; the black part is the original piece which I manually measured up, orange one is the replicated 3D printed part, with a slight enhancement I added (second pic).

latedropeddy said...
Hey Oceanfire
Did you 3D scan the original part or CMM it?
what material?
looks sweet.

Are you based in china?

Cheers.

Nope, I got the ole vernier calipers out and manually measured the whole thing, then modeled it up from scratch on my trusty laptop.

The orange part was produced on a 3D printer that spools and layers ABS plastic.
I don't actually have a 3D printer, wish I did, but then I'd get a better one than was used for this project.
I'm actually thinking of buying a desktop 3D printer, well trying to find an excuse to buy one, would make it a much easier decision if I could come up with some regular reliable work for it.

Not based in China, but that wouldn't be so bad, they get all the fun work over there; it's all mining in Australia

Thanks for all the replies guys. Have sent a couple of PM's.

Although, I was a bit deflated to see Oceanfire's red thing. That was my idea - and now it seems the bloody thing already exists (whatever it is). Back to the drawing board I s'pose