I have been here for quite awhile, although I don't do alot of posting. I have (2) 1987 GT's. One is my daily driver, the other is a work in progress. I, like alot of other people am about to get laid off and I am not sure how soon I will be employed again. I am currently a journeyman tool and die maker, and have been for the last 10 years. CNC machining is my passion in life as it applies to work, and I hate to walk away from it. So, here is my question for you all..... I looked at a 3 axis CNC mill yesterday to buy, and I am trying to justify it. If I can keep it busy while I am laid off, it will generate a little bit of income in addition to my unemployment. I like the rest of you are extremely frugal, so I understand this is a tough crowd. The mill I looked at is in very good condition, just very dirty. I just ran a quick program to cut a circular pocket so I could see how tight it was. Turns out it is probably more accurate then the 2 axis CNC knee mill that I use at work. I could do anything that is needed, so long as it is not to large for the mill's capabilities. Objective (1) would be to help me through this slumping economy until things pick up again. I have no reservations about working in a different field to make ends meet. I am lucky that my wife is employed and she earns more then I do. But still, I need to be working just because that is who I am and probably always will be. That is more my father's fault than anyones! Objective (2) Start machining out of my own home in the hopes that it grows into something bigger. I am 34 years old now and I understand more now then ever that if this is my career passion, I should not wait. This is a tough time to start a new venture but I need to rely on my abilities and see where it takes me. This might be a good start for me because there is a very minimal investment to start. Granted if it becomes something more, I will have to go legit and become a business. But for now, I would like to do projects for friends and others and see if there is a customer base large enough to go all in.
As a tool and die maker, I do quality work. Some of the members here know my line of work, and can relate to me very well. Toolmakers are generally very particular, and timely people. I cross drilled and slotted some rotors a few months back for our weld engineer, and they turned out nice. I think I may have snapped a picture with my phone. I have since gotten a new phone but I will see if I can get pictures off of the old one. I will see if I can find any pictures of any of my other work. I don't have a lot of samples to look at because I am generally busy at work making die parts and details, not doing government work for myself. So in closing, is there anybody that would be interested in custom work? I could care less if it is a one off part, or a run of 300. Since this would be my machine, and I do all of my own cad work and such, I am here to please whoever is willing to keep my machine running. Brackets for brake upgrades and such can be done one customer at a time. I don't have to get 10 orders is advance to make them. Help me justify this purchase to myself, and more importantly to my wife and (2) kids! This is a used knee mill so I am not risking the farm if it didn't work. Let me know your thoughts. I can't wait to hear good or bad comments so let me have it! Thanks for listening to my rant!

i would be interested if the "price was right" ... also what would be the max size and the min size? choice of materials?

thanks
-todd-

Depending on price this could be very handy! I would order things from you. Right now I need front brackets made for a corvette brake swap I'm working on. Its a similar design I think to the brackets floating around for the 84-87 calipers but I'm using 90 calipers and they have a larger space between mounting holes on the corvette side. Let me know what you think, I might just shoot you the drawings and let you cut the pieces instead of fiddling with it myself. And if you do any lathe work I do need concentric rings made for the corvette brake swap as well.

hope that helps!
Damian

My advise to you is that if you want to do this you need to make "kits" you can sell. Brake upgrades were mentioned above. Make a plug and play kit with every part needed for an upgrade. Things like that would sell both here and on Ebay. Keep it simple and do not get too involved with trying to custom tune every detail to every person. You can then do small runs of 10 parts at a time and get your speed up and keep your costs down.

There are alot of things I can imagine you could make and sell, how about overlays for dash gauges, or center consoles using aluminum? just a thought

I think thats a good idea. If you have the skills, you should go for it! I could see this turning into quite the operation if you aim for production stuff

I've always thought that metal dash inserts (to replace the plastic ones) would be killer, but I have no idea how I could make the shift surround without welding, and that is out of my skill set.

if you can make hubs with larger (more popular) bolt pattern you could probably stay very busy

yes hubs would be great I would buy a set front and rear

I'd like some custom engraving of an upper intake plenum....Instead of Fiero, maybe something else. -Jason

I'd be interested in the hubs,face plates and some brackets for 3800 swaps that are very popular now.

Wow! The response has been very good! Everybody keep in mind I do not yet have a mill of my own. I went and looked at a second machine in as many days yesterday. The mill I looked at yesterday has an older control on it. It is still a three axis and in fact is more capable then the first one I looked at. Both mills are capable of contouring which is a must on a 3 axis. Without contouring, a 3 axis to me is not worth having. The mill I loooked at yesterday actually came from a community college years ago. I have never seen a mill in better shape! Although it has been used, when at the school all it ever cut was plastic and wax. I know it has been used, but if I did not know the history I could swear it has only ever been turned on and used a dozen times. It was asked what the travels are on the mill. I have to double check but it looks like about 26" in the (X), about 13" in the (Y), and about 5" in the (Z) axis. These are all pretty standard for a knee mill of it's size. The owner of the mill let me borrow the manual and I spent last night reading about a third of it. I glossed over alot of it too, and still need to read more. I must say I am very excited about this machine. One of the capabilities of this control is the ability to digitize parts. Anybody who is familiar with this knows how valuable this option is. Within about a week from now I will make the trip back to this gentleman's shop and see if this control is equipped for digitizing. It was an option, and I can't say for sure if the machine was ordered with it. For those who don't know what digitizing is, it is the ability to reproduce parts very closely, if not perfectly. You place the desired part on the table, and the mill runs a probe over the part and effectively generates a 3D map of the part contours. For anybody that is following pokey's quarter windows, this is how his were mapped out from OEM windows. In one form or another, they were digitized. This is very common in the machining world so it's nothing new, I'm just excited that the control I am looking at may have this ability. The gentleman that owns the mill now has had it for years, and it has sat idle for a long time. He used to make carbide guides for large band saws years ago, and this was enough to keep 3 mills running full time. He is not advertising, and really doesn't need or want to get rid of any equipment. He will however sell to me because he is excited about what I am looking to do. He is also one of my friend's fathers, and trusts that the machine would be well cared for. I am not kidding, the table on this mill has not a single mark on it. The paint is like brand new, just a little dusty. I need to check into the cost of running (3) phase power to the house versus buying a phase converter. All of the suggestions made so far, and ideas are are just what I am looking for. I had thought about the overlays for dash guages myself and I always liked the idea too. As far as choice of materials goes, I would just have to wait and see what is needed. As a tool and die maker, most of my work is done in tool steel. After machining my stuff at work gets heat treated and drawn back to a desired rockwell hardness. What I am used to for material at work is much different then what is needed here. Different in this case is better because tool steel is much tougher and slower to machine then say aluminum. All I can say is choices would depend on what you guys want, and are willing to pay for. The ability to cut different types of material are not a problem. Other suggestion such as hubs would be great! These would help us all and would be very easy to set up and run. These would be pretty simple to make on demad per customer's desire. This is exactly the type of stuff I need to get started. The engraving is a go also. I can do any font or style that you can download, or create on you own. Please keep suggestions coming guys! Keep in mind I do not yet have a machine of my own, but I think yesterday I may have found the perfect setup. Low cost, well maintained machine that will do ALOT of different things. Thanks again!

I would like my Cadillac 4.9 valve covers engraved to say FIERO on the left side of the 4.9 PFI...

-Brian

If you can make hubs with popular bolt pattern I need front and rear for 87 gt same for 88gt consider this your first order.

You're kinda far, but I'd make the drive to bring my heads to you to have them shaved if you were to do that kind of work.

I would like some custom badges/ emblems made for both exterior and interior.
Just a thought; I don't know what all can be done with 3 axis, but if you could make a set of high flowing aluminum heads and/or intake for the 4.9 swaps, I think you woul have a winner.

How about a center console cup holder? dash faceplates,xm radio dash mounts,mp3 holders,anything to update the cars. these would be small startup projects to get you started.

i think the hubs would be a winner, easiest to sell. for the grand am upgrade or the corvette upgrade. Alot of it all comes down what you would sell the pieces like most of the other people have said. The best advise is to start small, so small batches.

Can you make these?



I still need one, possibly two. What I'd really like to see is this with threaded posts on the back. That way they can be mounted more securely.

------------------
Whade' "The Duck Formerly Known As Wade" Duck
'87 GT Auto
'88 Ferrario
'84 Indy

quote Originally posted by ctrjack: if you can make hubs with larger (more popular) bolt pattern you could probably stay very busy

Amen

------------------
Steve AT 88GTP DOT com
88 GT

any update on this? Sounded like a pretty cool idea

Yes, trying to get rid of my project car to raise funds and make room in my garage for the mill.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum4/HTML/046280.html

Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot in the other thread. I don't need 10 orders, but if I'm going to set up the machine, I am going to run a full bar of material out sot that the next job can go on immediately Still not happy about you lowering the price, but that's water under the bridge, so this is the last you will hear about that.

Obviously, you know I also have a few CNC machines. One is a Kitamura MyCenter2 with 20" x, 13" y, and 18" z travel, and has a Fanuc System 6m g-code controller and 17 tool turret. The lathe is a Mori Seiki zl-5 with a 12" chuck, 11" swing and 32" z cutting capability, dual turret holding 14 tools, with a Fanuc 11tt g-code and conversational programing. We use MasterCAM for the mill and fat-finger in the Mori.

A close friend of ours has passed away recently and we kind of inherited his shop full of old chucker and automatic screw machines, and even a Swiss Namora collet CNC lathe.

With the inheritance, we also have found we have a lot more customers than we had first thought.

I am not saying this to try to "steal" customers, but rather to ask if you would be interested in production work. Sure, it's not as much fun as making one-off parts, but if you get a good system going, you can easily make $30-60/hr, and that's not bad since you have low overhead unlike us that are spread between 2 shops. Making more parts in a single run also keeps down your setup time by spreading it across how ever many parts you are making.

I too am close to your age at 32 with 4 kids and a wife who just started working again after 2 years since she was in the real-estate market, so I partnered up with a friend and got the CNC shop running as a second job to my dad and I doing home renovations.

If you are interested in keeping your mill running on some production parts, shoot me an email at john at 60inclusive.com and I might be able to help keep that spindle turning so you can keep earning.

-John Caraher

[This message has been edited by Forced_Firebird (edited 09-02-2009).]

hey guys ,i wish the best for both of you ,its tough out there for all of us and we all need as much extra money as we can as i also have many kids ,but forced firebird ..you cant openely talk about (price fixing) ..aka good business .i worked for some people busted for it and it is in most places considered collusion ,it is illegal and considered unethical in free trade environments...please dont take it the wrong way ,....im really trying to help,

that kind of thing goes on all the time but not admitting it out in public in the name of aka (good business)..
...ssshhh ...........dont worry ,nobody knows but us ...at the most what 20,000 maybe ?
loose lips sinks ships

Well, I have a CNC Fadal ... I dont really advertise I do custom parts but can. I use a nice CAD CAM package. Wish I could use SW better however.

One off parts are welcome here.

I made these...









see them on my catalog page. http://www.fastfieros.com/catalog.htm

As to the pegasus.. I have that engraving already. It was to be a nose badge. I cut one out, but the line detail was not what I wanted back in April. I have some new micro bits now to try.



Let me know if anyone wants one.

http://www.fastfieros.com

[This message has been edited by FastFieros (edited 09-01-2009).]

Oh Oh Let me speak up too!!!!! I've been in the mold making business for over 25 years and have my own shop now for 2 years. I have a couple CNC machines as well as some manual stuff. Programming is all done through Mastercam X3. Looking to get a five axis but............. If you need something PM me. I do alot of work for a Nitrous company and they keep me fairly busy but I can squeeze stuff in. Thanks

Looks like there are a few talented people here eh?

Thanks John for the offer. I guess it would depend on what kind of production work it is and what kind of volume. I appreciate the offer and if you like you can PM me with more details. I'm just happy we can get along! Yes, there are alot of talented people on this message board. I am forever impressed with what some of the people here can do with their cars. I can barley find the time to mod mine at all between the kids and the honey-do list! My machine at home is pretty basic. It's a Wells Index 823 with a Dynapath Delta 20 control. It's an older machine, circa 70's era and the control is from the late 80's. It's nothing special or different but it is a good piece of iron. The control is actually very robust and can be programmed conversationally or via cam. It has a 30 taper spindle which I am still unsure about. The quick change is nice but finding quality tool holders is not as easy. Tool holders are out there for sure, but it is hard to know exactly what you are getting unless you buy new. If you have any NMTB 30 quick change tool holders that you want to part with let me know! I've got some Lyndex and some Erikson holders, both collet and end mill types. Some of them are in good shape and some are pretty beat up. The end mill holders have very little runout while some of the collets are downright terrible. I have enough here to get me started but I will be limited until I generate some additional cash. The good news is that I am the next toolmaker to be called back at work so I am hoping to be back within 2 months. Once I get back to work I can really start to fund my home shop project. I've been eyeing several different wire burners but the wife says no more tools until I return to work!

quote Originally posted by Forced_Firebird: We make our own engraving tools. Start with a carbide blank and a collet spin index on the surface grinder. Dress the stone so you get a 60 or 120* taper on the end depending on the size of the cutting tip you want. Then turn the indexer so the tool is parallel to the wheel and take a little less than 1/2 the diameter off and relieve to the thickness you would like to engrave. You probably have a couple broken carbide tools in the shop already (I know I do) and if you have a surface grinder, a few minutes of your time and you are limitless on the tools you can make yourself.

I better pass on making and sharpening my own tools. I can assure you in 05 I tool crashed plenty of end mills. Today, I mostly have a need for re-sharpening.

What would you charge for re-sharpening? Most of mine are the usual .500 and .625

http;//www.fastfieros.com looking to get a new edge

quote Originally posted by FastFieros: I better pass on making and sharpening my own tools. I can assure you in 05 I tool crashed plenty of end mills. Today, I mostly have a need for re-sharpening. What would you charge for re-sharpening? Most of mine are the usual .500 and .625 http;//www.fastfieros.com looking to get a new edge

Yeah, I still break tools lol. Guess that happens when you are cutting steel at 30-45ipm.

I don't have a mill sharpener jig YET. It is on the shopping list as we started from scratch 3 years ago. We will, however, make step drills, 3 flute drills, engraving tools, turning tools, boring bars etc etc.

You should see the slotting tool I turned into a knurling tool haha.

[This message has been edited by Forced_Firebird (edited 09-03-2009).]