Anyone Here Have Access to a CNC Machine?

[Gmr_Chick]

Like the title says, does anyone here have access to a CNC machine? Reason I ask is because as part of my rig theme, I'd like to have some custom fan shrouds made with the First Order emblem cut into them. Or go the DIY route and make them myself out of acrylic or something. Any help, advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[thesmokingman]

Dude, just get a printer. A cnc = time is money. And it will take time to pay someone to input what you want and why would you want shrouds milled out of a metal anyways? Hence, get a printer. Or better yet make them out of old fans shells.

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[Caring1]

..why would you want shrouds milled out of a metal anyways? ..

Lian Li make milled Aluminium shrouded fans, and they are asaf, also very costly.
But I agree, printed fan shrouds may be the way to go. (or laser cut)

 

[thesmokingman]

Lian Li make milled Aluminium shrouded fans, and they are asaf, also very costly.
But I agree, printed fan shrouds may be the way to go.

Lian Li make everything from alu, that's their whole philosophy. But its a whole different thing for a one off for something not worth anything to most. I have friends in the industry who own 4 axis mills and it's like once they explain what it actually takes to make something the time, energy, cost to do just one product... yea it's just not a simple thing, to ask yo bro mill this for me.

 

[INSTG8R]

Lian Li make everything from alu, that's their whole philosophy. But its a whole different thing for a one off for something not worth anything to most. I have friends in the industry who own 4 axis mills and it's like once they explain what it actually takes to make something the time, energy, cost to do just one product... yea it's just not a simple thing, to ask yo bro mill this for me.

As a former CNC operatør you’re not wrong. I would personally go laser cutter for this but wouldn’t be much cheaper or easier.

 

[8BitZ80]

As a former CNC operatør you’re not wrong. I would personally go laser cutter for this but wouldn’t be much cheaper or easier.

Normally manufacturing suppliers also have minimum order quantities. For example I can't get any steel laser cut sections unless I'm paying at least AU$200 per order. You'd need to find a hardcore hobbyist who has a full machine shop in their backyard shed or something who can do it for a few cartons.

 

[INSTG8R]

Normally manufacturing suppliers also have minimum order quantities. For example I can't get any steel laser cut sections unless I'm paying at least AU$200 per order. He'd need to find a hardcore hobbyist who has a full machine shop in their backyard shed or something who can do it for a few cartons.

Yeah thankfully half my friends either work at or have their own shops so I can get work done or even do the work myself borrowing some machine time. I’ve made my own bits and pieces in the past for some watercooling stuff in my spare time.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

I'd go the 3D printer route for sure. Only problem is...yep, you guessed it, I don't own a 3D printer. Things you can do with 'em are amazing though.

 

[Chomiq]

Aren't there stores that offer 3D printing services? Send them your design and get an estimate.

 

[zenlaserman]

Hey neighbor! *waves

Laser or waterjet would be the quickest way to get that 2D processed. The largest obstacle to getting your fan shroud done in CNC is having the design you want programmed. You could draw it up in MS Paint and that would help, the ultimate is drawing it in a CAD program. Many shops have the ability to scan a drawing and have it converted to a machine-ready file without needing anything from CAD. an NC file is simply a txt file full of coordinates with directional G- and machine function M-codes as needed, it's entirely possible to draw and program the entire thing yourself. Of course, I searched for an image of the design you want to use, and that would take some serious brainwork lmao...it could be done if you drew it to scale on graph paper. That's how I've always done my own personal, non-decorative things when I needed em cut quick. Decorations get complicated.

Anyway, I've been a laserman since '95, my family runs a busy shop in SoCal. I might be able to get it cut for you, but I have no idea what kind of design you want, what portions of the drawing should be in relief and what should be cut out, etc. Definitely draw it up. If you are good at hand drawing you could always get a Dremel and make it out of acrylic or the like, like you said. Might be fun to make yourself!

 

[silentbogo]

If your fan shroud does not require any sophisticated shapes(e.g. can be made from a flat piece of something), it'll be cheaper, easier, and faster to make on waterjet or plasma cutter.
Heck, we have small companies that make whole computer/server cases for less than $200. I'm sure it's gonna be more expensive in US, but 3D printing is not as cheap and easy as everyone thinks (especially for large parts). It's just more convenient, and useful for complex stuff. I really hate when people 3D print boxes and enclosures, wasting dozens of dollars on filament alone, when you can buy a blank for pennies and cut a few holes with hand tools.

Acrylic is actually a good idea. All you need is a heat gun and a straight edge to do your bends.
If you have a thin sheet of material, it can be cut even on a "hobbyist"-level 40W laser cutter, which means you can make a few calls to local hackerspaces and check whether they have a laser cutter in a workshop. I'm sure you'll even find a person willing to help with CAD file/G-code.
Another good alternative is to go Supermicro way and just bend it out of thin sheet of plastic or rugged card stock. Just origami the crap out of it, cut the logo with a hobby knife, and you are good to go. If it doesn't work or you won't like it - you can use it as a template for plexi.

 

[Blue4130]

Like the title says, does anyone here have access to a CNC machine? Reason I ask is because as part of my rig theme, I'd like to have some custom fan shrouds made with the First Order emblem cut into them. Or go the DIY route and make them myself out of acrylic or something. Any help, advice would be greatly appreciated

Cnc covers many machines. You want mill, lathe, laser, router, saw, plasma waterjet?

 

[Gmr_Chick]

Hey neighbor! *waves

Laser or waterjet would be the quickest way to get that 2D processed. The largest obstacle to getting your fan shroud done in CNC is having the design you want programmed. You could draw it up in MS Paint and that would help, the ultimate is drawing it in a CAD program. Many shops have the ability to scan a drawing and have it converted to a machine-ready file without needing anything from CAD. an NC file is simply a txt file full of coordinates with directional G- and machine function M-codes as needed, it's entirely possible to draw and program the entire thing yourself. Of course, I searched for an image of the design you want to use, and that would take some serious brainwork lmao...it could be done if you drew it to scale on graph paper. That's how I've always done my own personal, non-decorative things when I needed em cut quick. Decorations get complicated.

Anyway, I've been a laserman since '95, my family runs a busy shop in SoCal. I might be able to get it cut for you, but I have no idea what kind of design you want, what portions of the drawing should be in relief and what should be cut out, etc. Definitely draw it up. If you are good at hand drawing you could always get a Dremel and make it out of acrylic or the like, like you said. Might be fun to make yourself!

I actually have quite a few tools I could possibly use for this if I choose to do it myself. I build a lot of model kits, so I have stuff like thin acrylic sheets, scribers (to make panel lines and such) model knives, snippers, files, all that good stuff. The sheets I have are rather thin though, about 1mm thick. I'd probably need to buy something a little thicker. I'll have to do a mock up using my thinner stuff (0.4mm), a pencil, and the image itself just to see how it would look.

 

[silentbogo]

The sheets I have are rather thin though, about 1mm thick.

Yep, that'll be flopping in a case like a headless chicken. I'd go with 2mm or more.
Which got me thinking... one of my supermicro cases has no shroud. I should probably make one myself.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

Yep, that'll be flopping in a case like a headless chicken. I'd go with 2mm or more.
Which got me thinking... one of my supermicro cases has no shroud. I should probably make one myself.

2mm thick may take a lot more scribing, but I guess that's what a hand saw is for

 

[freeagent]

Sometimes hand made stuff is nicer.. if you have the tools, you just might surprise yourself..

I was a Lathe and Mill operator up until last October. Not sure when I'm going back, if I go back..

I miss it.

 

[Gmr_Chick]

Bit of an update. I found a gentleman through Etsy that makes fan shrouds out of laser cut acrylic and sells them for far cheaper than what it would cost me in materials alone, asked him if he did custom orders and he replied within a couple hours. Told him what I wanted made and within an hour or so, he showed me a mock up design he put together:



I paid for it right then and there $23 USD out the door. Can't wait to see it.