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Pie in the sky but I have an idea for making an item from craft makers out of something like chipboard. My thoughts are to knock up a prototype and then, once I'm happy that it works, get the component pieces made up properly. Ultimately I'm thinking of possibly getting some made and offering them for sale as a cheap and cheerful Build it yourself kit. I've not seen anything like this, just fully built ones made from wood and consequently they are pretty expensive.
Does anyone have any experience of doing anything like this? In my head I am envisioning it being made with a minimal number of pieces, fixed with easily available bolts and no specialist parts.
There are a number of CNC routing companies out there who will take your design & cut you X number of them for you. You would have to supply design details, ideally in something like dxf format.
Places like this:
Yep, CNC routing would be the way to go. You'll need to do some basic designing to get the parts set-up but the person doing the routing will be able to optimise the layout and set up the files. You can either find someone local or do it all online and have the parts delivered. Probably worth making a basic prototype then a production prototype before ordering a batch. It won't be super cheap but the more you make the cheaper they will become. If you want any specific help you are welcome to email me, I have my own CNC router although I don't take on this sort of work generally, but I know people locally that do.
Also it might be worth considering other materials. The actual material cost will probably be pretty low (unless it is huge) so you could make it out of something posher like birch ply or fancy like recycled plastic and add a lot of perceived quality and value
Not this specificly but if manufacturing a key part of your design will be arranging the part to get the most out of a board.
Also consider locating pins etc to make assembly quick.
Have a look on the https://make.works website - its a sort of market place for matching up designers / people with product ideas with manufacturers who have capacity. Quite a fun site to navigate around anyway as you get charming little films of the manufacturer's facilities.
They started out in scotland and have been rolling out to other localities but for the sort of thing you're talking about - stepping up from one/off prototype to small scale batch manufacture - so you should be able to find someone suitable
If you searched long and hard enough you could find a certain lanky ginger prick from this site. (but I don't do CNC in wood at the moment 🙂 )
If you searched long and hard enough you could find a certain lanky ginger prick from this site.
I’ve just been told off by IT for viewing some internet grinder action 😉
lolz
For your prototype B&Q will do up to 15 cuts for free on a piece of 8x4 ply. Saves a lot of time and pretty accurate usually.
Hey, thanks everyone! Some great advice there. Cheers.