Laser Cutting

[mjrally]

Im looking at making some small brackets and a pedal box for my rally car (all max 2mm mild steel) and ideally i like them laser cutting or a simular type of cutting. They will all be one's and two off's and i can do the CAD myself, but my question's are;

1, price? ruffly.......say, what would an average price be for say a 50x100mm plate with 3 20mm holes in it?

2, people who have had things cut in the past, what should i look out for, or any tips, suggestions?

3, Im based on midlands, anyone used anyone near hinckley, coventry, nuneaton?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Phil@mpliron]

Hi MJ
Theres plenty of laser cutters around the midlands, it's probably best to phone round many charge minimum order (one in dudley used to be £70 min)
I can pm you some around dudley and b/ham area.
Can you use cnc plasma cut parts, i know the cut edge is not so good quality but snowcat on here could turn these around for you on his cnc plasma

Regards
Phil

 

[MG David]

Try looking in one of the model engineering magazines. The laser cutters who advertise in those are happy to take small jobs.

 

[chunkolini]

Try Premier Laser.
I have used them a few times, very quick turnaround, and seem to tightgitme reasonably priced. The quality of the work is excellent.

My bits were made from a dodgy sketch on a scrap of paper that I photographed and attached to an email.

Chunko'.

 

[mike os]

or water jet cutting?

 

[mjrally]

thanks for the quick response guys, well finish doesnt have to be amazing to be honest as i can clean them up myself, would plasma or water jetting be cheaper than lazer cutting? anyone got any photos of quality of each too?

 

[Hitch]

I would say probably plasma is the cheapest, then laser, then waterjet.
Quality probably in that order too, although the latter two would be better on 2mm.
If its not to complexed it may be punched. Usually done with a series of different shapes and sizes.

Are they just rectangular plates with round holes?

 

[rkde]

Normally use intc laser in Redditch, seams to be on par with other quotes. As for costs I think its best to get some quotes rather than guessing, I'd say £20 - £50 or in that price for just 1OFF

 

[badersbus]

Hi MJ.
I have used these guys a few times in the past and the price and work is excellent. Send them a mail , ask for Gary , nice guy and very helpful. He will sort one offs , from any type of drawing , i sent them a beer mat as a pattern for a project i did last year LOL.
http://www.luffman.co.uk/index.html
If i can find a pic , i will post up what he did for me

 

[badersbus]

Luffman cut the base of this model railway bridge for me. It is 1100mm long , 100mm wide , 3mm thick. You can see it is quite an inticate design. Gary charged me £30 inc material , postage and design. Took bout 2 weeks to come

 

[mjrally]

Luffman cut the base of this model railway bridge for me. It is 1100mm long , 100mm wide , 3mm thick. You can see it is quite an inticate design. Gary charged me £30 inc material , postage and design. Took bout 2 weeks to come

This looks exactly what im after! Pricing looks spot on, think ill drop him an email this week.

 

[scott0031]

If the guy did that for 30 quid, design,cam, material and the cutting, be assured he has heavily subsidised the job. They would be out of business pretty darn fast if that's typical pricing


I'm sort of a bit puzzled here why you don't gets a small piece of sheet, A hacksaw, A drill and some files and set too. From what you have described it's a plate with a hole or two in.



Kind regards,


Scott (ward engineering)

 

[badersbus]

Hi Scott.
May be so , but thats what it cost fella. I did supply an A4 size pencil drawing for him of one of the sections , and just told Gary to space it out equally along the 1100mm length.
I also had a Sheffield Wednesday "Owl " emblem before that , which was about a metre square , he did that for £40 if i remember correctly. Will post a pic if i can find it

 

[badersbus]

This is what i sent a sticker / beer mat for. He worked from that

 

[mjrally]

If the guy did that for 30 quid, design,cam, material and the cutting, be assured he has heavily subsidised the job. They would be out of business pretty darn fast if that's typical pricing


I'm sort of a bit puzzled here why you don't gets a small piece of sheet, A hacksaw, A drill and some files and set too. From what you have described it's a plate with a hole or two in.



Kind regards,


Scott (ward engineering)

I understand what your saying, and to be honest i could use my 9 inch grinder to cut all the plates, and then buy a decent hole cutter, which i may end up doing. but as im not just making 50x100mm plates, and will eventually be looking at making a pedal box and a hydraulic handbrake system. I wanted to know how much it would cost me for a bit of quality.

 

[Barney1973]

I used to work for Luffman Engineering and you can be sure he makes his money! He does alot of one off jobs as well as regular work So is able to fill up sheets with a bit of both.
He works out of a farm building on a working farm and has a laser,waterjet,plasma and oxy act cutter as well as 2 CNC presses,guillotene and a fully stocked fab shop!

 

[bump]

I used to use Covax in Burbage for repetitive stuff. Always lovely blokes to deal with, nothing was ever too much trouble.

 

[badersbus]

I used to work for Luffman Engineering and you can be sure he makes his money! He does alot of one off jobs as well as regular work So is able to fill up sheets with a bit of both.
He works out of a farm building on a working farm and has a laser,waterjet,plasma and oxy act cutter as well as 2 CNC presses,guillotene and a fully stocked fab shop!

Hi Barney.
Sorry fella, i was trying to remember who put me onto Luffman from this forum , now you mention it Chunko also has used Luffman with good results i think.
Cheers
Kirk

 

[mjrally]

I used to use Covax in Burbage for repetitive stuff. Always lovely blokes to deal with, nothing was ever too much trouble.

Ive just moved to burbage!! were abouts are they? nothing on the net.