[imp22b]

I work in the maintenance department of a "paper processing" company with 120+ employees. Currently we send any machine work we need done out to a local machine shop. This is usually 2-4 (sometime more) pieces a month. Most of the work is modifying an existing metal block or making a spacer etc... Most of the the work is fairly simple.

I am trying to find out if it would be worth it to buy a mill or etc.. or keep using a machine shop. Currently the only things we have in our shop is a junk Jet drill press, a vertical ban saw, a horizontal ban saw, welders, and plasma cutter. We would still send out the "big jobs" but for emergency repairs and making spacers and the little things. I don't think its worth the trouble of having to drive 10 min to a machine shop then having to drive back a few hours later to pick a part up.

What are your thoughts on this?

I'm new to machining and don't really know how much they change per hour to do work. I have been told the main reason we don't get a mill is the cost of tooling (bits and etc..) and that our time (the maintenance dept's) is worth more. I don't believe that... Hell, I work 3rd shift and sit around the shop 1/3 of the time anyways, might as well get some machining done.