I love to build new things, but .....

[PowerNaudio]

i found it trough Google though. lol, if i was them i would do the same thing, networking.

[harryn]

Ok, just MHO.

First, my son did some purchases through alibaba. Sometimes it works out, but at least 60 % of the time, it does not.

Second - The attraction of widgit's product is that it is built in a first world country. The day that widgit starts sourcing from China, is the day that I stop considering buying.

There are already plenty of China sourced parts and machines around for those who want that type of build where price is the first priority. Maybe a flood would be a better term.

[widgitmaster]

Originally Posted by harryn The day that widgit starts sourcing from China, is the day that I stop considering buying.

Thank you!
Widgit

[mnd]

Originally Posted by widgitmaster Last evening I had a brainstorm! What if I were to build aluminum strips shaped like an upside down T, and put a T-Slot in the center of the top edge. Then place several of them in rows about 4" apart, and connect them to an aluminum rail on the ends. Then people could cut strips of plywood or MDF and screw them to the bottom of the T, making as large a T-Slot plate as needed! This idea saves on material, as large plates of Aluminum are expensive!

This looks like an extrusion to me.

I bet folks doing MDF machines might be interested in buying it by the foot.

May be interesting to find a quote and see how much you'd need to order to get a good price on it.

[BMG]

You mentioned Castings - since you already can create your own templates, you ought to look around your immediate surrounds for a casting job shop here in the 1st world. From my back door alone, I can access 3 different limited run casters within 3 miles.

Key is to make models of critical parts you want casted, bring em to them as find out what they can produce them for. Many of these job shops also have machining centers as well and can finish the casting to your spec. The price will certainly be higher than CHina but I bet you can beat the shipping cost and turnaround time.

Within my county, I know of casting shops that work in every metal from scrap aluminum to freshly minted billets of all metals.

Don't discount castings until you look around first. You might be surprised.


BMG

[widgitmaster]

I guess I'm still toying with the idea of building a big, all steel unit.



Low Carbon Blanchard Ground Flat Stock
Width: 24"
Thickness: 1/2"
Length: 24"
Material: Steel - AISI Type C1018
MSC # 86057247 | Big Book Page 1759
Price: $621.83 ea
Mfr: Made in USA



After spending all that cash, I would still need to mill the edges square, mill the T-Slots, and drill & c-bore several holes on the perimeter!

This is a lot of work as a plate like this does tend to get heavy! Ouch!

Then I need to order the plates to frame our the base, allowing for the mounting of linear slide blocks. Next, order two more plates which will become the sides, along with a plate to connect them. Then I need to make the Y & Z-axis.

I still don't think people will buy such a machine!
How would I ship something like that, not cheap I'm sure!

Widgit

[pstockley]

Why not make the base from a small granite surface plate. You can buy them really cheap on eBay. I have done some experiments with them and it is easy to drill them with masonary bits and epoxy in stepped steel inserts from the underside. Flatness shouldn't be a problem! and they will damp vibrations nicely.

[widgitmaster]

Well, majority Rules!
So I started another router out of aluminum, its top plate is 24x24 and has a work area of 19x19x9 !
Here is the post address:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52420

[Alex2005]

I can't stand Chinese products they are such poor quality, worryingly though Japan and Taiwan were similar in their early days but now they turn out good stuff especially Japan.
Is that going to happen with China and they rule the world?

Taiwan is quite good these days with an affordable price tag. Hiwin and ABBA rails are good both Taiwan.

I cant think of any Japanese industrial company now that manufactures poor quality, they would sooner jump in front of a train than sell rubbish, there honour and reputation is to be admired.

I really think England has to get its act together there is no support for industry, we used to have great engineers and our machine tools were very good, we got nothing now (commercially I mean, there are some knowledgeable chaps on the forum and people working in their sheds) but look on ebay at the CNC machines made by English companies, its just a bunch of poorly assembled crap, made of cheap Chinese parts, by lame pen pushers.

Sorry for the negativeness but I have this on my mind a lot. Maybe the world is just changing.