Need A Quote- Single unit prototype quote

[tjd10684]

My name is Thomas Detka and I am the founder a small business specializing in paintball equipment, Six Sigma Paintball. I am requesting a quote for the cost of producing a simplified prototype of a possible production model. This is a highly simplified prototype of a more complex product that I am expecting to produce. Only one unit is necessary to be fabricated to meet my needs for testing.

Depending on test results, a fully complete product would need to be produced, perhaps more than one unit. I would like to use the same fabricator for the prototype and completed unit as this is a proprietary product, therefore future business is a distinct possibility.

As for file formats I am able to submit, I can produce DWG files and Solidworks models or drawings as well as most other solid model formats.
If you are interested i can send you a rough drawing in pdf format asap. Please contact me at tjd10684@gmail.com. Also if possible we would like the shop to be located near Pittsburgh PA or within driving distance although all inquires will be considered.

when looking at the drawing if something can be done that would make production easier as long as the over all shape is not compromised we would be willing to let the shop make any changes they see fit.

Thank you for your time,

Thomas Detka

Edit: I just added a pdf with dimensions so that it would be easier to quote.

[paul gibson]

Thomas,

What material would you require, and what is the depth of the placement on the .098 wide groove?

P.G.

[Donkey Hotey]

I don't know what you're expecting for a ball-park price on that quote, but I'd guess that one of these guys trying to just put food on his table would need to charge you $1000 for one set of five parts (there's at least a week worth of work in there--plus materials and cutters). You might even get two full sets for $1,500.

If you can't get anybody interested that sounds like they can do what you need, I'll make you two sets of parts for $5,000. I won't even pretend that I'm the cheapest. I won't give away my machine time or knowledge, but you'll get the parts you asked for and as much production advice as I can offer. I'll help you simplify or alter the design and help you simplify the number of production steps to reduce cost in the final productionized version, but my costs are based on more than $30/hour.

[Dualkit]

$1,000 Donkey? Are you nuts. I would bet you dinner of your choice if this RFQ
stays open long enough some bozo will bid these at less than $50 a piece. I am
not talking 3rd world country people either. I saw a 4 part package once, much smaller parts, but with the same detail go for $20. Fool thought he would score
a big production run when the prototypes worked. Funny thing the guy is out of business now. These are jobs I could do a decent price but once I found how much under market rate these kind go for I don't even bid.

[Donkey Hotey]

Hey, I don't know who is going to bid the jobs, but the guy needs a price. I threw one out there. I think $1000 is a fair price to make exactly what's on those drawings and it should take about a week to complete (based on all the setups necessary for some of those parts).

Even at $50/part, that's $250 for the job. I don't think he'll get parts that will actually work (fit together and perform as expected) for $250. The function of a paintball gun will demand some precise tolerances on certain areas. He can get it done for less than $1000 but the prototype won't work, or the person who did it will not own their machines long enough to see the product through to production.

I offered a real solution. Since I'm obviously not aggressive about winning the job, you may now step in and underbid me at $900 and I'll meet you at In-n-Out for a burger (Dutch).

[SmokinErb]

I used to work for a company in Saxonburgh PA, we used to make paintball marker parts. Their name is Cygnus Mfg. Its a good company. might be expensive but sending a RFQ couldn't hurt http://www.cmc-usa.com
If I still lived up there I would do my best to help you out.

[Donkey Hotey]

Originally Posted by Dualkit $1,000 Donkey? Are you nuts.

I showed this RFQ to a friend yesterday. He thought $1000 was a giveaway price. As we looked at it more, there are internal grooves, deep-bore drilling (with tight finish requirements, I"m sure, to keep from breaking the paintballs) and even rotary broaching on the ends of two of the parts.

Somebody would have to already own a bunch of specialized tools and the rotary broaching bit in the right size, in order to 'give this job away.'

I'm not trying to bash the RFQ. I'm trying to put it into perspective so he understands why some of the quotes are going to sound really high, for parts that might seem simple to a non-machinist.

If he can get the job done cheaply, more power to him. That'll have to be one well equipped and under worked shop, to price it lower.