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Thread: New Guy With Question About Router/Mill Option?

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    Default New Guy With Question About Router/Mill Option?

    First post here and please forgive my "newbie-ness". I have ZERO experience with any of this. Let me first tell you what I'm looking for assistance with. I could possibly be posting the wrong section.

    Information on the possibility of using an automated machine of some sort for making pistol grips.

    Right now, I have a small/hobbyist business making and selling custom wood pistol grips. I make these grips 100% by hand. I use a template to draw the outline of the grip on a piece of wood. I mark the screw holes with a punch and drill them out using a drill press. I cut the outline using a bandsaw. And I round/contour the surface using a stationary benchsander. This takes me about 1 hour to 1.5 hours, not counting finish sanding and applying the coats of finish.

    Here are the reasons that I'm inquiring about some kind of automated system.
    1. Repeatability (making grips by hand, there are always some variances, especially in screw hole placement which means the grips will not fit at all)
    2. Efficiency
    3. The requests for checkering the surface. (hand checkering is extremely labor intensive)

    Is there something small scale that doesn't cost thousands of dollars that would fit what I am looking for? Even though it's for production, orders are typically no more than 5 to 10 sets of grips per month. I have a full time career and just do this as a hobby/side business. Is this even something that is feasible?

    I have tried working with machinests and cabinetmakers in my city who all have more than enough equipment to do what I'm talking about. But they want to charge way too much to do these things for me and they will not allow me to be trained and use their equipment. I'm running out of options.

    Any help would be very greatly appreciated!

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    Member ger21's Avatar
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    Any small router should be able to do what you want. The hardest part may be doing the 3D modeling you'll need, and learning the CAM software.

    Gerry

    UCCNC 2017 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2017.html[/URL]

    Mach3 2010 Screenset
    [URL]http://www.thecncwoodworker.com/2010.html[/URL]

    JointCAM - CNC Dovetails & Box Joints
    [URL]http://www.g-forcecnc.com/jointcam.html[/URL]

    (Note: The opinions expressed in this post are my own and are not necessarily those of CNCzone and its management)


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    Try a zen bot

    Here is an example
    eBay Item number: 320650503178

    Here is web site: http://www.zenbotcnc.com/merchant2/

    Last edited by zool; 02-03-2011 at 11:02 AM. Reason: Added web site link


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New Guy With Question About Router/Mill Option?

New Guy With Question About Router/Mill Option?