Hey guys, I'm looking into a picking up a CNC Machine for making flange like items. I'm not looking to get into making flanges but items of similar size and thickness and some smaller. I have wanted to start making chinese throwing stars for some time as I have a market for them.

For example:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NINJA-THROWING-S...d#ht_500wt_976

What do you think would be a good machine to start with right now. Looking for something used, dependable and as affordable as possible.

Hope to hear from you guys.

thanks in advance,
Joshua

 

what is your budget?

 

The only way you are going to have any margin selling $15 throwing stars is going to be cutting them on a laser or water jet machine and than using a saw blade grinder to sharpen them. You could likely get this equipment used for around $100k together right now. But unless you can sell thousands of these things, you are going to be a looking at a pretty long ROI.

 

Yeah, if you are only cutting flat 2 dimensional pieces, with no elevations or grooves, then a water jet or laser is the best way to go. The main determining factor between the two would be how thick of a material will you be working with the most, and whether the material you are using is heat sensitive, i.e. will the edge hardening of the laser machine cause more headaches when you go to sharpen the stars or other finish machining?

 

I used to program 3 and 5 axis waterjets at a job shop and we would cut stuff like that all the time. Waterjets don't add heat but you have piles of used garnet you need to get rid of and a lazer will cut 150% faster. Plus the waterjets require a lot of maintenance since it is a giant erosion machine. Get a lazer or plasma if you want cheap

 

Budget is approximately $5,000 - $10,000 to start with but I can also get financing if needed. But keep in mind I am just looking for something to get started with and go from there.

I am not going to be just making $15 throwing stars, that was just an example of one of the things I was looking into making because there is a decent market for them and I have always had a love for martial arts and cars. That will probably count for less than 1% of what I would be machining.

Other items will be custom made to order to the customers specs and I also want to start making items like what is linked below to help pay the bills as I get established.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY...Q5fAccessories

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Custo...Q5fCarQ5fParts

http://cgi.ebay.com/Billet-Aluminum-...item3efa42ffdf

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Custo...Q5fAccessories

Items I will be making will range from $1 to over $200 depending on material, size, quantity, etc. and I just want to get some info on what machine would be the best for the job for the money I have to work with. Any info will be very much appreciated!

thanks again in advance!

 

www.haascnc.com
www.hurco.com

you are going to have to buy used to stay even remotely close to that budget. your tooling is probably going to cost close to $5k. don't forget software to design and program everything. mastercam goes for well over $5k i'm sure. training to use everything, another $2k+. you're going to be probably somewhere in the range of $75k-$100k before you make a single part. good luck!

 

Make a supply deal with an existing manufacturer and spend your money on product. 15k is little to nothing for machine related business startup. The other thing to consider is establishing a sales volume before you go and finance a bunch of machinery. My first year I had $400k in machinery and $86k in sales. *** backwards and very dumb. Took years to climb out of that.

 

Mastercam is more like $12-13K, but there are cheaper alternatives. Haas has great machines for the price, but I would deffinately shop around for something used. Just make sure you do your research so you don't end up with a money pit thats constantly breaking down.

Look into contracting some of that work out to generate some income first, then go from there. You may not make much money or you may break even but its a chance to get a feeler for the market you are selling to without investing in machines that will sit idle if parts don't sell.

 

^ Good advice right there! Contract it out.

 

I'd think China probably has a pretty solid grip on the Chinese start market.

 

heh