Casting and CNC Information?

[Bulbous]

Hi all,

I know this is not really a bike project, I am starting my backyard railway, and have a long term project with building a live steam engine in 1/8th scale. What I am chasing is someone who has access to a CNC machine, or who knows someone who is able to cast items in either ductile iron, grey iron, bronze or 1045 steel.

I use Solidworks at home to model parts in 3D, and that program is able to output to various formats, such that most g-code programs would be able to produce the cutting paths easily enough for a CNC machine. most of the work really only needs a CNC router at this stage, as any relief on the rear of the parts for now will be added via the lathe. If anyone knows who to contact, it would be greatly appreciated.

I have started on the wheels for this engine, and have had quotes ranging from $450 per wheel plus material, through to $900 each. I am providing the modelling, and will happily pay for material at a decent rate, but $80 for a blank is rediculous, especially when there is a guy in the states who can sell a rough cast wheel almost exactly right for $80US, and it would be to my door for $136US per wheel. The sizing is 26cm in diameter (ten inches) and about 3cm thick at most. The outer rim would be finished on a lathe, so the details there would not necessarily need to be done on the CNC or casting process.

The wheels images are attached, and I require two of the main drivers (big counterweight) and six of the smaller ones (smaller counterweight). I was hoping for a rough casting to come in at around $130-160 each, and I can finish them on the lathe, or the CNC ones to come in around $220-ish each. The ductile iron and grey iron should not be hard on the cutting heads at all, but the steel may.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to message me here, or email to Matt.Hopper@Leicon.com.au - or call 0422 477 561.

Cheers,

Matt

[Desmo]

Send me a pm baldy, at work at the moment, but I know a guy with a homegrown mill and lathe that he's pretty handy with.
Mostly into his RC helicopters, but this is in the same vein.

[Bulbous]

Thanks Jim, but i have now found a bloke with a CNC router who will produce the patterns in HDPE plastic for me, and a casting mob in Bayswater who will cast each wheel for around $140 in ductile iron...... That leaves just the lathe work for the mating surfaces, but i will just give Gav a call - he's the man...... Hopefully a lathe for myself is coming soon, but will see about Christmas time maybe...... the problem is that the wheels need a 12 inch (300mm) swing over the bed to clear everything, and those lathes are fewer on the ground......

[SIR sparks a lot]

300mm aint to much most of the new lathes have removable track so you can get larger dia material in so it shouldnt be a problem to find one

[shikanery]

Any quotes, Ive been an NC Programmer/ Production Manager for a few years. Let me know I know some of the best in town with all the axis you need.