Need Idea's for CNC mill
 

Well, As I am loosing my job in Oct, I need to spend more time in my home shop. Powdercoating is a sideline, not enough work to sustain us. I have a little CNC mill here too, 14"X 8"Y6"Z travel. not large, but it is pretty accutate. Now, Im wondering what things I could make? I have had the mill for about 7 years now, and allways find it tough to come up with the ideas.

So, What does Canreefers want/need? The mill cut's Alum pretty well, but Acrylic and plastic it cuts awesome. I also have a router head attachment for it.

Throw some ideas at me.

filter trays for sumps
custom slip fit spray nozzles/splitters

mounting brackets for common light fixtures

long handled scraper rod that can hold common credit cards

mounts for both rimless and eurobraced tanks to hold probes, heaters, powerheads etc

Make yourself some phosban and carbon reactors, Frag rack etc

VR

I wouldn't bother too much with aquarium related products, most hobbyists are used to paying for Chinese mass production. It's like bubble king vs euro reef or vertex. Sure some people will go for the BK because the supreme quality but most stick with cheaper alternatives. Even if you go with something completely new you'll have a hard time selling it unless it's an absolute necessity. CNC is all about quantity if you want to turn a profit, making the odd thing here and there for Joe and Bill won't pay the bills.

I would suggest making small brochures that demonstrate the services you can provide, then dropping them off at small local manufacturing companies. I work at a smaller manufacturing company and we supply work to someone just like you, he has a small shop in his garage and does plastic machining. He makes all our plastic handles and electronic housings for many of our products. We like using him over larger machine shops mainly because he's cheaper but also because he provides shorter delivery times, has better quality, and stands behind his work.

I was mostly detailing what he was building for me =)

I'm not in the know...but what you're saying sounds about right.

Custom heatsinks comes to mind for the DIY LED market. Check out the lighting forum on nano-reef.com to see what I mean.

Heat-sinks are cast, the cost to machine one from a solid plate of aluminum would not only be extremely wasteful but also cost a fortune in comparison. People usually do it themselves to save money not to spend more.

Photo boxes, filtersock holders, custom grates for overflows, acclimation boxes, feeding stations, really unique nano and pico tanks, etc.

yes i'd def be interested in a custom overflow machined from black acrylic. Can your machine read any vector formats such as EPS or AI?

2 dimensional cuts in thinner material is more efficient using laser cutting. I got mine done for my tank for $24 including the material.

WOW, theres some things hehe, I guess I gotta find a supplier for acrylic :D


Yes, Laser is more efficient, but I dont have one :(.

My machine reads whatever I code into it LOL. It runs in G-code. I make my dwgs in Autocad .dxf then convert it. Not familiar with Vector n stuff. All self taught on this, Thk god for Google HAHAHA

Tell me about it, I have 20 of them and looking for another.

I might be interested in the cut pieces for an overflow box as well at some point. I can do the cementing myself.

For myself I've made (all while laid off):
2 Kalkwasser reactors
Calcium reactor effluent chamber
Protein Skimmer waste collector with shut off device

Look into the world of radio controll, there are obsessive scale addicts that will pay top dollar for scale components for rc cars and trucks, all perfect for a machine the size of what you have, I know alum rims for the trucks go for anywhere between $80-$300 for a set, I spend quite a bit of time on one particular forum, pm me if you want more info.

flanges and lids for DIY reactors.

And here's a neat base idea

Funny you say that. THAT"S why I bought my mill in the first place. I was making Carbon Fiber parts. I have a few RC/s here too.(3 nitro's and 1 electric) Way to much $$$ invested in them
But, like everytihng else, It is hard to compete with the Chinese import parts. Not much market in the "toy" department for really high end stuff.

Reasonably priced kits to build another CNC :)

There's most of the bits n pieces in the garage for mine (just need the motors & drives) - 24x24 cutting area sliding gantry (3" channel construction), 4hp plunge router, skate bearing on angle slides; 1" acme screws... Yes I believe in overbuilding :D Unfortunately thats why it sits without electrics... Cuz I haven't found anything I can afford to drive the darn thing...

My .02 - Rebuild your CNC out of something water resistant... Add a water feed and a good quality diamond bit... NanoReefers seem to be willing to pay ridiculous $ for custom built tanks. Having those nice CNC cuts (use the right bit and your edges come out almost polished) and doing professional silicone work - takes a while to build up your rep - but in time could lead to an eventual semi-steady income...

CNC nano tanks huh? Hmm. My mill is waterproof. I use a constant spray on the cutting tool. I just cant see the cost effectiveness of CNC cutting glass, just for a polished edge? Now, glass overflows.. I've allways wanted a full length CNC table, but never had the room

Look at the rave reviews elite gets for his tank/sumps - those are all cut with CNC... It's the clean edges, smooth transitions (cuts you can't get with a scriber), accurate positions on the bulkhead sites - then add in the professional assembly, that's why he gets sales he does... There are lots of nice cuts you can do with a CNC you can't do scribing/breaking...

You've probably tried to add eggcrate to your own overflow top - take a hunk of glass, and draw yourself a nice slotted screen for the top of that glass - then ask yourself if you'd rather that or black eggcrate siliconed onto the top :)

Volute covers to convert a Laguna/askoll pump into a skimmer pump are going for $149 US a piece with a pinwheel. Check Marine Solutions. Apparently the Laguna is similar to the Red Dragon. I'm in the market for one of the converted Askoll pumps myself to replace the Sicce on my skimmer.

Hmm, have to look into these pumps, Thats somehting I could get into making. Where can a guy get one?

The Laguna 1500 is a common pond pump. There is a whole thread on RC about how the Red Dragon drive is built by Laguna/Askoll. I was reading it last night. I'll look for it when I get home. Considering the price of a Red Dragon, a
good replacement is attractive. Can you make titanium shafts?

That's the one. Thanks Mark!

The whole titanium shaft thing is a CROCK in some respects. I was really disappointed when my BK arrived and I saw the ceramic shaft inside the pump. You read in so many places on so many sites under the specs about this titanium shaft. I've heard in one case that it's special order and a lot more money. Someone else told me they had issues with it and it's just not used anymore.

Fact is my RD2000 is ceramic shaft.

After a quick peek around a few sites I see all mention of that's been removed and rightfully so.

Wow. That would really disappoint me too if I was expecting a titanium shaft. You hear it hyped so much.

The new versions have titanium shafts, but they are not available in Canada yet. Should be soon though, sometime before the new year. This is likely where the confusion came from, overseas they have titanium shafts but they still have ceramic in NA.

Ti shafts may be a possibility, for sure

In the RC pump thread they mention cutting down titanium Tig welding rods for shafts.

OK, Really intriuged on these Laguna pumps. Where in Canada can I get them? Mail Order? Would Total Pet be able to order them in? Read somewhere there Hagen sub brand?

TIG electrodes are Tungsten, not Titanium. I just happen to work in a Tungsten Mine. BUT, Tungsten IS a perfect metal for shafts too, It is Inert, and has the highest melting point of all metals. Won't corrode in SW. Just make sure you use PURE Tungsten Electrodes. Most electrodes have other stuff in them, like thorium(lightly radioactive) :surprise: Zirconium, Lanthanum, etc

Laguna is a Hagen product and should be available at Total Pet.

LMAO, Ya, my bad, FILLER Rod, not the electrodes for the torch head. DUHH My bad

http://www.landscapesupply.ca/produc...t.php?pid=4177

Link to Laguna pumps supplier and pump manual

Thx Pterfloth. Ive been doing some research here instead of working LOL, don't tell my boss. I just might buy a Lathe too, then I'll REALLY be in buisness hehe. Just a small one, 9"x20" or so.
Bandit Skimmers.....Hmmmmm:lol:

That's fine. I'm supposed to be working too.:biggrin: