Machining services for simple one-off parts?

[robgreaves]

Hi guys

I am looking to have made a brass coupling to attach my Robofocus motor to my TOA150 - basically a piece of brass (which I have) to have an 8mm hole drilled in one end, and a 3/16" hole in the other, both of course in line and concentric. I can do the cross-drilling and tapping for a grub screw.

Do you know of any small machining companies that will tackle small one off jobs like this? There is PreciseParts in the USA who advertise in S&T that they do scope bits, but I'd rather deal with a company in Australia.

Any info welcome. I'm in the Sydney area of NSW.

Thanks - Rob.

[MrB (Simon)]

I can do it for you if you fancy a drive to Perth
I recommend you take a wander thru a light industrial area on a Friday afternoon and hunt for a small jobbing engineering firm, they could do that for you in about 5 mins, probably cost you a carton.
Or, do a search for any local Model Engineering clubs, the kind of clubs with small steam trains that take kids for a ride, they have their own workshops and/or have members with workshops and will also only take a few mins to do that.

Here's a club listing for NSW

[robgreaves]

Thanks for the info... will look into that. Also, there are a plethora of small industrial units round here, so will have a look round and see if I can find something local. Yellow pages wasn't much help! - they seem to list only the bigger players with higher advertising budgets.

I made one of the couplings I need in a friend's lathe, but it seems there are some alignment issues between the chuck and the tailsotck, which resulted in an eccentric-running coupling.

I might even look at buying another lathe - will be handy for future projects and one of my other hobbies of messing with gas turbine engines.

Regards,
Rob.

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by robgreaves

I might even look at buying another lathe - will be handy for future projects and one of my other hobbies of messing with gas turbine engines.

Ditto
Very slowly piecing one together. Need another bout of enthusiasm.
Chinese lathes are very cheap now, have a Sieg C3 lathe(7x14) and X2 mill, they're a bit on the small side but suit me fine.
The Sieg C4 has had great reviews since its release. Wasn't around when I got my C3 from Carbatech.

[Tandum (Robin)]

I found a guy by asking my local car service center who they used to get small machining jobs done

[robgreaves]

Robin

Good idea - could be a good avenue to pursue.

MrB - did you mean the new lathe, or dabbling in turbines? If the latter, I have a Wren MW54 Mk2, 12lbs thrust, 160,000rpm and absolutely screams with its supersonic throughput. Thanks for the review link too...

Regards,
Rob

[MrB (Simon)]

Ah, Nice! the Mk2's have an impressive increase in thrust over the Mk1's, nice new diffusers in them too.
I'm building one that's slightly smaller than the Wren (50mm compressor), should be finished sometime in the next few decades
After that, hopefully, will be a 40mm, then a 33mm.

[astroturf (Bryan)]

Hi

I had a mounting flange made for my moonlite focuser

by an engineering shop on Roberts rd Greenacre, eastern side going south 500 m before the caltex servo, if you want to come that far

These guys were very reasonable & pretty quick too

Bryan

[TrevorW]

Look up someone who doea scale locomotive building or the like they usually have lathes and I found I guy in Perth that was also into astronomy so sometimes when I need something done I ask ???

[tempestwizz (Brian)]

There's an Oz place in Melbourne - 'Starstuff' advertised in the Links section. Luke Bellami is a keen astro guy, and does a range of stuff. Started out doing it for himself in retirement, now does stuff for others.I've bought from him. He may be able to help.

HTH

BC Canberra

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by MrB

Ah, Nice! the Mk2's have an impressive increase in thrust over the Mk1's, nice new diffusers in them too.
....

Erm... 'tis the mk3 and supersport with the new diffuser.