Cheap/free CNC Machine Access...

[Colin McGregor]

--- Howard Gibson <hgibson-MwcKTmeKVNQ at public.gmane.org> wrote:

> On Mon, 6 Feb 2006 12:49:16 -0500 (EST)
> Colin McGregor <colinmc151-bJEeYj9oJeDQT0dZR+AlfA at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> 
> > I am looking for cheap or ideally free access to a
> CNC
> > (Computer Numerical Control) cutting machine for
> doing
> > metal Linux case badges.
> > 
> > I am a big fan of tagging my home machines showing
> > that they are running Linux, to the point were a
> few
> > years ago I ordered 20  case badges from these
> folks:
> > http://www.scotgold.com/ (I then sold off the
> badges I
> > didn't need at a GTALug meeting). Since then I
> have
> > been on the look out for interesting case badges.
> > There used to be an Australian firm "Silicon
> Breeze"
> > that offered Linux related cast metal case badges,
> but
> > they do not appear to be in business any more. So,
> > when ran across the following I was interested:
> > 
> >
>
http://www.tep.org.uk/PDF/TEP_Pewter_Bulletin_No2.pdf
> > 
> > Pay attention to the image in the upper left
> corner of
> > page 4. This is almost exactly the sort of thing
> that
> > would make for a great case badge, a 1" x 1" (or
> if
> > you prefer 25mm x 25mm) square with a raised image
> of
> > Tux...
> > 
> > The problem here being that I need a mold, and I
> am
> > not a big carver. So, I am looking for access to a
> > very cheap, or if possible free CNC (Computer
> > Numerical Control) machine, where I figure my way
> > through putting together a file as to what is to
> be
> > cut and the machine cuts the mold, and then I take
> > things from there.
> > 
> > Anyone have any ideas? Suggestions?
> > 
> > Thanks in advance.
> > 
> > Colin McGregor 
> 
> Colin,
> 
>    I am a mechanical designer.  I send things out to
> shops all the time.  Machine shops and sheet metal
> shops have all gone over to CNC.  Virtual mistakes
> are way cheaper than real ones. Any machine shops
> should be able to do something for you.  
> 
>    Even the desktop CNC machines cost $10K to $20K
> each, so you should not anticipate a price break. 
> Most machine shops want DXF files, which you can
> generate using QCAD on Linux. 

Well, I now have QCAD on my main home Linux box, now
to work my way through learning that...

>    Another thing you can try is NOVA Product
> Development Services at http://www.novaproduct.com. 
> They do rapid prototyping using Stereo Laser
> Lithography.  Again, they will not be dirt cheap. 

Pity, I had hopes that someone here might have access
to such a machine and volunteer, or someone might know
something I had not turned up in my research...

>    There are plastic casting kits out there.  You
> can always try an internet search.  
> 
>    Unless you have artwork prepared, there is no way
> around artistic talent.  

Well, I don't claim to be very artistic, but figuring
my way through creating a CAD file that has a Tux
image from say:

http://www.isc.tamu.edu/~lewing/linux/

reduced down to say 21 mm ... that I think I can do...
basically tell the machine if it is black mill it out
to a depth of x mm...

Colin McGregor
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