Full Billet Switch Plates:...Please...
GTR Member
Joined: April 20, 2005
Posts: 4,660
Likes: 2
From: Tampa,FL
Bullitt Member
Joined: June 15, 2008
Posts: 448
Likes: 1
From: NY
I would think you guys could machine some molds instead of machining each individual part and then cast the parts. After casting you could do some small machine work and get the same results.
I am a geek as well as gearhead. One of my favorite manufacturers of water blocks (water blocks that are made of copper that cool hot parts of a computer) recently invested in some molds. His operating cost were cut down with large volume, as well as cost of metal was cut down. Mind you this is a copper part with parts that are no thicker than a few hairs and the price per block is around 60bux and thats after the sky high price of copper, machining and making a derlin cast top $ stainless steel hardware and fittings. These are the ne manufacturers. Swiftech is my personsal fav though. http://www.dtekcustoms.com/ as well as http://www.swiftnets.com/
Look into casting some parts. They could definitly work out cheeper as well as easier to produce.
I am a geek as well as gearhead. One of my favorite manufacturers of water blocks (water blocks that are made of copper that cool hot parts of a computer) recently invested in some molds. His operating cost were cut down with large volume, as well as cost of metal was cut down. Mind you this is a copper part with parts that are no thicker than a few hairs and the price per block is around 60bux and thats after the sky high price of copper, machining and making a derlin cast top $ stainless steel hardware and fittings. These are the ne manufacturers. Swiftech is my personsal fav though. http://www.dtekcustoms.com/ as well as http://www.swiftnets.com/
Look into casting some parts. They could definitly work out cheeper as well as easier to produce.
Legacy Tms Member
Joined: January 9, 2005
Posts: 2,037
Likes: 2
Casting is a viable option, but it is realistically for larger lot runs than what we normally run, plus it's very difficult without getting into the pressure casting methods and such to get good grain structure for finishing (porosity, voids, etc).
If we were making 1000's of these, it might be another story, but a lot of our pieces are actually pretty small runs when compared to real production work.
UNRELATED UPDATE
Parts are looking really nice - we have a couple more angles to adjust and clean up work in a couple spots, but the driver's side is almost complete. Passenger is a mirror image (need new fixtures, but not difficult) with a difference in the pocket size.
Given the mix of votes on the top-side pinstripes, this is what we're going to do...
Anyone who wants "non-striped" sets, we will do a special run where we eliminate that tool from the process. There will be no additional charge for this, but we will ask for payment in advance just like any other special order. These will be processed with our first run of parts, so you will get them at the same time as everyone else. Standard production pieces will have the pinstripes. Of course we haven't set prices yet, so no worries until we get to that stage.
Oh, and installed on our test door panels, these babies look sweet!!
If we were making 1000's of these, it might be another story, but a lot of our pieces are actually pretty small runs when compared to real production work.
UNRELATED UPDATE
Parts are looking really nice - we have a couple more angles to adjust and clean up work in a couple spots, but the driver's side is almost complete. Passenger is a mirror image (need new fixtures, but not difficult) with a difference in the pocket size.
Given the mix of votes on the top-side pinstripes, this is what we're going to do...
Anyone who wants "non-striped" sets, we will do a special run where we eliminate that tool from the process. There will be no additional charge for this, but we will ask for payment in advance just like any other special order. These will be processed with our first run of parts, so you will get them at the same time as everyone else. Standard production pieces will have the pinstripes. Of course we haven't set prices yet, so no worries until we get to that stage.
Oh, and installed on our test door panels, these babies look sweet!!
