I know that there are many and various skills on this forum, so here's a non-car question:

I want a few complex shapes cut from good-quality plywood, between 3mm and 5mm thick (or maybe 3mm GRP board).


Octo frame

As the picture shows, the basic outline is the shape of 2 squares on top of each other, with one rotated 45 degrees.
The size of each 'square' is near-enough 4 inches.
All of the holes are 3mm dia. apart from the big one in the middle.
I'd need a total of 6 of these shapes cut out.
I have a DWG file for this shape.

This is what it looks like (a used and battered example!):



Basically, the questions are:

Is it feasible to get this shape laser-cut?
How much is it going to cost me for 6 of them?

Ta,
David

[Edited on 20/9/11 by David Jenkins]

I've had lots of steel & ally cut by my local laser cutting place. Those shapes would be about £10 each in 2mm mild steel.
The "tech suite" in a local school that I help has a laser profiler which does 3mm ply - try asking a school (if you can)

There's a company near where I work that laser cuts plywood, Info below.

Farr Formes
Bryggen Road, King's Lynn, Norfolk PE30 2HZ
01553 762705

Don't know How much or if they will do it! Best to just give them a call.

parts for a model waterwheel?

or a clock?

how about getting andyw7de to cut that out for you on his waterjet machine ?

I've got a mate with a laser cutter that can do small stuff like that. I'll show him this thread, see if he can help, and if so put you in touch.

Cheers, Chris

whats wrong with a cnc router? less expensive and much more common.

Not many laser people will like cutting wood. Yes its possible, but most will turn you away.

If it needs doing cheaply, the way I would do it is print off the template, stick it onto the ply and then get a dremel or similar and cut round by hand. Yes may take a while, but think of the sense of achievement you will get

Problem solved - found a local chap who will do it for me...

£29 for 6 pieces (£10 set-up charge + 20-30 minutes of his time, plus the plywood) which I don't think is too unreasonable. I can pick them up when he's finished, which means that I'll save a few Pounds on delivery. The plywood is of laser-cutting grade (whatever that means).

Hopefully they'll be of decent quality...

Well - they're made...



I'm pleased - they're very well made, IMHO.

The only down-side is that my house now stinks of charred plywood.

[Edited on 22/9/11 by David Jenkins]

David,

I appreciate you posting pics of the finished items. It kind of gives closure to the thread instead of leaving people wondering how things turned out.

Cheers, Alan

What are they for?

They are the centre plates for a quadcopter - see here for more details.

They can also be used for an octocopter... 8 motors, 8 props! Too scary for me...