Hello all,

My name is Malcolm Reade and I own a (very) small plastics injection moulding Company based near Northwich in Cheshire. Ours is probably one of the oldest surviving model manufacturing companies in the UK having been founded in 1945 at the end of WW2.


We manufacture small precision components (up to 3/4 ounce) for the wholesale, retail and kit manufacturing model trades world-wide using bench-top hand/pneumatic operated injection moulding machines.


I'm looking to improve our mould making processes by using CNC routing techniques - we make our moulds from flat brass bar stock.


Brass is the material of choice, it's easier to machine than steel and requires no coolant - which tends to obscure visibility when making precision cuts at close quarters. We also find that (contrary to expectations) that brass is extremely durable with very little wear in use.


Some of our moulds have been in constant (almost daily) use since the early 1950's and were made by my late father mostly on a Myford ML7 lathe equipped with a vertical milling slide.


We have moved on from that era to some extent in that we now have a small milling machine, hydraulic press etc. to complement the original equipment.


I have been reluctant to buy an "off the Shelf" CNC Router - most are Chinese Imports and probably have very little, if any, available UK based technical support, and I have been absolutely horrified by the prices charged by UK based manufacturers.


I guess the best option would be for me to build one? I am a professionally registered engineer with nearly 50 years experience, (mechanical, control engineering, instrumentation etc.) so this sort of project shouldn't be beyond by abilities.


We only need a very small bench-top CNC router, our maximum component size is probably only 2 inches high x 3 inches long x (say) 3/4 inch deep. Smaller components are often manufactured in multiples in the same mould though.


Our maximum mould size is 3 inches high x 4 inches wide x 2 inches deep.


Could any of you kind folks point me in the right direction please?


Regards


Malcolm Reade
www.reademodels.com