How do I get this widget made (a small rectangular bit of 1.6mm mild steel)

[HankMcSpank]

I am wondering here if my lowly cnc machine could be pressed into service to get a reasonable finish on on the top visible edge ....drop a part into a pre cut slot on a holding jig....tighten a couple of holding screws, then run a dremel (fitted with a grinding wheel) along the top edge to a very fine depth? (the depth being so minute, that I doubt my machine would get stressed?)

[m_c]

Try it and see?
Not going to cost you much, and might produce a good enough finish for what you want.

Another option I just thought of, is cut to near size then finish on a linisher (aka belt sander) using a jig to set depth. You're not really needing the accuracy of grinding, and a linisher can produce as good a finish, but just not as accurately, but they are capable of removing metal far quicker than a surface grinder.
And thinking along similar lines, maybe a worden style of grinder?

[birchy]

I would probably get a length of flat and cut it to size with either a metal chop saw (the ones with a grinding/cutting disc) or a Rage saw. I have a Rage saw and it cuts through steel like butter.

EDIT:
Just realised the quantity is 1000+. You'd probably be better off finding someone with an automatic feeding bandsaw and get them to cut the 1.6 "length" from a 4mm thick flat. The company I used to work for some years ago had an automatic bandsaw which was accurate to 0.05mm on auto feed. The only other option I can think of would be a CNC punching machine with a custom made punch and die but you'd still have sheared edges, though you wouldn't lose material to the "kerf" of cutting processes such as sawing. If you get them made slightly over size, you could finish the edges on a surface grinder. You'd need to make a clamping jig but could do about 250 pieces in one setup.

My question is...why are you making these pickups? Maybe something ready made from here will be suitable? http://www.mojotone.com/store?search=blade&x=0&y=0

[IanS1]

A strip slitting company might be able to handle this. You would need to cut them to length though.

Stainless Steel & Mild Steel Stockists; steel cutting service etc from steel stockists UK - Reddifast West Midlands

[HankMcSpank]

Thanks for all the valuable input...lots for me to chew on.

My question is...why are you making these pickups? Maybe something ready made from here will be suitable? Search Results

A standard guitar pickup is quite tall & obviously guitar has a pickup cavity routed out the wood for them to fit...I'm wanting to make a low profile variant that sits on top of the guitar body (hence the blade needs to be rather squat) ...there ain't nothing out there in the dimensions that I seek.

[Ross77]

I'm wanting to make a low profile variant that sits on top of the guitar body (hence the blade needs to be rather squat) ...there ain't nothing out there in the dimensions that I seek.

How about getting the blades from mojotone (addiction-fx are usually cheaper if they do them) and ask some one with a guillotine to cut them down? the cut edge could go at the bottom where it wont be seen so doesn't matter if there are slight shear marks. if you could get away with cutting it in the middle you could get curved and straight from one piece.

[HankMcSpank]

I like your train of thought...and yes, I'd end up with a lovely top finish, but I'm then still back to the problem about cutting thin pieces of metal (& I'd imagine a guillotine on such a small piece of steel will see curling deformation).