All MetalShaping

Go Back   All MetalShaping > GETTING STARTED > Introductions
  Today's Posts Posts for Last 7 Days Posts for Last 14 Days  

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 05-05-2009, 05:11 PM
Operations Team Operations Team is offline
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 41
Default Dan Stevens (Steelsmith)

Thought I'd come over here to see what else is going on in the metalshaping world. My name is Dan Stevens, from Nampa Idaho. I have interests in metalshaping by traditional methods, by press forming and any other way that can enhance/broaden my metalshaping results.
I am currently tooling up for some grille parts I'm manufacturing. The molds are composite, much like a hammer form. The dies are urethane. The press is a screw press of about 25-30 tons.
The material is 3003 aluminum 1/8" thick. When doing this type of press work, there is substantial hammer work between pressings. A traditional hydraulic press could do this kind of work much easier, but the tooling costs for steel molds/dies would be beyond my reach. As it is, I am waay pushing my budget. The materials cost is reasonable but the time involved is pretty extreme for such low volume items. I can only speculate that I can make back my investment over time.

You may be wondering, why bother? Lots of weldor/fabricators out of work around here. With 32 years experience, I'm viewed as expensive help. They can hire new less experienced help, at a rate of two to one of me. In this economy my best bet is to do some manufacturing as well as panel shaping out of my own shop. So, I'm always open to new ways of getting the job done/thinking outside of the box.

Hope to pick up an idea or two here that may help me find my own 'Magic Bullet' type product that keeps the wolves away from the door.

Dan Stevens
dba, Steelsmith
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:38 PM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.