Die Set Build

[Maplehead]

Hi All
From my last thread I proved for myself that I could press a simple cover without wrinkles and tears.
The drawing attached here is for the real neck pickup cover die set.
Does anybody know where I can get these five parts CNC milled for an affordable rate?
Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

[derf]

Why do they need to be CNC milled?

 

[Maplehead]

Why do they need to be CNC milled?

Hi Derf
The curves. I have a micro-manual mill.
It’s not just the inside and outside sides that need to be milled on curves but also the .031” radius on top of the punch curves and the .125” radius on the die curves. I envision milling this myself would take weeks. Plus, I want this in steel and my micro mill can’t handle that.

 

[JimDawson]

Do you have a solid model of the parts? When do you need them? A2 tool steel OK?

 

[Maplehead]

Do you have a solid model of the parts? When do you need them? A2 tool steel OK?

Hi Jim
I have these drawings and individual drawings for each part and I had 3D printed covers made for a test. They worked well.
I need my neck and bridge pickup covers to finally complete my first model of guitar. So the sooner I can press the covers the sooner I can start selling my guitars.
I’m sure any steel is fine. My test die set I made was aluminum. It worked well.

 

[JimDawson]

OK, I opened it in Fusion rather than AutoCAD and it is a 3D model, so good there.

I suggest A2 tool steel to allow heat treating and polishing. Any soft material will eventually gall and cause issues in quality of the part. A2 is easy to machine and dimensionally stable in heat treat.

I have some open machine time, so good there.

I'll send a PM later with a bid, I need to go set up a job on the lathe right now.

 

[Maplehead]

OK, I opened it in Fusion rather than AutoCAD and it is a 3D model, so good there.

I suggest A2 tool steel to allow heat treating and polishing. Any soft material will eventually gall and cause issues in quality of the part. A2 is easy to machine and dimensionally stable in heat treat.

I have some open machine time, so good there.

I'll send a PM later with a bid, I need to go set up a job on the lathe right now.

Sounds good. Will be looking forward to it.