What products are available to produce and sell with a CNC mini mill?

[tjschweizer]

Hey everybody,

I'm thinking about getting a Grizzly G0704 mini mill and converting it to a CNC. I've taken Tool&Die classes at a community college, so I am familiar with machining both manual and CNC. I have enough money to purchase the mill, I just want to know if it is worth it. I'm not looking to quit my job and start a business, I just want to know if a profit can be made with this mill. Several products I have thought of are custom brackets, (Harley Davidson exhaust brackets are expensive, I could make those for instance) and my friend makes custom MIDI controllers, but needs the cover machined to fit buttons and the like. What other products could be made? What are some common products produced? Thank you for your time.

 

[Charley Davidson]

I think mostly I would concentrate on custom billet parts for Harleys & Hotrods but not try to build up any inventory as those type of things are subject to individual tastes. Also put an add on CL for custom "metal" mill work. With a mini mill you will be limited as to the size of your projects. Nice things are billet hand grips (lathe) master cylinder covers (car & bike) brackets of all sorts (again car & bike) points covers, primary covers, the list is endless

 

[Mid Day Machining]

If you want to make parts, go to a local hobby shop and look at some parts for R/C cars that you can make on your machine. Ask the guy behind the counter if he gets asked for parts that nobody makes. If he says yes, there's your first parts.

I did that when I bought my Tormach PCNC1100 last July and now I have more work than I want to do. I make parts for remote control race boats and race cars and trucks. I don't do much with 1/10 or 1/8 scale. The market of that stuff is saturated with parts made by companies from China.

I showed up at some races and asked if anyone needed parts that they couldn't find. I told them if they have an idea and I can use their car or boat to make prototypes, then what ever parts I make from that would make theirs free.

I make upgrade parts for 1/5 scale gas powered cars, trucks and boats. I have a couple of customers I make parts for 1/10 scale off road trucks, but most of them are too interested in getting a $30.00 part for $3.00.

Good luck,

Steve