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All Forums > Tech Talk > Tech Talk Forum Page 61 > Metal Milling
AuthorPost
AlexPanzer
Deactivated User

1593 Posts
6/03
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 3:37AM
Hey, I have a question here, I was kinda thinking of making a custom part for my computer and I am just wondering how much it would cost for me to precision mill a custom part that is about 2 cubic inches? I can choose from either cheapest alumininum or coper, I just need the one that is the most cheapest. If you dont know but have idea then let me know.

Topic Moved by - -lunacy- on Oct 25 2003


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nietzsche
Deactivated User

5470 Posts
8/03
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 3:46AM
First off, I suspect the moderator will move this to the tech section very soon. Second of all, WHAT IT THE CUSTOM PART YOU ARE 'PRECISION MILLING'? I can't think of any part of a computer that matches your specifications. Let us know. Merci.

Regards,
The Philosopher

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AlexPanzer
Deactivated User

1593 Posts
6/03
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 3:59AM
a heatsink, like you know a metal block that absorbs the heat of the chipsets. I have plans to do one, but my own that will feature a screw holes so a fan could be mounted on top of it. I tried everything to put a fan on a current one. One thing left to do is to get one by my own designs. Copper is said to be the most heat-absorband
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DenverDon
Benevolent

Firmly Embedded in Depravity
5914 Posts
7/02
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 8:45AM
Commercially, most of the heat sinks I have seen are some sort of Aluminum alloy.

Have you ever seen one of those 'thaw plates' for thawing meats? It is the same type of material, only made into a heat sink. It will either draw cold and dissipate it, or heat and dissipate it.

I've never seen one made from copper. (Perhaps because of cost?)

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Drew Black
broken crankshaft

8031 Posts
9/99
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 9:00AM
Aluminum would be the way to go, however there's hundreds of different designs out there for heat sinks already. I'd recommend checking some of the sites dedicated to overclocking and supercharging your computer before going through the expense of milling one yourself. (Unless you have free access to a good machine shop with a 4 axis end mill.)

I haven't looked into costs for machine work in a few years. A while back I did a 3D design for a miniature (2" x 2" x 3") bullet-shaped headlight for ATVs and and dune buggies. When I was quoting shops for prototypes the general range was $100 - $150 per non-polished piece assuming I could give them a CNC program compatible with their equipment. (Polishing was an extra $50 each) If they had to build the program from a digital model it would have cost an extra $500 - $1000 depending on the shop.

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Drew Black
broken crankshaft

8031 Posts
9/99
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 9:07AM
I forgot to to mention that most aluminum alloys are better conductors of heat than copper. When automobile manufacturers switched to aluminum cores for radiators they were able to shrink them by about 30% with no loss in cooling capacity.

You can most likely find a scrap of aluminum at almost any metal supply yard big enough for a heat sink. Cost would be $3 - $5. Alumimum used to sell retail for $4.50 per pound I have no idea what it is these days. Good luck finding a suitable chunk of copper. I believe both metals would need to be anodized or coated with a heat conducting sealer to prevent oxidation.

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DenverDon
Benevolent

Firmly Embedded in Depravity
5914 Posts
7/02
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 9:12AM
Good point Drew.

The heat sinks I have seen were all anodized.

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astroknight All-Star Supporter
Questionable Moderator

Tastes so good...
4187 Posts
11/99
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 11:54AM
The common aluminum alloy sheet is normally around $2 - $3 per pound, but the shapes (bar, angle, etc.) will often go double that. If you want a special alloy, then you can pay even more money. If you want precision milling (ie, CNC), costs normally start around $500 as CNC is basically set up as a production line due to the cost of making the program. For one or two items, you're better off finding a small machine shop where they know how to do it the traditional way. Even then I think you'd be lucky to get by for under $100.
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AlexPanzer
Deactivated User

1593 Posts
6/03
Posted - Oct 25 2003 : 7:49PM
500 is too much for me. Something around $100 to $150 is what I am looking for. The part is kinda comples and it has letters in it.
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GaySatyr
Senior Member

Half dirty ol' man; half horny ol' goat!
1684 Posts
10/00
Posted - Oct 26 2003 : 12:33AM
Unless you have some close friends in the business, I expect you are out of luck. An alternative that might work (or, more likely, might not work - but it may be worth a try) is to attempt to interest one of the companies already in the heat sink business to take on your design. Maybe they would give you a prototype.

The heat sink segment of the PC industry is pretty stiff with competition. There are well over a dozen manufacturers making a variety of models from many different materials and utilizing several different heat dispersement design principles for every processor type. Most of the designs incorporate attached fans to facilitate air flow.

However, build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. Good luck.

~ GaySatyr

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