Anyone know a good machine shop?

[PatheticPuma]

I have playing around with some ideas for my project, one of which is an adapter to convert the standard bar mounts to clip ons. I did a quick little drawing (not super precise) of what I want in SolidWorks. There is a link to a pdf of it below.

Do you think it would be cost effective to go this route, or should I just look into tracking down an 89 triple? I was thinking about pulling the top triple plate, lower the forks a hair and just get 37mm clip ons, but the little mockups I did for positioning, these would feel more comfortable to me.

Just want your opinions/suggestions, and if anyone could venture a ballpark guess as to what it would cost to get it done, it'd be appreciated. The places I contacted local to me all said they don't do custom orders, or wouldn't give a quote.

PDF: http://db.tt/x0d6vrDq

I wouldn't need the bars themselves, just the center piece with the clamps.

[jestercinti]

Check E-Bay.  May be easier to source OEM parts than fabricate.

To answer your question...Yes I know a good shop, but it's in Cincinnati Ohio, not Grand Rapids, MI.

[PatheticPuma]

Check E-Bay.  May be easier to source OEM parts than fabricate.

To answer your question...Yes I know a good shop, but it's in Cincinnati Ohio, not Grand Rapids, MI.

I gave up on Grand Rapids, MI haha. Just trying to find a place that could/would do it, willing to pay for shipping if need be. This would hypothetically take place in 2-3 weeks.

[adidasguy]

Not that hard to track  down 89's. That I know for sure.
Its the European type-1 that are harder to find.

[Zethioth]

I wish I had the skill to do that.

From what I understand from Adidas, the Euro Type 1's fit the best, but are snug on a full right. I want clip-ons bad! 

Puma, if you get a shop to make some, and they fit better than the type 1's, I would buy them!

[PatheticPuma]

Well i just pushed that pdf on to every place I could fine with a website in Michigan haha. If I find a cheap price I will let you know haha.

[Zethioth]

Awesome. What year bike is it going on?

[Badot]

Two main problems here. First and foremost, single run items are astronomically expensive. I would estimate that you're looking to spend at least $300 on one of those if you go to an actual machine shop which is used to doing single runs and everything goes extremely smooth.

Second, that's not the kind of document a machine shop needs. They'll want something more like this: http://www.jjc.edu/academics/divisions/career-technical/technical/cadd/PublishingImages/cadd-larger.jpg . Tack other required basic information on to it like material and block tolerance and then you're looking at a document you can get something made with or at least get an estimate on.

Personally, I'd try and find a hobbyist or very small machine shop to do it for you. Imagine a large machine shop as the ikea factory and a hobbyist as the guy down the street that does woodworking for fun. If you want a custom table made, which one do you go to?

[PatheticPuma]

Like I said in my first post that was just a quick drawing to show my idea. I am well aware a fully detailed layout would be necessary. I will take your advice on looking for a hobbyist type machinist though.

[PatheticPuma]

Awesome. What year bike is it going on?

A 91. I have a thread in the project forum, but its kinda dead like my progress has been lately.

[sledge]

Very very few non CNC machine shops will have the gear and capability to make that part in one piece and those that do will want an absolute fortune to do it as a one off. I would be surprised if $300 would even cover the cost of a suitable sized lump of alloy stock and I would be in tears at the amount that will go to waste! Then you have setup rates and hourly labour costs to factor in.

I can see several potential issues but the main one would would be in machining the clamps with the half radius and getting the bore on the two angles relative to the plate. Its going to be very difficult and its probably why you are getting no replies from the shops

My suggestion is to take the drawing to a shop and tell them you want something that looks like it and let them advise you and see if you can reach a compromise between your wants and their abilities. Propably easier to copy Suzukis original design and make the flat plate as one part and the two bar clamps as seperate parts that can be welded or bolted on to the plate.

You could post the drawing and ask the questions in here, they love this sort of stuff 

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

This guy gives and idea of costs, why not try him 

Jack Anton
easymail66@yahoo.com
7 machines total
3 cnc machines, Lathe and mill.
Surface grinder - automatic.

please email me.

my prices are:
cnc setup -
easysetup- $150
Medium difficult setup- $300
difficult setup - $600

running production after setup- $35 to $40 per hour.
Labor only rates.

thank you
Jack

Other option is to start googling then emailing some breakers in the UK, until the Fs came along all the UK spec Es got clip-ons as standard, their yards are full of them and the big ones will ship worldwide.

[PatheticPuma]

Very very few non CNC machine shops will have the gear and capability to make that part in one piece and those that do will want an absolute fortune to do it as a one off. I would be surprised if $300 would even cover the cost of a suitable sized lump of alloy stock and I would be in tears at the amount that will go to waste! Then you have setup rates and hourly labour costs to factor in.

I can see several potential issues but the main one would would be in machining the clamps with the half radius and getting the bore on the two angles relative to the plate. Its going to be very difficult and its probably why you are getting no replies from the shops

My suggestion is to take the drawing to a shop and tell them you want something that looks like it and let them advise you and see if you can reach a compromise between your wants and their abilities. Propably easier to copy Suzukis original design and make the flat plate as one part and the two bar clamps as seperate parts that can be welded or bolted on to the plate.

You could post the drawing and ask the questions in here, they love this sort of stuff 

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/

This guy gives and idea of costs, why not try him 

Jack Anton
easymail66@yahoo.com
7 machines total
3 cnc machines, Lathe and mill.
Surface grinder - automatic.

please email me.

my prices are:
cnc setup -
easysetup- $150
Medium difficult setup- $300
difficult setup - $600

running production after setup- $35 to $40 per hour.
Labor only rates.

thank you
Jack

Other option is to start googling then emailing some breakers in the UK, until the Fs came along all the UK spec Es got clip-ons as standard, their yards are full of them and the big ones will ship worldwide.

I will check out that site, thanks. The drawing is inaccurate in the sense that its a single piece. The center is of course, but I found aluminum clamps online that would be suitable and could be tig welded on to the base.

[jacob92icu]

Good find, as long as they fit the average handle bar size I think you'll be alright! 

[weedahoe]

You can buy and use the clips-ons like I have and get them from ebay for 50-75 bucks. At that price, I wouldnt even bother trying to fabricate any

[PatheticPuma]

Got some quotes back today, ranging from $100 to $400 for...I probably will go the route of dropping the forks and installing ebay clip ons over the triple.

[ohgood]

Got some quotes back today, ranging from $100 to $400 for...I probably will go the route of dropping the forks and installing ebay clip ons over the triple.

one of the reasons you won't hear back from shops is "motorcycle" in the description/request. when you say "motorcycle" they hear "liability" and "lawsuit" and similar bad things.

also, it's a one-off, complicated, and your drawing/idea looks flimsy as heck ! unless that's 5/8" steel across the top of the triple, it's going to flex, vibrate, and possible break from your weight and stresses.

i'm not knocking you, or your plans. it's just a sore thumb.



find some 89's, or have sleeves machined for whatever high-zoot looking pieces you find. the 89's rock. should have always been that way.... with standard triples as an option for more comfy riding / ergos.

2 cents

[PatheticPuma]

Got some quotes back today, ranging from $100 to $400 for...I probably will go the route of dropping the forks and installing ebay clip ons over the triple.

one of the reasons you won't hear back from shops is "motorcycle" in the description/request. when you say "motorcycle" they hear "liability" and "lawsuit" and similar bad things.

also, it's a one-off, complicated, and your drawing/idea looks flimsy as heck ! unless that's 5/8" steel across the top of the triple, it's going to flex, vibrate, and possible break from your weight and stresses.

i'm not knocking you, or your plans. it's just a sore thumb.



find some 89's, or have sleeves machined for whatever high-zoot looking pieces you find. the 89's rock. should have always been that way.... with standard triples as an option for more comfy riding / ergos.

2 cents

I sent it out requesting steel, without the bar clamps on the end, I have those and can weld them myself. I just dont have the means for the rest. My plan was get it done, go to my friends and weld/powdercoat there. But oh well, jsut a hunch and a whole 15 minutes wasted time sitting on CAD.

[noiseguy]

OK, so that's a steel piece. It's in 1 plane, right? No bends? And you don't need the ends.

I wouldn't go to a machine shop for that. I'd find a piece of scrap 5/8" (if that's what you're going to use) and find someone with a cutting torch or bandsaw to cut it out for you. Make some transfer pins and use those to mark the holes and drill it out on a bench press.

Alternately, I wouldn't make it out of plate at all. I'd use a piece of steel tubing the same diameter as the bar and weld the clip-on ends to that. Then you'd just need a shop to put 2 bends if that's even required. The tubing, and welding to tubing, would be a lot easier to work with and handle than a chunk of 5/8" steel. And things are the same thickness... I don't know your welding equipment or skill level, but it's going to be a real pain to effectively weld thin wall steel tubular bar end clamps to a 5/8" plate... welds either won't hold or you'll burn through trying to adhere to the plate.