Mud Duck Aviation Forums

I have aquired our first CNC machine  that will be used to produce short kits and some new, smaller, "Ducks"!  The machine is a precision 3-axis machine that was used for circuit board manufacturing in it's previous life, but will now be upgraded and fitted with a router.

I am upgrading the machine to work with newer software that will ease and simplify production, and R&D.  Parts are on order now, I will test with shareware first before purchasing the actual software and hope to be test cutting parts by Summer. Since I am working with almost no budget and limited assistance from friends and some helpful modelers out there to learn the machine and software, I am giving myself a "buffer" and estimating that semi-kits may be available before Fall.

My goal is still to purchase a laser cutter, which will accomodate the larger parts for the Mud Duck MkII/Sport, and Agri-Duck/Sport which are too large for this machine. But, in the meantime, I should be able to offer semi-kits for the larger models and some new small "Ducks" as well as Built-Up kits.

I'll keep you posted

Greg

 can you give a "ballpark Idea"of the cost of FULL kits in the future?

 The only "ballpark" I am prepared to give at the moment would be using the old kit prices as a reference.  The "Sport" was priced at $125, the MkII and (big) Agri-Duck were about $225 (semi-kit was about $100). 

  The actual price should be lower.  My plan to cut my own kits should reduce kit costs overall, because I will have lower overhead and cutting out paying a vendor or two.  Semi-kits will be lower since I am setting up this CNC unit on a budget, I don't have a big loan payment to pay for and it will be capable of making semi-kits.  In contrast, a laser cutter (or any CNC machine) capable (large work area)of cutting out the "big" kits, are much more expensive than one needed to produce a "built-up" kit which only requires a small work area. 

  As for some new smaller Duck's (such as indoor ducks), I haven't considered a street price until I have them finalized and determine what gear I will supply with them.  But they should be, at least, competitively priced with similar-class kits.

  One of the factors upon determining price is also (obviously) raw materials cost, and I haven't "shopped around" with vendors yet to see what kind of pricing I can get based on volume.

Almost have all the parts for the machine to begin installing them.  The mount I ordered to hold the router itself was incorrect so I had to return it and swap it for the correct one.  All the electronics are in and the new (used/surplus) computer has been set up with all the software and updated.  I was waiting to install the new electronics until my new power supply arived, which showed up at the end of last week.

Just as I was ready to begin installing the electronincs this weekend, I ran into a snag.  I purchased a wide-format copier to reduce the printing costs for plans, and I picked it up on Saturday and attempted to move it to the climate controlled location but it will have to be disassembled to accomplish this, so in the mean time it sits next to the CNC machine blocking it.

I have to finish moving the copier before I can progress on the CNC Router.  So I just purchased the service manual to assist me in disassembling (and then, reassembling) the copier.

Had a bit of a delay in the progress of the CNC Router due to my focus on getting printing capabilities in-house.

I went though one piece of printing equipment without much success, so I opted for a better unit and now am working on getting that up and running.

Space has cleared up to work on the CNC and I also ordered and received a new opto-isolated relay board to drive my router and vacuum system.  Back to working on that soon.

Greg