Laser cutting advice (UK)

gotbadger · 14 May 2013, 14:34

I'm working on a keypad project and decided to go with the 'sandwich' method to build the case.

Ive had a look around and most of the companies that have a website seem to have a large minimum cost. Others I've found though eBay seem more reasonable but could be a little sketchy. Can anyone recommend a service for getting the parts cut out of 5mm acrylic?

matt3o · 14 May 2013, 14:37

in UK? not the cheapest but they can do small quantities http://www.razorlab.co.uk/

gotbadger · 14 May 2013, 14:58

Thanks matt3o thats just the kind of place i was looking for! Hopefully it dosent end up being too expensive once i have the design in inkscape.

photekq · 17 May 2013, 06:32

Don't suppose anyone knows somewhere to get a plate cut out of aluminium at a good price in the UK? I've found a place for CNC but am having no luck with laser.

Monedas · 18 May 2013, 18:54

dirge · 18 May 2013, 18:56

sure i saw some on ebay offering a service photekq

photekq · 18 May 2013, 20:54

Thanks for the suggestions. I had no idea you could get laser cutting done through ebay

nicstreet · 04 Dec 2015, 00:06

just wondering if there are any updates on this? I've just requested a quote from lasermaster.co.uk but would rather have some personal recommendations.

Anyone...?

photekq · 04 Dec 2015, 00:19

nicstreet wrote: just wondering if there are any updates on this? I've just requested a quote from lasermaster.co.uk but would rather have some personal recommendations.

Anyone...?

https://www.yorkshireprofiles.co.uk/

nicstreet · 04 Dec 2015, 00:42

Cheers, much appreciated. I assume you've used them before and been pleased with quality and prices?

photekq · 04 Dec 2015, 00:48

nicstreet wrote: Cheers, much appreciated. I assume you've used them before and been pleased with quality and prices?

Yes, very.

nicstreet · 05 Dec 2015, 01:31

thanks photekq, received login for producing online quotes today so have a price of 67.00GBP delivered, cut in 1.5mm stainless. Other price was 55.00GBP delivered from lasermaster, same spec. Price stayed the same for Aluminium interestingly.

Can anyone confirm the quality of output from Swillkb plate designer? My quote is based on output from it!

Thanks

photekq · 05 Dec 2015, 10:21

Yeah, you'll find that stainless steel plates can be pricey in low quantities. I got 2 aluminium ones cut there and I think it cost me £40 each.

I was just really amazed by their service. I had the plates within a few days.

What are you trying to cut the plate for? Is it going to fit in a certain case?

nicstreet · 05 Dec 2015, 11:37

Plate I'm looking at is more an intro project for me (6x14) matrix style. Hopefully this will be good to familiarise myself with some of the techniques and concepts and I'll end up with roughly the layout I want to test. Longer term I would like to build something similar in size (maybe a bit smaller) with bluetooth and USB hub to replace the ghastly Surface Pro type cover.

photekq · 05 Dec 2015, 11:44

If you don't need the plate to actually mount to anything then the output from swill will be fine. But if you want to extend the plate and add any holes for screws, etc, then you'll need to add that yourself. Might be worth adding radii to the edges too.

chzel · 05 Dec 2015, 12:05

nicstreet wrote: Can anyone confirm the quality of output from Swillkb plate designer? My quote is based on output from it!

I have used swill's and had a plate cut, everything went perfectly. That was a couple revisions back, so I can't vouch for the current state of the tool.
It's the 60% plate in this pic:

Spoiler:

Photekq, if I recall correctly, swill's tool can autogenerate a sandwich style plate/case.

nicstreet · 05 Dec 2015, 12:13

Layout is as per output from KeyboardLayoutEditor:-

: keyboard-layout.jpg (68.19 KiB) Viewed 4240 times

Plate as per SwillKB:-

: switch_ead2daea82405ec313e9e4ee57f53b97f5050d0f.gif (8.74 KiB) Viewed 4240 times