Doug
Diamond
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2002
- Location
- Pacific NW
I do prototype work. It's almost always half a dozen or more, so they can test them out. Then the next month they want 300 just the same. I can't imagine trying to be a machinist these days without a toolchanger.
There's prototype work and then there's prototype work. What you describe sounds to me more like short run production.
I did a lot of medical prototyping. One project where I participated in the design lasted over 12 years. Another working on a prosthetic foot device was a couple years. I didn't have a tool changer mill at the time and neither did another shop working on the projects. I thought about getting a tool changer machine, but it didn't pencil out as an investment because time was not a major issue in making the parts.
Medical can be a whole different issue than some other product development type prototyping. Things have to pass FDA scrutiny, medical insurance, etc, etc. On the medical work I did have Andy Warhol's 15 minutes of fame when I was interviewed by ABC news during the ceremonial handing over of the $2M NIH grant money we got for the 12 year project.