CNC routing - Boat or Kit builder

[Drascomber]

Hi Guys,

I have a co-operative project going to make a number of folding boarding step kits. The drawings have been converted to AutoCad for CNC routing and nine kits will come out of a full sheet of ply. I have found a local joinery with the necessary machinery but . .

It occurs to me that if I can find a boat builder with their own CNC router who might have other uses for top quality 12mm marine ply then I wouldn't have to order in multiples of nine.

So - does anyone know of such a yard within easy reach of my location? As I am halfway between Heathrow & Gatwick the South Coast would be fine.

Alternatively do you know another forum which might address the UK boat building fraternity?

 

[dbewick]

I know Jordan boats (http://www.jordanboats.co.uk) do CNC cut ply kits for dinghies that are well thought of in the home boatbuilding world. They are in Scotland, though.

 

[SCD2007]

Hi Drascomber,

I might be able to help you with this. If I'm understanding you correctly, you're looking to have the facility to be able to order 1No. kit as and when the demand is there, as opposed to having all 9No kits cut in one sitting as it were? If you have the space to store the kits then I'd strongly advise you to go the whole hog and have them all cut since it is ultimately quicker and hence cheaper this way. I happen to run a CNC facility in Kent and experience shows that to do the job lot is the best way as you only have one set up cost. I'd be happy to look at your .dwg and advise if you'd like.

Cheers

Rob

 

[Drascomber]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the advice but as this is a non profit exercise there is no margin to cover speculative stocking.

The idea was to avoid getting charged for 2 full sheets of ply for an initial order for 15 kits. Similarly if next time around there were only 6 orders ....

You see what I mean.

Hi Huffin,

Yes, I'd found Jordan Boats on the net but Fife is a long way to go to sort out any problems.