Manufacturing Processes:
The Lathe
Most costs are variable when making items on the lathe. This includes the material, the time it takes to make the part, and the amount the machinist gets paid.
Machinsts such as Jim Dillinger can charge more than $40 an hour to make parts. They are much more skilled however, and can produce a higher quality part.
A skilled machinist can make a simple part in about 2 hours. If the part is more complex, or a higher quality finish is required, the process can take much longer.
The other variable in cost is the cost of material. It all depends on what stock is being used:
Steel: approx. $2 per foot
Aluminum: approx. $7 per foot
Titanium: >$100 per foot
Plastics: range between 70 cents to $200 per foot, depending mostly on thickness
Wood: Depends on your lumber supplier, type, and quality
Group Members: Robert Andre and John Bowler