Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

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Ameen Aydan
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Ameen Aydan »

ok thanks, can we get to answering the question now... please?
Jackson Oswalt
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Jackson Oswalt »

Your question has been answered countless times. Is there something you’d like to hear? Yes, you can make your own conflat flange. Go ahead. The question you are asking is not a yes or no question, but you want a yes or no answer. If you truly believe you are capable of making a decent flange, then do it. Maybe you’ll learn something.
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Jerry Biehler
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Jerry Biehler »

Yes, you can. You dont need a CNC machine. And CNC is much more complex than throwing a CAD file at a machine and make it go.

I made this adapter years and years ago, manually machined:

ImageIMGP4940 by Jerry Biehler, on Flickr
Jerry Biehler
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Jerry Biehler »

Better pic with less glare:

ImageIMGP4948 by Jerry Biehler, on Flickr
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Richard Hull
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Richard Hull »

I also hand turned and hand milled my first true fusor flanges, view port window and adaptors. Many hours and great fun at the time. When figured against a paying wage for my efforts versus the list price of true conflats. I would have been payed a bit over $1.00 per hour, once material costs were figured in. At my age I rather live those hours doing more fun stuff than standing at a lathe or mill as I have more money now than time.

If you have full access and command over a CNC system, and all materials needed, go for it. No need to discuss it, just do it!

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
Ameen Aydan
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Ameen Aydan »

thank you so much for this reply this was exactly the answer i was looking for fromthe last two people. is it okay if i pm you for some more information about this subject, just so i can get a little help to start up.
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Richard Hull
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Richard Hull »

No need to PM me.....I know zero about CNC beyond how cool it is and expensive to own. I know lot about lathe work and milling and I know I would never make one more vacuum fitting during my lifetime for less than $100.00/hr!!! I would be glad to make you a single 8" CF flange for $2300.00. Nuff said....

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
Tom McCarthy
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Tom McCarthy »

Ameen I would advise printing off something like the following:

https://www.kimballphysics.com/multicf- ... dimensions

It contains most all the dimensions needed for making your own flanges. Your next step is to find someone locally who can help you turn those dimensions into a real flange, perhaps someone in that college's machine shop, or someone from another machine shop locally.
Ameen Aydan
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Re: Can I make my own ConFlat flanges?

Post by Ameen Aydan »

Hello,

I recall further back in this thread that John Futter mentioned that I can get some ConFlat flanges from China at cheaper than the material costs. IS this true? If so, can anybody reference where to get them? As well, would they be of any lesser quality than the average you can purchase from Kurt J Lesker? Would they perform the same in a vacuum (keep the vacuum at a low pressure)?

Thank You
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