Anyone interested in custom badging?

[JazzyB]

Hey - had a thought the other day....

I work in a workshop that has CNC machines, I'm a programmer/operator myself.

Got me thinking, I could make up a custom badge for myself... could get "JazzyB" intead of "lancer" or a logo or "Lancer" in a different font or... my car's name (haven't named it, but if I ever did - lol)...

and the other day, I thought, hey - I wonder if anyone else is interested in this? they probably wouldn't be too cheap, especially not if I'm just making 1 (once the machine is set up for 1, a second one is much easier to make) so if there's a couple of ppl that want them made, let me know! I'll be doing them very close to cost... but these machines are expensive to run (not like pouring plastic into a 'lancer' mould and having it chromed... MUCH cheaper - lol

I don't need any definates at this stage, just a register of interest...

Lettering and basic graphics should b a sinch... If u want 3d engraving (ie. the back of a coin) well, that's possible... but letting u know the price may dazzle u as it's a LOT slower than 2d lines...

I could make the badges from aluminium or plastic (or other materials possibly, if u have a request) and won't be able to provide any form of adhesive but I'm sure it'll be easy to source something...

Pricing etc. would have to be worked out based on how many badges are going to be made - for 1 it might be $400-500... more like $100 if there's a fair few of us wanting them again, price is only cos they're custom... if we were pumping out $1000 they'd be peanuts...

Gimme some ideas for badges if u have any too - lol... really dunno if I wanna badge my car with my name... nah... I don't!

[tadz0rz]

that is a good idea, but for me, the price is a bit too steep. I mean, im not in the industry on knowing how much it is to run this stuff or to make it or whatever, i would of just assumed that it would be a bit cheaper...maybe $40-$50, or maybe ive got the wrong idea from your post on the size.

How big are these badges if we ordered some? Would the be the same sorta size as the stock "lancer" badge depending on how long the custom badge was?

[Eagle]

Some Club CJ ones would be neat =]

[JazzyB]

Basically tadzors - yeah, same size...
Thing is, the machine I'm making it in isn't just a press the button - out pops a badge - type of machine...

It's like a really big industrial router... can be used to make parts for aeroplane engines etc.

In MASS production (ie. lancer badge or mitsu symbol) they would make 100 moulds for the badge, then they just pour in plastic / metal, let it set and viola! 100 badges...

Whereas, my machine chugs away at 8000rpm with a tiny tiny little drill-like tool, basically engraving the material to shape... it's cool - cos I can make literally ANYTHING I want, i'm not restricted to moulds... but it's more costly to produce...

There's a customer we have that we actually make badges for (boats tho) and they order 80 at a time, I think they get charged $100... larger badges than most of us would want on our cars tho...

Plus yeah, tis not something you'd just go "oh yeah, why not" - you'd have to want the badge like u would want a tattoo to justify the price - it's probably more for those who NEED to have "THIS" written on their car...

ClubCJ ones would be a good idea! something like that I COULD semi-mass produce, meaning they'd probably come in a fair bit cheaper - good idea Eagle

[tadz0rz]

yeah club cj ones are a great idea +1. I know with those CNC machines the things have to be designed in the computer and that aint the eaisest thing to do. but maybe if you can get a price on the mass produced versions of the club cj badges that would be awesome

[Nicho]

Yeah sounds like a good idea but i don't think many people can justify paying so much for a badge, would be cool to have a ClubCJ badge though

[JazzyB]

I'll get a few 'quotes' together based on quantities and post a design on here sometime soon then

Yeah - I'd rather have a clubCJ one than any of the others I've thought of to-date
So design is obviously going to be done in my own time / not part of the cost
Let ya's know when I know!

[tadz0rz]

maybe! just maybe! we should have a comp on designing the best looking clubcj logo?

I mean, im no good in making logos n all that but their are some pretty well quallifed photoshop addicts on here **Cough** Ozie **Cough**

I know it making it in photoshop is completely different to making it on a CNC graphic design software, or whatever you guys call it, but if someone can make the general design of it, it can be punched into your system?

[Nicho]

I think the ClubCJ logo looks nice as it is and I personally would prefer a badge that one of the window decals

[tadz0rz]

fair enough, only a suggestion anyway. find out on a price jazzyb!

[JazzyB]

I'm with nicho... I like it now!
But as long as it's relatively 2d (bevels / radius's on the edges should be do-able) the design should be able to be done

It's hard to trace is all... the software used to do the cutting of the shape works with lines, squares, circles and that, and u have to trim part of a circle here, and a smaller circle, add 2 straight lines and u have a basic "D"...

OR... if u have fonts I'm pretty sure I can import a font... so I've asked oz what font etc. he's used on the current logo...

Yeah, I don't really want any decals on my car... but a badge that doesn't say "ES"... yeah - I can EASILY live with that

[Nicho]

Yeah I removed the ES badge the day I bought the car. The fake 'evolution' badge off the Evo IX is not much better so something else would definately be cool

[M@verik]

Ok....
I dont see why its so expensive. We have various CNC machines and frankly I could do a badge for like $5. The biggest thing is designing it. Then run it over a sunday when it isnt being used and production cost are minimal. Thats wat I do whenever I need a custom part. :/

[JazzyB]

u have CNC routers yes?
I have a CNC mill... Much friggen bigger and much more (MUCH) precise...
Therefore more expensive to run.... it's like taking a tank to work every day... ur petrol costs r higher just cos...
I'll design, u pump 'em out - whadda u say?

Oh shit - ur not here

I'm looking into injection moulding now tho - plastic badges, lighter, easier to chrome, don't have the machine here tho - I can only make the mould... so gotta find out if it'll be cheaper or not...

Plus maverik - would u guys use carbide tools or HSS??? HSS tools are much cheaper to run, but i have an army of carbide tools here, no HSS ones...

Lol @ $5... wish I could dude... not even a "lancer" badge is that cheap, and there's 1,000,000 of 'em!
MAYBE in a router.... DEFINATELY if I had an injection molding machine... no way in a mill...

That being said - ANYONE WORK AT A PLASTIC MOULDERS?!?!?!? lol?
Or with a router and doesn't mind us using it for a day?

[Inzaghi-9]

just in reply to the initial post - very interested.
i was actually looking at getting some custom badging work done as an individual investment but if something like this was set up it would be even better.