custom machining negative carriers (Seattle)

Are there any Seattle-area LF photographers that can recommend a

local precision machinist that can mill out a negative carrier? I

want to take a 6x6 or 6x7 negative carrier for a beseler 4x5 enlarger

and have the machinist mill out to 6x12. I say "precision" machinist

to differentiate from a shop that turns wheel rotors... Thought I

would ask here before starting on the yellow pages. Thanks. Tom in

Seattle

Wouldn't it be easier to use a 4x5 carrier and mask out the top and bottom?

<br><br>

Guy<br>

<a href="http://www.scenicwild.com">Scenic Wild Photography</a>

I've been doing that, in a way, cut a 6x12 window into two developed sheets of 4x5 taped together at one end. Picked up a spare 6x carrier on Ebay, just looking into options.

I cut a window mask from the cardboard packed with 4x5 film to go on the outside top and bottom of a glass 4x5 carrier. Works fine for 35mm, 6x12 should be better. The bottom window needs to be a little bigger than the top if you use a glass carrier.

 

You need to blacken with a magic marker.

Expand your search to Bellevue, you'll most likely find a shop in the industrial neighborhood over there named Birdwell something-or-other can handle it for you, and get the job done in a reasonable time. If you don't mind rounded corners, they'll do it on a CNC machine and it won't cost you much; if you need the corners square it'll cost more, because someone will have to hand file the square corner in by hand from the radius of the cutter they use to mill the opening.

Donald, thanks I will give them a call. I'm familiar with the rounded corner issue, as I do woodworking. Since I've started this research, I may just get a couple of milling bits and a cross-slide vise for my drill press and try it myself, will still be cheaper than paying for custom machining. And I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more tools, and camera equipment.

Time to look for a small tabletop mill-- I find the drill presses don't work so well for "milling" since the side pressure may cause the chuck to release or at minimum the whole shaft tends to push off to the side.

 

www.emachineshop.com is another option-- but it's in NJ.

 

You could also make your rig from black plexiglass and use a router instead.

My local (not Seattle but near-by) machine shop told me of someone in Seattle that uses laser beam to cut perfect corners and beveled corners, so keep looking.

Since you already have a drill press, make your own. Measure carefully and drill out the corners. Place holder in a vise and hacksaw to corners, cutting inside lines. Use a bimetal coping saw blade for the short cuts. File smooth and taper the top about 45 degrees. Spray flat or satin black. Total time half an hour.

W T

 

I would just do it myself with a Dremel tool with a cutter and a needle file for smoothing rough edges. I bet a machinest will charge more than a price of a Dermel tool and safety googles, and you get to keep them:-)

 

 

 

Haris

I make my own custom carriers for my 45M. I watch eBay for cheap carriers that don't sell well, such as ones for 16mm/110 film. I then can drill the corners and use a jigsaw to cut out the hole. A good file will smooth everything and bring it to the finished size. Locating pins and rivets are not hard to put in place, if you need to.

Ah, yes, laser cutting reminds me, there's also Rho Co. in Tukwila that specialize in water jet cutting -- they can make a corner radius the size of the jet, which is a good bit less than 1 mm, and the water jet doesn't leave a burned edge (may or may not matter, depending what you're cutting, of course).

 

Please don't try milling with a drill press -- unless you like the idea of a rapidly spinning chuck, tipped with a sharp end mill, boucing around your work area. If you only have one to do, pay the $20 to $50 it will cost to have it professionally done, or use a nibbler (body shops use them to cut large holes in sheet metal, and you can get a hand-powered one at Radio Shack, though I don't know if it will cut aluminum as thick as a negative carrier). Or drill holes at the corners, make the cutout with a jeweler's saw or Dremel cutoff wheel, and finish with a file to dimension and to make the edges straight and corners square.

 

If you want to go into business making them, then drop $500 or so on an Asian mini-mill (you can get one at Harbor Freight in Everett six days a week); it's a much better mill than your drill press can ever be (but it still won't cut a square corner).