Originally posted by Denny Graham:
Thanks Jon, I haven’t seen the specific diaphragm that the YF uses but I have seen this type of diaphragm in other applications. When I pulled the old one out of the 2100s I wasn’t sure if it was formed that way or simply stretched out from use. Although the thought did occur to me that it would have to stretch a bunch to get that much bulge in it!
I can under stand the position that the manufacturers are taking. Businesses have a lot of over head to cover before they see a profit.
However this does leave a wide-open opportunity for a custom short run cottage industry. Material costs would be minimal, and it would mostly be labor. As we see more and more retirees from the baby boom era leaving their jobs I can see more and more of these, I hate to use it again, “cottage industries” popping up for these types of products. When a guy has SS, a pension and Medicare coming in, ya don’t have to make $50 an hour for your effort anymore.
I’m part Scotsman and I wouldn’t baulk at a $20 or $30 dollar price tag on a part like this to avoid problems down the road.
If you have any more information on steam dies, i.e., the process, design, etc. or the sources for the proper compounds for the sheet goods I’d appreciate hearing about them.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Denny - It is possible no new runs have been made recently, and those owning the existing die are still selling existing inventory. If I, and others, could convince those currently owning the die to use the flueroelastimer material, prices such as you mention might be possible. If a new die were developed by a "cottege industry" player, absolutely no way would prices be even close! Even a cheap steam die can easily hit 6 figures! Thats a LOT of overhead for a declining market!
Jon.
