I have something that I would like fabricated. It's a food-grade
stainless steel container that will need to withstand about 100psi, for
what that's worth, plus various valves and whatnot. What's the best
way to go about finding someone who will take my somewhat nebulous idea
and help me fabricate such a thing?

Thanks!

--
derick

I worked in a machine shop in Kansas City that did this sort of thing
all the time. People walked in with all sorts of things. I'd call
around and see who is interested in something like this.
Ken

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have something that I would like fabricated. It's a food-grade
stainless steel container that will need to withstand about 100psi, for
what that's worth, plus various valves and whatnot. What's the best
way to go about finding someone who will take my somewhat nebulous idea
and help me fabricate such a thing?

Thanks!

--
derick


Start with the Yellow Pages. Go from there.

I used to work for an outfit that fabricated SS for all sorts of things.
They had Trumpf CNC machinery. The laser alone was $700,000. CNC benders,
punches, it was awesome. The stuff would come from CNC so precise we could
do corner fusion welds on 16ga. They did take on little projects as a
matter of conscience. The owner started out as a oilfield welder, then hit
it big with custom fabrication. I guess he didn't forget his roots.

How big is this thing? Can you possibly buy a piece of used equipment and
have it modified?

Steve

wrote:

I have something that I would like fabricated. It's a food-grade
stainless steel container that will need to withstand about 100psi, for
what that's worth, plus various valves and whatnot. What's the best
way to go about finding someone who will take my somewhat nebulous idea
and help me fabricate such a thing?

Are you perhaps an inventor? Why don't you know more precisely what you want to
make? Fabrication is one thing, but you are asking for design mentoring, design
services, handholding, and also fabrication. Most fabricators I know would pass
on such a request simply because of the way you are phrasing it. You need a
fabricator if you can fully specify the part you want, including a blueprint.
Else you need - something else.

GWE

What Grant said.

When I did sales engineering for a high volume tubing fabricator, I took
a series of calls from inventors with similar requests. I'd wish them
well and send them on their way. If you didn't need a thousand units,
have an accurate print, and have a suitable checkbook, I just couldn't
deal with them.

One thing that I noticed immediately was the "100psi container". This
tends to be non trivial if the container has any reasonable size to it.

The OP might have better luck if he was a bit more specific plus gave a
location. One of the guys on this NG might just take it on for the fun
of it.

Grant Erwin wrote:

wrote:

I have something that I would like fabricated. It's a food-grade
stainless steel container that will need to withstand about 100psi, for
what that's worth, plus various valves and whatnot. What's the best
way to go about finding someone who will take my somewhat nebulous idea
and help me fabricate such a thing?


Are you perhaps an inventor? Why don't you know more precisely what you
want to make? Fabrication is one thing, but you are asking for design
mentoring, design services, handholding, and also fabrication. Most
fabricators I know would pass on such a request simply because of the
way you are phrasing it. You need a fabricator if you can fully specify
the part you want, including a blueprint. Else you need - something else.

GWE

How large a volume will it contain? Above a certain size you may be subject
to the ASME code for pressure vessels. If that's the case you might need a
bit deeper pockets than you are expecting. The various valves and
"whatnots" can complicate the design too. Make sure you plan for all of
them up front - adding one or more after fabrication might well require a
re-certification.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I have something that I would like fabricated. It's a food-grade
stainless steel container that will need to withstand about 100psi, for
what that's worth, plus various valves and whatnot. What's the best
way to go about finding someone who will take my somewhat nebulous idea
and help me fabricate such a thing?

Thanks!

--
derick

Possibly. I only need it to hold around 5.5 gallons. I suppose there
might already be something like it.

something like this:


******************
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *

With a pressure gage on the top somewhere and a valve at the bottom.
Having the top open up for cleaning would be a bonus.

I suppose there might be such things around, but I haven't the foggiest
on how to find 'em.

--
derick

I know what I want it to do, but I don't know things like how thick the
materials would need to be to hold 100psi, and so forth. That's where
I'd need the help, so you're right, I'd need more than just the
fabrication.

I just posted another response with more detail, if anyone is
interested.

Yeah, that's where I'm concerned. Originally, I thought of playing
with a household pressure cooker, but the problem is that I need that
valve on the bottom for letting things out properly. I suppose I could
modify a pressure cooker, but it would need to be a big one.

I suppose I'm probably over-engineering, too. It probably only really
needs to hold 30-50psi, but I'm being conservative, I guess. It would
really need a failsafe, too, now that I think about it...

I just got off the phone with a cow-orker. He says he has what I want,
minus the pressure indicator and failsafe. Perhaps that's where I
should start.

wrote in message
ups.com...
Possibly. I only need it to hold around 5.5 gallons. I suppose there
might already be something like it.

something like this:


******************
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *

With a pressure gage on the top somewhere and a valve at the bottom.
Having the top open up for cleaning would be a bonus.

I suppose there might be such things around, but I haven't the foggiest
on how to find 'em.

--
derick


If this is to be food grade, the health people will INSIST (!) on being able
to open it up for inspection, and cleaning. Probably a top plate with a
mondo O-ring.

You know, I believe this would make an awesome pressurized chili and cheese
dispenser for nachos. You'd have to have a microswitch on the gate to keep
from getting too much goo @ 100 psi, though.

This is not a big job for a CNC manufacturer. The first one should come in
at around $125k, and then taper off according to quantity.

Steve

"SteveB" wrote in message
news:Xh1Be.28240$4o.17693@fed1read06...

wrote in message
ups.com...
Possibly. I only need it to hold around 5.5 gallons. I suppose there
might already be something like it.

something like this:


******************
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *

With a pressure gage on the top somewhere and a valve at the bottom.
Having the top open up for cleaning would be a bonus.

I suppose there might be such things around, but I haven't the foggiest
on how to find 'em.

--
derick


If this is to be food grade, the health people will INSIST (!) on being
able to open it up for inspection, and cleaning. Probably a top plate
with a mondo O-ring.

You know, I believe this would make an awesome pressurized chili and
cheese dispenser for nachos. You'd have to have a microswitch on the gate
to keep from getting too much goo @ 100 psi, though.

This is not a big job for a CNC manufacturer. The first one should come
in at around $125k, and then taper off according to quantity.

Steve


Have you ever seen those huge soup pots in hotel kitchens. They will hold
about 50 gallons. Mounted on a stand with a huge handle to tip the pot and
pour? I would like to see where and how they are fabricated. And how much
one costs. They have the heating elements inside the walls of the pot. All
food grade SS.

BTW, what is the difference in number between food grade SS and dairy grade.
IIRC, dairy is 304. (??)

Steve

Can it be made of pipe?

wrote in message
ups.com...
Yeah, that's where I'm concerned. Originally, I thought of playing
with a household pressure cooker, but the problem is that I need that
valve on the bottom for letting things out properly. I suppose I could
modify a pressure cooker, but it would need to be a big one.

I suppose I'm probably over-engineering, too. It probably only really
needs to hold 30-50psi, but I'm being conservative, I guess. It would
really need a failsafe, too, now that I think about it...

"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
Can it be made of pipe?


Yes, but that would not comply with NSF standards. Right?

Steve

"SteveB" wrote in message
news:5u1Be.28287$4o.13617@fed1read06...

"SteveB" wrote in message
news:Xh1Be.28240$4o.17693@fed1read06...

wrote in message
ups.com...
Possibly. I only need it to hold around 5.5 gallons. I suppose there
might already be something like it.

something like this:


******************
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *

With a pressure gage on the top somewhere and a valve at the bottom.
Having the top open up for cleaning would be a bonus.

I suppose there might be such things around, but I haven't the foggiest
on how to find 'em.

--
derick


If this is to be food grade, the health people will INSIST (!) on being
able to open it up for inspection, and cleaning. Probably a top plate
with a mondo O-ring.

You know, I believe this would make an awesome pressurized chili and
cheese dispenser for nachos. You'd have to have a microswitch on the
gate to keep from getting too much goo @ 100 psi, though.

This is not a big job for a CNC manufacturer. The first one should come
in at around $125k, and then taper off according to quantity.

Steve


Have you ever seen those huge soup pots in hotel kitchens. They will hold
about 50 gallons. Mounted on a stand with a huge handle to tip the pot
and pour? I would like to see where and how they are fabricated. And how
much one costs. They have the heating elements inside the walls of the
pot. All food grade SS.

BTW, what is the difference in number between food grade SS and dairy
grade. IIRC, dairy is 304. (??)

Steve


Most of the soup pots I have seen like that are heated with steam.
very nice way to make soup. real fast heatup time.

Doug

In article 1121230556.805371.90010
@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com,
says...
Possibly. I only need it to hold around 5.5 gallons. I suppose there
might already be something like it.

something like this:


******************
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *

With a pressure gage on the top somewhere and a valve at the bottom.
Having the top open up for cleaning would be a bonus.

I suppose there might be such things around, but I haven't the foggiest
on how to find 'em.



I've had good experience with these folks...

http://ittpureflo.com/vesselsandtanks/tankheads.htm

They'll be able to either supply your vessel complete or
the components you'd need to have someone fabricate it. The
toriconical heads are pretty close to what you've shown
above. As a point of reference, I purchased two made to
order SS heads about 2 years ago; 12" dia, 12ga T304, 180
grit polish, with several water jetted cutouts; $400 for
the pair.

Don't ignore the warnings of others re the danger inherent
in pressure vessels.

Ned Simmons

"SteveB" wrote in message
news:zN9Be.28639$4o.12150@fed1read06...

"Mike Henry" wrote in message
...
Can it be made of pipe?


Yes, but that would not comply with NSF standards. Right?

I'm no expert on pressure vessel design but would think that something
completely made of indstry-standard pipe rated for the appropriate pressure
would be OK. You should verify that with someone that is qualified if you
are interested in pursuing it. It might be tricky to get all of the ports
you want by using standard fittings.

A phone call to a company that specialises in fabricating small-scale
equipment for R&D labs might be in order. If you are near the Chicago area,
I might be able to suggest a couple of names.

Oops - NSF is probably some sort of food/sanitation standard or industrial
body, right? That's even further outside my area of expertise, but I'd
*guess* that those standards would be related at least in part to material
and method of fabrication. Tri-Clover makes off-the-shelf sanitary
pipe/tubing with a variety of fittings but I suspect that they don't go
nearly as large as you'd need in OD/ID for a 5-gal container unless you can
stand a very long vessel.

Mike

"Mike Henry" wrote


Oops - NSF is probably some sort of food/sanitation standard or industrial
body, right?

NSF sets the rules as to EXACTLY what you an use that will come in contact
with food that is to be sold to the public. You can do whatever you want at
your house.

They even specify the stainless steel grades that can be used with certain
food products, as dairy.

Now, if the OP is going to use this for himself, he can build it out of most
anything. But, if it is for public consumption, he will run into a food
inspector sooner or later.

Better sooner, before a lot is spent on R+D.

Steve

No he's looking for Bill & Hilliary


"RoyJ" wrote in message
ink.net...
What Grant said.

When I did sales engineering for a high volume tubing fabricator, I took
a series of calls from inventors with similar requests. I'd wish them
well and send them on their way. If you didn't need a thousand units,
have an accurate print, and have a suitable checkbook, I just couldn't
deal with them.

One thing that I noticed immediately was the "100psi container". This
tends to be non trivial if the container has any reasonable size to it.

The OP might have better luck if he was a bit more specific plus gave a
location. One of the guys on this NG might just take it on for the fun
of it.

Grant Erwin wrote:

wrote:

I have something that I would like fabricated. It's a food-grade
stainless steel container that will need to withstand about 100psi, for
what that's worth, plus various valves and whatnot. What's the best
way to go about finding someone who will take my somewhat nebulous idea
and help me fabricate such a thing?


Are you perhaps an inventor? Why don't you know more precisely what you
want to make? Fabrication is one thing, but you are asking for design
mentoring, design services, handholding, and also fabrication. Most
fabricators I know would pass on such a request simply because of the
way you are phrasing it. You need a fabricator if you can fully specify
the part you want, including a blueprint. Else you need - something
else.

GWE

What you need is the services of a professional engineer. If the damned
thing blows up and kills someone, its his insurance company that takes
over.If you have his calculations, then its his problem. Of course, because
he IS a professional engineer, he should be able to design a pressure vessel
that conforms to ASME 8 or what ever the local standards apply, and the
damned thing wont blow up!

Tom Miller


wrote in message
oups.com...
I know what I want it to do, but I don't know things like how thick the
materials would need to be to hold 100psi, and so forth. That's where
I'd need the help, so you're right, I'd need more than just the
fabrication.

wrote:

I have something that I would like fabricated. It's a food-grade
stainless steel container that will need to withstand about 100psi, for
what that's worth, plus various valves and whatnot. What's the best
way to go about finding someone who will take my somewhat nebulous idea
and help me fabricate such a thing?

Thanks!



Key Technology, Walla Walla WA
Gem Equipment, Woodburn OR
Coastline Equipment, Bellingham WA
Stainless Specialists, Wausau WI
Idaho Steel Products, Idaho Falls ID
Idaho Equipment & Sheet Metal, Rupert ID


That's the short list. Food equipment fabricators are all over. The
top two on the list will probably cost more but they each have a team of
engineers that will do that part for you. The rest have an engineer or
two on staff and may be able to do it a little cheaper as they are
smaller shops.

Koz