Has anyone here had prototype water jet work done? Where? I want to get a quote for something and can't get anything from local shops. I send the cad drawing for a quote, emails, etc and get nothing back.

... or maybe even laser cutting. I haven't looked into that.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie, I have had some stuff cut at a local shop here in Montgomery, they do good work. What are you wanting, I can talk to them.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Well, after having pretty well completed my indicator lights, I'm thinking about taking it a bit of a different direction, for a cleaner look, if it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.



Basically, I want to have the part that the light shines through cut out of steel if it is possible with such a small piece.







Rough dimensions are 1 7/8 x 5/8 with the symbols being 5/16 tall and the light rays about .020" wide. I can try to make adjustments if this design is not within the limitations of the cutting technology.

If I do this, I'm going to go with a more period looking design for the arrows, one that I saw in a '62 Mercury. So the pictured design is not exactly what will be made but it will give them an idea.



And if anyone has ideas about how I can make this at home, I'm all ears. It is the light rays that are the trouble. I can't figure out a way to cut .020" wide slots about 3/16 long.



Lawrenceville, GA

I don't think they can cut something that small, this is more of an industral operation, but I will print the picture and ask them. I don't think a waterjet will do it, almost sure that it would have to be a laser machine. The parts that I had cut were done on cc plasma machine.

Glen Henderson



Freedom is not Free

Letohatchee, AL

Thanks!

I wish it could be done with a plasma cutter. I have a friend with a homemade CNC plasma cutter. He uses it at his tubing shop.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie - Our business gets stuff made at a laser shop here, "The Metal Man" - but it has to be metal of course. They usually ask us for an Autocad drawing of XY coordinates that can be directly programed into their machine.

There has to be the same sort of thing in your part of the world.....

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

They are around here. They just must not be interested in low volume work or dealing with individuals or no longer in business or something. Some of them even state on their website that hey handle prototype work which is technically what this is. I've sent drawings for a quote to several places and heard nothing back. The cash is burning a hole in my pocket, too. Oh well.

Might The Metal Man do what I need or do they deal only with businesses?


Lawrenceville, GA

The water jet I use cuts a .040 kerf. But I have access to a laser cutter that could do .020. The only problem with the laser is it is not built for metal. Could the part be a plastic or wood material?

It will need to be steel so that I can weld it. If necessary, I can try to modify the design so that it is within the limitations of the technology.


Lawrenceville, GA

Charlie - I'll send you a PM with my email address.....get me an XY plan drawing of the item and then we'll see what my purchasing guy can get out of the "Metal Man". He often makes us special little shims and rings and stuff out of sheet metal.

I know the last time I was over there with our warehouseman - he had a huge pile of stainless "hummingbirds" he had burned out for some lady in the knic-knac business.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona