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Posted by: ppickerell Apr 15 2004, 08:18 PM

So Britian shows up with steel and cad files to get his flanges and throttle bodies laser cut and my guy chokes ! He can't get the 3/8 thk material to cut properly and says he has to go to a doctors appointment. So Britian has to come back tomorrow.
So I have decided to learn how to run the laser myself . Sheesh

Posted by: DNHunt Apr 15 2004, 08:25 PM

Gawd it's fun to be the boss.

Dave

Posted by: TimT Apr 15 2004, 08:30 PM

kEwL lazerz and metal and making sparks....

how do you type the Tim"the tool man" Taylors grunts

Posted by: Britain Smith Apr 15 2004, 08:31 PM

His shop was awesome and the work he does is top notch...I couldn't have been more impressed.

No biggy on the cutting issues, no hurry on my end. Like I said previously, I apoligize about the thickness of the steel that I was planning to use. I did not realize that the laser machine had a limit and I was on that limit.

I will post pictures of the parts I had cut when I pick them up from him.

-Britain

Posted by: Mueller Apr 15 2004, 08:36 PM

Britain, why steel and not aluminum?

Posted by: ppickerell Apr 15 2004, 08:37 PM

Britian,
No problem we will have it licked tomorrow. Marty the guy who runs the laser hates to be put on the spot! They will all be done tomorrow . Your turbo project sounds like it will kick ass. I will race you for a sixpack at the MArina AX. It wil be the first time the car has been raced....legally . Heh heh

Posted by: Tony Apr 15 2004, 08:38 PM

hEY where is your shop in P-town and I think that I saw in your 914 driving down Isabel about 7:20 in the morning last month.

Tony

Posted by: ppickerell Apr 15 2004, 08:41 PM

No please, not aluminum! The machine (1000 watt) is rated for 3/8 thk steel, 3/16 thK SS, but only .080 thk aluminum. It sucks the heat up much more than steel and the cut looks like shit. Some shops that have 2500 watt machines and could do alum in 3/8. Water jet is a cool way to cut the thicker stuff with no dross or heat affected zone.

Posted by: Britain Smith Apr 16 2004, 12:12 AM

Posted by: Britain Smith Apr 16 2004, 12:13 AM

Britian,
No problem we will have it licked tomorrow. Marty the guy who runs the laser hates to be put on the spot! They will all be done tomorrow . Your turbo project sounds like it will kick ass. I will race you for a sixpack at the MArina AX. It wil be the first time the car has been raced....legally . Heh heh

Posted by: jonwatts Apr 16 2004, 08:49 AM

Posted by: RON S. Apr 16 2004, 09:07 AM

I'll chime in to say that it is so cool to work in a fab shop that has laser cutting services.
Patrick your right about the aluminum,
Our machine is a 2600w Trumpf,and maxxed out at the 2600w peak,1/4" alum.is all it'll clean cut.
I take my cad programs for anything thicker down the street to a friend of mine who waterjets.It's not worth the wear & tear on the machine.
Ron

Posted by: rhaas Apr 16 2004, 09:43 AM

At my work we are currently setting up a 5 axis water jet cutter. 8 foot x 12 foot envelope. should be interesting to see what we can do with it

Posted by: andys Apr 16 2004, 09:48 AM

Problem with laser cutting (or welding) aluminum, is its' highly reflective oxide surface. Takes a power spike to get through it, then back off a bit to keep the cut clean. Usually requires a pulse shaping laser for optimal results. Waterjet is a good alternative.

Andy

Posted by: peridotian Apr 16 2004, 09:52 AM

Tony,
The shop is on Serpentine Lane which is in the business park off of Valley drive near Stanley.
Ron,
I will probably trade my 5 yr old 1000 watt Mazak in for a new 1500 watt Mazak this year. Some guy that makes wind chimes has offered 80K for my machine and the new one is 250K.
Britian,
Parts are done and can be picked up any time today.


Attached thumbnail(s)

Posted by: peridotian Apr 16 2004, 09:54 AM

I looked at the 5 axis shape cutter from Mazak, but the price scared me away! I don't do any aerospace work so I could not fully utilize the capability anyways.

Posted by: Britain Smith Apr 16 2004, 10:02 AM

Patrick,

Those look awesome...

I will give you a ring later and we can work out when to meet to pick them up.

-Britain

Posted by: jonwatts Apr 16 2004, 10:05 AM

pretty pretty

I love metal, it's so.... real.

Posted by: Mueller Apr 16 2004, 10:07 AM

Patrick,

those look nice !!!!

what format do you prefer? I drew up a part for TonyC that he wants you to quote/make. I believe it is .125" steel, I'll have to double check with him first, he is busy with the OTC next week, so I'll know for sure after that.

I know the issues with laser cutting alum, i was just wondering why he picked that material for that part, now it makes sense since milling/machineing that adaptor from aluminum would be expensive for just one part.

Posted by: peridotian Apr 16 2004, 10:29 AM

Mike,
File format can be
dwg
dfx
iges
step

.125 thk will cut very nice in steel.

Patrick

Posted by: Mueller Apr 16 2004, 10:47 AM

thanks Patrick......so you'd rather laser steel much more that alum? I have a few things I'd like quoted on to be laser'd, I'd prefer alum, but I could live with steel to keep the cost in line

Posted by: Engman Apr 16 2004, 01:02 PM

Aluminum IS difficult to cut well on any laser. To make the pedal boards I use a 4000W laser (Bystronic). We have one of these. We also have (3) 3000W Bysronic lasers. The 3000W will cut the 1/4 aluminum, but poorly. The 4000W laser is pretty new and employs a pluse technology - even so it takes about 3400W to cut well. Oh, and you have to use the right gas mixtures to get a good 'clean cut'. We have cut 3/4" steel on the 4000W laser - takes time and then you will have some kerf (angle) to the cut. Now if you want to talk about something tough to cut - try copper on a laser. That is real limiting!!

2 weeks ago we blew the head on the 4000W laser. We were cutting 1/2" stainless steel truck exhaust flanges. 3rd head in 9 months - Bystonic paid us a house call - still cost some big bucks to fix.

M

Posted by: peridotian Apr 16 2004, 04:41 PM

I know Bystronics well, and they are EXPENSIVE, and finicky but well built. If I had to cut 1/4 in alum I would go to my friendly water jet guy who is CHEAP compared to me! He probably does not have a 914 habit to support or a wife that belongs to Nordstroms power buyer club.

Posted by: peridotian Apr 16 2004, 04:43 PM

Mike, First small job is free cuz you took the time to come and visit! And maybe one day you will cut me a deal on herr muellerbearings

Posted by: JOHNMAN Apr 17 2004, 01:37 AM

I know you guys are talking laser cutters, but the most impressive cut shapes I have seen were done on flame cut tables. Some of the old guys here in town (who know how to run thier machines) can make some damn nice looking parts. The parts I saw that impressed me were 1 1/2" thick steel plate cut into shapes with no appreciable kerf.

Posted by: kwales Apr 17 2004, 09:42 AM

Saw something cool in one of my welding mags at work- a combo waterjet laser system.

Use the jet of water to act as a light pipe for the laser- cools the laser and the workpiece while it runs!

OK, nerd attack over.

Musta been them days working on the early starwars stuff.

Ken

Posted by: Engman Apr 17 2004, 10:41 AM

Another company here in town had a water jet cutter. Nice parts! They got rid of it. Too slow and too high a maintenance cost. This is the second shop I know of that had one and got rid of it. Seems that when the pump goes it is real pricey.

They do make real nice parts! And for some materials there is no substitute.

M

Posted by: Eric_Shea Apr 17 2004, 11:16 AM

Patrick,

Be careful... look what happened to TimT's right hand when he tried to learn the laser cutter

Posted by: Brad Roberts Apr 17 2004, 12:33 PM

What happened to TimT ??

Engman said a magic word... exhaust flanges...


B

Posted by: Eric_Shea Apr 17 2004, 05:08 PM