flow cutter ???

[john pen]

On the recent OCC with the Dixie Chopper bike, they were using a new toy...umm I mean tool, I think they called it a flow cutter..It appeared to use water yo cut ????

Anyone used one or know anything about one ?

[JTMcC]

They have been around at least since the time I came into the trade in the 80's.

Do a google search.

JTMcC.

[Franz]

That one's a MINI version, self contained, and you can have one in your shop for about 100 grand.
Sort of interesting what can be done with hi pressure water, isn't it.

[Bolt]

Isn't there an abraisive added to the water to help it cut?

I think I heard Vinnie say it runs at 50,000 psi.

[john pen]

so if I took that old well pump Ive been saving, hook it up to that old ford 390 thats behind the shed in the weeds....

[fla jim]

Here's a link to that machine.
www.flowcorp.com/newsite/Products/bengal.htm
I could probably fit it into the "Magic Garage". But Damn I seem to be a little short of the $100K for it.:confused:
It evidently uses abrasive mixed with the high pressure water jet to cut metal.

[SDean]

Ya, WaterJet is way cool. I was looking into buying this unit
Omak Water Jet 2626 (http://www.omax.com/2626.html)
But then I found out the cost.:eek:

50,000psi jet of water for cutting cardboard, foam rubber, food products, and other soft materials. Adding very fine abrasive materials lets you cut glass, rock, hard to cut metals like Ti. Until recently the abrasive was a one time use only too! Pump maintenence is very costly also. I was told you needed to have 1 or 2 extra pumps ready to use at all times.

[fla jim]

The OCC boys must have so much money that they Have to invest it in nifty toys.
Someone said that they had a new mill sitting on a pallet in the shop, but I didn't see it.
even with the hi-tech stuff, Pauli Jr, that prescision craftsman is still custom fitting parts with a "Unibit", a hand drill, and a hammer.
Its criminal how much money they get for their gaudy junque, not to mention royalties on OCC T shirts and other stuff.
I wish I could start a show TALES OF THE MAGIC GARAGE".
I could throw things around, and "Dogzilla" could growl and snap at me.:D

[1911Man]

Fl Jim- I like the Magic Garage Show idea alot as long it stars Dogzilla. After all he's younger, smarter and alot prettier! :D :D :D

[Franz]

Dogzilla is the brains of the operation, and if they ever make a paw sized keyboard Jim is on unemployment.

[1911Man]

Now if we can just find a Dogzilla sized hood.....:cool2:

[BSOK]

Saw the unit in action last night on the Dixie Chopper 2 show. Anyone else find it interesting that the 3 of them (Vin, Jr., Sr.) where standing right in front of the cutting bay while it was in use and did not have enough sense to close the guard? They where getting splashed with the deflected spray quite a bit. I was waiting for a shard of metal to come flying out at the speed of sound and stick into the wall behind them. Not to wish them or anyone bodily harm while operating machinery but that is why the unit has a nice rotating guard with viewing window that covers the cutting bay. Knuckle heads....:cool2:

[malibu101]

A local, very large production HVAC fabrication shop has a cutter similar to this that they use for cutting the fiberglass insulation used in or around metal ducting. VERY cool how it makes clean, precise cuts without saturating the insulation. It is a VERY fine stream of high velocity water (I don't know if there's any cutting agents in it) and only the cut edge is slightly wet.
This shop also has a CNC plasma cutting table that is very similar to the FlowJet machine. Locate a piece of metal on the table, set up the computer and off it goes. As long as the compuetr is setup properly it makes very clean, slagfree cuts on anything you put on the table.
I'm not even going to mention the awesome welding that comes out of there too.
It's one of those places that just makes your jaw drop when you see their stuff.