I need some stainless bits cut on a waterjet

[q240z]

I've been sending out RFQs for a couple of stainless plate parts to companies with ads on google advertising waterjet capability, but nobody's gotten back to me in two weeks. Anybody here know somebody who can cut two each of these in 12GA 304 stainless? I've got .dfx files ready to go.

Cheers,
Q

[TheBFA]

I can't help you out finding anyone, but thought I'd throw this out there just in case you had any interest in it.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects...aterjet-cutter

[walker]

Why don't you just google local water jet places and call them?

[q240z]

There aren't a lot of waterjet places around me and, like I said, the ones I've sent RFQs to don't respond.

[Bls repair]

Did you try a machine shop?

[q240z]

There are machine shops, hot rod shops, drag racer shops, etc all over here that have CNC plasma, but that won't work for this application. None of them have waterjet.

[ManoKai]

@ q240z - contact ProtoLabs (Maple View, MN). ProtoLabs touts quick turnaround builds for both additive and subtractive manufacturing. Never used their services, but met their crew at IMTS.

We'll be using their services in the near future for AM work.

[q240z]

Thx Manokai. Good to know. I'll shoot 'em an RFQ and see what happens.

[WheaticusRex]

If you'd consider having them laser cut I can definitely help. If the quote met your needs we could turn it around and ship them within a day. May I ask why it needs to be done with a waterjet?

[q240z]

I'd read that laser and plasma CNC puts heat into the final shape, and waterjet doesn't. Heat = imprecise final dimensions in my experience. If you can guarantee that the parts will be the size specified (within some reasonable tolerance), I'm all ears.

[milomilo]

I'd read that laser and plasma CNC puts heat into the final shape, and waterjet doesn't. Heat = imprecise final dimensions in my experience. If you can guarantee that the parts will be the size specified (within some reasonable tolerance), I'm all ears.

So what are your tolerances for the measurements on your drawing?

[WheaticusRex]

I'll double check our specs on 12ga, right now we have a customer that needed .492 dia circles cut out of .025 spring steel and we're hitting .491 to 493 on them. I personally run the laser at our company and I find running the conditions "hot and fast" puts a lot less heat into the product. If my math is right you've got 165.318" that need to be cut, for all 4 parts combined that'll take about 2 minutes.

Hell if you want to PM me and send me the .dxf files, I'll get them sequenced and run a test case using them on some 12ga drop we have, they come out alright we can talk price, if they don't we'll know how much heat a laser distorts 12ga. You'll be out nothing if it doesn't work and we'll all have a learning experience either way.

It'd be Monday before I can do it however, we run 4 10's at our company so I wouldn't be able to test it out until then.

[q240z]

Thanks, WheticusRex! PM sent.

milomilo, .005 would be good, but the most important thing is that there can't be any warpage. The plates need to stay flat.

[ManoKai]

@ q240z - intended to also include 3D Systems as an option for you. This outfit has produced on-demand parts for industry/consumers for close to a decade.