Matthew_1
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 09:30 AM |
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Laser cutting
Has anyone out there had any parts laser cut, and if so, was it particularly expensive? I'm thinking of getting some parts cut for rear uprights
to get them spot on.
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ned
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 09:38 AM |
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Merlin 'the laserman' does that sort of thing, though I haven't seen him post in ages..
Ned.
beware, I've got yellow skin
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thommy2
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 10:05 AM |
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I have a laser at work. I'll will cut out all sheetmetal parts.
Cost are normally quit high, but I only pay for the materials, so that almost for free.
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nutter
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 10:19 AM |
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cool u get paid to play with lasers u got a great job
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locoboy
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 11:40 AM |
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Doesn't Joelp have a plasma cutter? or am i imagining things again.
-note to self :pull a sicky when hungover-
ATB
Locoboy
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JamJah
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 12:05 PM |
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I know some colleges that have cutters of several varieties ranging from new to old. They often look for work on the side to help colege budgets. They
also know their equipment as well as a compnay!
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David Jenkins
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 12:25 PM |
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I was told that the biggest cost was producing the set of instructions for cutting - the cost of producing 100 items was little more than the cost of
the first item, little more than the cost of the metal itself.
(if that makes sense... )
David
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James
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 02:40 PM |
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Yeah, Merlin's said similar.
The cost of firing up the laser (for anything) is (IIRC) about 30 quid. After that he was chucking in whatever he wanted! 
James
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Terrapin_racing
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 03:08 PM |
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Don't forget HP water cutting too!
Flamecutting (cnc) is now very accurate/clean. I've canvased a few companies for some example prices. I'll keep you posted when I get
responses -
1st one ..................................
Dear Sir,
Yes we can accommodate most trial / small batch qty enquiries / orders and supply numerous automotive / custombuild car parts already.
In order to provide price we would require some representation of drawings / sizes / qtys etc..
current capacity covers mildsteel upto 20 thk - stainless upto 15 thk - brass upto 6 thk and aluminium upto 10 thk
Best regards
Andrew
Andrew.Hanks@esplaser.com
http://www.esplaser.com/contact.html
 
Rescued attachment a_cover.jpg
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James
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 03:16 PM |
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No one fancy getting a quote for some wire cutting?
Anyone else seen it being done? It's way cool and you can do really 'deep' cuts with it. Cost a blinkin fortune though!
James
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locoboy
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 03:55 PM |
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Girlfriends dad is a toll maker and they have wire cutting facilities, i have seen it cut through 4 inch tool steel in one pass and leave a square
hole on the top side and turn it over and it has a circular one on the bottom! Awesome technology.
ATB
Locoboy
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thommy2
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 05:53 PM |
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off topic,
What is a toll maker??
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flak monkey
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 06:09 PM |
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Think it was a typo, meant to say tool, at a guess 
Never mind we all do it 
Cheers
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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JoelP
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 07:15 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by colmaccoll
Doesn't Joelp have a plasma cutter? or am i imagining things again.
-note to self :pull a sicky when hungover-
i got one, but im no good at following a plan! I havent worked out how to guide the torch better, currently just clamp a piece of wood to the metal
and it cuts a half inch to one side. compound shapes are currently a big no no!
Beware! Bourettes is binfectious.
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 18/2/04 at 09:47 PM |
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We used to jigsaw templates out of shuttering ply, good for low quantity production runs
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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Alan B
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 02:04 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by James
No one fancy getting a quote for some wire cutting?
Anyone else seen it being done? It's way cool and you can do really 'deep' cuts with it. Cost a blinkin fortune though!
James
Yes, wire EDM is very expensive indeed, and I'm not aware of any car part applications...it is really a VERY high end toolroom process accurate
to tenths of thousandths of an inch (micron territory).....We just had some vee-grooves (about 1/4 mm deep) wired cut in some hardended stainless for
a precision medical application...Very expensive..
For anyone who is not familiar the process is similar to a vertical bandsaw but instead of a blade it uses brass wire and electric current to do the
cutting..
http://www.charmillesus.com/products/isedmforyou/isedm.cfm
http://www.charmillesus.com/products/wire/wire.cfm
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blueshift
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 02:32 AM |
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That looks very interesting.. I wonder what specifics you need to get it working, the principle looks simple enough.
I want a homebrew EDM machine to go with my homebrew TIG..
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Le1gh
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 01:03 PM |
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Here's a good explanation:
http://www.xactedm.com/pages/edmtech.html
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Matthew_1
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 01:04 PM |
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I've now ordered my parts from ESP laser cutting http://www.esplaser.com/ Individual parts are reasonably priced (others I tried were just
stupid money!) the face of my uprights (custom design) which is an irregular shape about 6" x 3" - 3/16" thick with four mounting
holes and one large central hole is about £7 inc vat, metal and delivery. Smaller bits like mountings that go on the top are about 50p each. So not
bad prices really if you're looking for really acurate work.
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Terrapin_racing
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 01:13 PM |
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Well done Matt, they were very responsive - wanting some drawings to quote on. You've gone a step further and given them a job.
I must admit, bracket making is the most tedious job in some cases - 1/4 inch plate - ouch! - made a diff brace by hand once - never again.
Right - must get in garage and sort what I need!
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James
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 01:31 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
and I'm not aware of any car part applications...it is really a VERY high end toolroom process accurate to tenths of thousandths of an inch
(micron territory
Formula 1 gears IIRC!
Maybe you meant production cars though?
James
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Alan B
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 03:30 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by James
quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
and I'm not aware of any car part applications...it is really a VERY high end toolroom process accurate to tenths of thousandths of an inch
(micron territory
Formula 1 gears IIRC!
Maybe you meant production cars though?
James
Yes I did.
I have been involved in a lot of gear cutting also, and near heard of wire cut gears....not disputing your comment about F1 gears, because it would
obviously work very well.....I can't imagine it is a regular thing....but hey I've been wrong before..
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James
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 05:34 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
....not disputing your comment about F1 gears, because it would obviously work very well.....I can't imagine it is a regular thing....but hey
I've been wrong before..
Go on, please dispute it- and then put money on it!
Go on, dare you to bet me $100 they don't!
James
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GO
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 06:09 PM |
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What sort of requitements did they have on the designs? drawings, templates?
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Alan B
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| posted on 19/2/04 at 06:44 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by James
quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
....not disputing your comment about F1 gears, because it would obviously work very well.....I can't imagine it is a regular thing....but hey
I've been wrong before..
Go on, please dispute it- and then put money on it!
Go on, dare you to bet me $100 they don't!
James
Aha...you see I didn't say they didn't (because I don't know)....just that I thought that wire cut gears would be in the
minority..IMO...if more than 50% of F1 gears are wire cut then I'll hold up my hand....
<begin excuses> As I say though we all learn all the time and if I'm wrong (entirely possible) then I will have learned my new thing for
the day...and after all it is 10 years since I designed my last gear.....<end excuses>
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