[TheForge] waterjet, abrasive waterjet, and wire edm.

[Rick]

Hello Terry -
    I have personally run Oxy-/Acetylene Torch table, Plasma table, and 
Laser cutting machines, although not waterjet.  With the others, the heat 
will melt the displaced metal causing a load of junk on the bottom side if 
the minimum speed is not kept up.  With waterjet, the speed will be as you 
have heard, that the slower the cut the better the cut quality.  Similar to 
a mill or lathe cut making a fine cut or a rough one by moving too fast. 
The people I have dealt with on waterjet projects have a different attitude 
here in the midwest.  I have not found any one of them who does not already 
have too much work, and price their work accordingly.  WAY beyond any other 
similar cut quality.  EDM, I have never dealt with, so can not say much 
about that.  Saw some work in MO, done for some knife guys, and it was 
superb.

Rick Crawford at Rafter Lazy C
  Home of Smoky Forge and Lem the Wonder Mule
   In the middle of Northern Illinois

    http://www.smokyforge.com
     rick at smokyforge.com



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "terry l. ridder" <terrylr at blauedonau.com>
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 8:54 PM
Subject: [TheForge] waterjet, abrasive waterjet, and wire edm.


> hello;
>
> would anyone have any first hand knowledge and/or experience with
> waterjet and abrasive waterjet cutting?
>
> i have been reading various web sites i found with google and the
> general points they make are that a slower speed make for a higher
> quality cut. i can find no information about reclaiming/recycling the
> garnet abrasive from the slurry. at first glance it would seem
> doable. perhaps the garnet abrasive is so inexpensive that users do not
> bother.
>
> would wire edm be a viable alternative to using plasma or abrasive
> waterjet cutting?
>
> i would rather have a nice square cut at slow speed than a somewhat
> square cut that needs additional work.
>
> -- 
> terry l. ridder ><>



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