How many have had stuff waterjet cut?

[Samckitt]

I spoke to a guy in town this week about having some pieces cut. I have always thought that equipment was cool & would enjoy doing something like that. So was wondering how many of you have had stuff cut for you where they use a waterjet.

[Irnmike]

I have it done pretty often. For a manual machine shop, it makes cutting the profile of something cheap and fast. The shop I use specializes in making signage for businesses.

[Samckitt]

A website for a brand of waterjet I was looking at said that if you rent/lease one from them, that it only takes 9 hours a week of use to pay the monthly lease, all extra is gravy. Minus electric, space to rent, etc.

[go-fish]

We have one at work. They won't let me play with it though. No personal use, bummer!

[John Wright]

At my local AWS Section meetings, we have taken plant tours where they had waterjets and laser cutters in action. Neat stuff, they cut out stainless steel bottle openers for all of us to show off their equipment.

[Samckitt]

These things can cut any & every thing. Wood, tile, plastic, glass, ceramic, laminates, rock, brick, concrete, metal..... You name it.

[novaderrik]

i used to run a few Amada 4000 watt flat lasers. those things are cool. as i got better at running them, i was able to tweak the settings to cut finer and finer detailed parts out of thicker and thicker metals.
i had one laser cutting almost perfectly smooth and really precise cuts out of 3/4" thick steel plate, and with a simple 5 minute lens and nozzle change could cut 24 gauge steel with amazing precision. working nights, i was able to sneak in personal things every once in a while- with my bosses blessing and help- for practice. i have some really awesome Metallica signs, Punisher skulls, and Harley Davidson signs..
i've never played with a waterjet, but if any place around here that has one ever has a job opening, i'm gonna be all over that...

[Bryce]

I use the water jet at work at least I do CAD designs for the water jet. Its a great tool that offers other options for me to create things.

[69fbodyproject]

Ive got access to one, just waiting until I am at the point where I need to cut brackets and gussets before calling in my favours to get usage of it.

[orange69]

something to remember any time you have abrasive you have wear. i run an omax 60x120 great machine nozzles last 100hrs pump has to rebuilt every 500hrs and is not cheap. but take that in to your pricing and you will be fine. home hot rod projects are fun with this machine the posibilties are endless. in southern indiana it seems like everyone has one but they are all booked up but thats a good thing

[Samckitt]

I am in central Indiana (a little north of Indianapolis).

Orange69, are you in Indiana?
Seriously they are all booked up?

[orange69]

yep bout hour south of indy our machine runs every day have about 1600hrs in 10 months mainly military work. i have a freind has two machines they run 24hrs a day 7 days a week cutting windows for the military trucks. i have cut every thing from foam to granite counter tops and tons of custom brackets.

[MrQuick]

water jet guys are always busy. the guys a few doors down have a 6 day back log. They do some pretty cool stuff, glass, tile, granite and cardboard.

Shop around for a good price, I'd look into a loan to buy cause some of the lease agreements really nail you in the end.

I'd send you some business.
vince

[Bigblue73]

Listen to Orange69 - Contact an Omax rep. They can provide you with the names of people near you that have them. If you are interested go to a demo - One on One - not in a group and bring material and your own files. I learned a ton on cutting Lexan for bezels and guards. If you can't find anyone local - send me a PM. I'm in Mid-Missouri.

[Samckitt]

There is a shop in town that has one, I went up there to see about getting something cut. That is where this interest spawned, I have always been interested in them, I did a college paper on that technology on them (20 some years ago), and I am tired of working out of state, 60 hrs a week & getting paid crap for it.

[MrQuick]

I found a suppier that has expandable table top models. Supports lazer cutting too.

I'll grab the info from the shop.

Starting your own business is a great idea. There is room in the industry for growth. Also offer internet sales for a global market.


Vince