Knifemakers and laser cut parts

Hello,

I myself dont use lazer or water cut anything. I find it challenging to say cut and profile 10 or so knives to exact demensions by Cutting them myself and profiling them by sight.its just more Gratifying as an Artist to have complete control.

And alot of the time when i had done work for other Companys that used water jet or lazer cutting you had to Re profile them anyway to Square up the induced Curve by the Cutting of them.

Unless you get a Firm that knows how to set up there Cutter at an Angle to compensate for the Cutter run out,,,,you have to re profile the blank to get 90% corners .

Although i dont leave them at 90% due to the fact that a 90% corner weakens the blade.

my .02

Allen Blade
 
I think I should make a few comments here since I was basically the first custom maker to have parts laser cut in quantity, both blades as well as titanium handles. The reason I started doing this was because I was damned bored by sitting behind a band saw day after day and making piles of metal dust while cutting out the parts. There is no glory to be had by doing this when I could be spending my time more productively. I reasoned that I could keep my costs down and deliver work on a more timely basis if I took advantage of technology. Both of these premises have proven to be true.
I am a custom knifemaker with no other source of income other than my knives. In order to pay my bills I must treat knifemaking as a business even though it is the career which has given me the most satisfaction and plain old fun.( I have had five). I do not consider myself an artist but rather a craftsman.
When I discovered the benefits of laser cutting 12 years ago, I decided that this was the way to keep my business on track. Once again this has proved to be true over time and to the present day.
From the very first, I have told my customers that I was using laser cut parts and proudly displayed raw knife blades and handles, straight from the laser, on my table at all shows.
The question of the ethics of laser cutting never crossed my mind although I do consider myself an ethical person and have always been up front and honest with my customers.No, the reason I displayed the parts on my table was to use them as a selling point. I soon found that the people who were interested in my knives were tickled to hear that they not only were constructed of space age materials but they also reflected ultra high technology. To my mind, and theirs the laser was an absolute advantage that they could benefit from directly. It is only in recent years that the question of ethics has arisen and frankly, it baffles me why someone should think that laser cutting is not proper. The market place has spoken as far as I am concerned.
A few words about the process:
The laser is accurate, sometimes more so than the water jet because of the size of the kerf it can create. However, because extreme heat is created at the cutting point the edge is not finished and has a somewhat melted texture. This means that ALL edges must be hand profiled on the grinder and finished accordingly.References in previous post to "profiling by laser" are misleading in that the work still needs to be done to create a finished product. I have most of my blades cut into "generic" shapes, usually not the final shape, which affords me the flexibility of profiling the blank into any of the patterns I offer in my work. The only process that the laser replaces is that of rough cutting on the bandsaw. Also all of the holes are cut undersize and are only spot-located on the part, handle or blade. They must still be drilled and reamed to precise dimensions. Something that the laser or water jet cannot do because both create a "blowout" on the bottom edge, thereby requiring that all parts be blanked oversize for final fitting and finishing.The only hi tech process which does not create this blowout is wire EDM which is far slower and can be quite expensive.
The intense heat generated by the laser does harden steel blade down to a depth of .003-.005 thousanths of an inch. This does not affect finished blade, however because the oversize blank is always profiled down on the grinder and also because final heat treating begins with a process of gradual, stepped heating called normalization which relieves any stresses caused by initial processes.
I will be happy to answer any other questions you guys may have concerning laser cutting.
Happy Holidays and have a safe and sane New Year. Bob
 
this argument really annoys me. I'm so glad so many of us out there have what I would consider a sensible opinion on the topic. although I personaly do not employ these methods, mainly because my work is onwe of a kind, I certainly have no problem understanding how these methods could be extremely helpful to someone producing a large volume of product. The silly argument that it is not tradittional is nonsensical on it's face. Back to day one high tech has been the way to go. every commercial fabrication enterprise back to the begining of history has used the the highest technology available to it. If back in the day they had access to electricity the would have used it! TIME IS MONEY!! HELLOOO!

------------------
 
I am Not opposed to high tech machinery, CNC milling, CAD design, or technology of any sort. This equipment makes things better, faster, more efficiently, and improves the profit margin, particulary when making a lot of the same kind of thing.

However, in my own collecting, I buy mostly one-of-a-kind fixed blade forged knives. I am willing to Pay for the time of the maker. I think how and why something was made Matters. I like hand-made things created with a minimum of technology.

I don't own any of Ken's knives, but I do have a Kershaw mini-task knife that Ken designed. I love it. I think RJ Martin, and Darrel Ralph, and George Tichborne expressed the ideas I agree with best. Be honest with the customer. If the customer is a crazy like me who wants everything hand-made, then do it that way and charge accordingly. If your customers want really good, precision engineered knives, and you want to sell a lot of them, then use all the technology you want.

I think Both viewpoints have their place. But remember, the Customer is Always right. That's where the money comes from. Just be up front about the techniques that were used if asked.

I loved this thread guys. Thank-you!

Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 26 December 1999).]
 
Ken,
As a part time maker, I have came across the same delema as you. I personally don't feel that having a part laser or water cut is any different than you personally cutting the part out on a bandsaw. After all, a machine is still used, even if not by your own hand.

So, as long as your customers don't mind, go for it.

Craig Blankenship
Blankenship Knives
 
Paracelsus

Your point is well taken.
I enjoy making knives on both ends of the scale. I feel more fulfilled this way .

It allows me to be more creative..
There is nothing IMHO like have full creative control over a high end project for a client.
There is also nothing like being able to make most any type and style of cutting tool..

Thanks for your insight!

cool.gif


------------------
Web Site At www.infinet.com/~browzer/bldesmth.html
New Web at www.darrelralph.com

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top