Waterjet option

B

Beaglebow

Joined
Dec 2, 2009
Messages
8
Hey all. I'm pretty new to this site, but have been looking around for a few days, and ya'll are experts! I'm really impressed with all the knives I've seen on this site. Ya'll do a fantastic job!

I'm just getting started in this addiction. I've made one knife complete, and have a couple others in various stages of incompletion. I'm actually gonna start making another with the help of v-6 this thurs.

Anyway, I work at a granite countertop shop running the various cnc and waterjet machines. Recently (within the last 3 months) we've started cutting metal parts for machinists, and I got the idea of cutting knife blanks out with it. So I cut a couple for myself and it works great. Anyone else try this out? I see some guys using plasma cutters and such, which I assume is the same thing, except the waterjet doesn't heat up the metal. I suppose that really doesn't make a difference, but what do you think?
 
Great idea. I would use one every day if I had access to one. I have used Great Lakes Water Jet for a couple things, but most (all) of my steel cutting is done with my old Harbor freight metal bandsaw. I am green with jealousy. Have fun with it.
 
Both the bars and a local guy had a bunch cut out of circular saw for himself. Works great.
 
I wish I had access to a waterjet machine. I'd be cutting out way too many things though.
knife blade, haxe heads, grinder parts, lamellar armour, motorcycle parts, and on and on.

you are very lucky.
 
waterjet is tons better than plasma...no comparison.

the only complaint I have about waterjet is that the in/outs of the machine can be pretty rough and it leaves a taper as it cuts. As long as you plan to clean those up, you're AOK.

It doesn't really save me any money...but saves a ton of time on "grunt work". LOL

Dan

Dan
 
I'll be sending home some steel to have him make some guards, as well as some knife blanks.
i'll keep you all posted , with the results
this is going to be nice, having a water-jet this close .
vern
 
Dan, so far, I've been able to get some pretty nice edges with the waterjet, but I've only played with the basic mild steel and not the good stuff. We've done some .5" stainless for exhaust headers and have come up with some pretty good edges too. Also some .75" and 1" cold-rolled steel and they've come up pretty good too. Problem is when you're cutting stuff that thick, it does take a while, and you're right, the edges are a little tapered. With the few knife blanks I've done, the metal is thin enough, and I always clean up the edges on a belt sander anyway, so it really doesn't make a difference.

Matt, If you wanted us to cut some for you, I'm sure we could work something out. My boss is open to "hiring out" the waterjet for doing things like cutting knife blanks, engine shims and parts, etc. If you have cad files, you can e-mail them to me and we'll get you a quote. We don't supply the metal though. You'd have to do that. Anyway, if you want, let me know.

Just curious guys, what makes a waterjet so much better than a plasma cutter? I've never used the plasma cutter before. What's the difference?
 
about 6000 degrees.

LOL


seriously, Plasma-cutting is a mess, the blanks have to be flattened afterwards and destroys the steel at the edge....cutting oversize is a must.

Dan
 
i believe BRKT sends out for jet cut blade blanks.
that is a pattern is sent to the cutter
and blanks are cut

buzz
 
Beaglebow said:
My boss is open to "hiring out" the waterjet for doing things like cutting knife blanks, engine shims and parts, etc. If you have cad files, you can e-mail them to me and we'll get you a quote. We don't supply the metal though. You'd have to do that.
Click to expand...

Beaglebow,
What an interesting topic! It just happens that I have another thread open regarding CAD files for knives. What file types are you able to read into your machine? Probably DXF and/or DWG?
If anyone is interested in reading the thread I am referring to you can see it here: CAD files for knife blanks
 
I have access to a Haas 4 axis that uses mastercam x4 to draw up whatever you can think of. It can cut anything and does not heat the metal since it is constantly cooled. The trick is making the jig to hold your piece so the machine can cut it. You have to buy the very expensive end mills that are hardened because cheaper ones will just snap like twigs or go dull in 30 seconds. Cutting tool needs to be much harder than your piece or you will get no where fast. Never used a water jet but I have seen what they can do, not sure how they are with harder metals. I am new to knife making, not new to steel work being an aws certified welder and a machinist and I wish you the best of luck with your new addiction.
 
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