9 replies to this topic

[danielm]

The VP is asking about WJ for saving some machine time.  Does anyone know approx IPM numbers for waterjet cutting for differrent thicknesses? We're doing 3" and 4" thick blocks of 4330M at <33HRC  ( <152KSI ).

Thx.

[danielm]

danielm, on 14 June 2012 - 05:14 PM, said:

The VP is asking about WJ for saving some machine time.  Does anyone know approx IPM numbers for waterjet cutting for differrent thicknesses? We're doing 3" and 4" thick blocks of 4330M at <33HRC  ( <152KSI ).

Thx.

I forgot to mention:  90,000PSI waterjet.

[K2csq7]

Waterjet is friggen awesome.... I'd trade that tech for sliced bread any day (then I'd slice my bread with my waterjet). I have a job that's about 9.5" thick S.S. & it comes to us waterjet.


Are you talking about purchasing a waterjet machine? Or subbing out some roughing ops?
My guess (it's a guess) for 3.5" thick material is only going to be 20 IPM.

[Goldorak]

waterjet machines can hold a .005 tol in a 1in thick ss304 plate, it'a a pretty awesome machine but not as fast as a plasma cutter or a laser

this vid can tell how amazing theese machines are

[dgriffiths]

If you can give me the block sizes I will run it through our jet software and get you a run time for both thicknesses. It really depends on the edge quality you require. Blocks that thick will have some taper on the edges from the jet wash unless you have a multi axis waterjet head to compensate.

[Tyler Robertson]

Goldorak, on 15 June 2012 - 06:38 AM, said:

waterjet machines can hold a .005 tol in a 1in thick ss304 plate, it'a a pretty awesome machine but not as fast as a plasma cutter or a laser

this vid can tell how amazing theese machines are

not as fast no, but if you go slow enough you can cut with almost no afterwork - nice smooth edge to the cut.

90K pumps are a huuuuge difference to the 60k I was used to, and now there's even more out there.

waterjet is super fun

[M_CODE1]

Quote

My guess (it's a guess) for 3.5" thick material is only going to be 20 IPM.

I know your only guessing, but with our 86K pump it would be be closer 1.5IPM for a decent cut that thick.  Its not a exact IPM feed rate.  In the corners it has to slow down before it gets there and it does not speed up right away.  It slows down for the stream lag.  At 3.5" thick it does not move to fast.  I could also run it thru our softare to get a closer cycle time.  

On another note, our new Trumpf 1030 laser with auto pallet changer just show up last week and is getting set up.  Waterjets are nice but this laser will be able to pump out the under 5/8 steel parts a heck of a lot faster.

[K2csq7]

M_CODE1, on 18 June 2012 - 08:44 PM, said:

On another note, our new Trumpf 1030 laser

I used to make a few parts for the Trumpf lasers. They are right around the corner here. The lasers (& the parts I made for them were on modern marvels a year or 2 ago). The way they test/align those things with the special plastic cube (very special) is really cool.

If you were just roughing the 3-4" thick block, say leaving .250-.375, would you be able to increase that 1.5 IPM feed?
Just curious.

[M_CODE1]

Below is a time study I did to give you comparison.  The main things the software factors in is type of material, type of contour, material thickness, and what you Jet PSI is when coming up with the time.  Flow uses a % that controls your speed and edge quality.  They are most likely running in the 10-20% range, when you see a real nice smooth edge in thicker material like this.

12" X 12" Square Cutting 3.5" Thick A36, This is 49" of travel with the Lead In/ Lead Out

10%, 255 minutes, 255lbs Garnet .2 IPM

20%, 132 minutes , 160lbs Garnet  .37 IPM

40% 72 minutes , 85lbs Garnet .68 IMP

60% 53 minutes, 64lbs Garnet  .92 IPM

80% 43 minutes (most likely will not cut all the way thru material in spots), 51lbs Garnet  1.14 IPM

Garnet is around $.25 a pound for reference.


They do have a different kind of Garnet that is better for cutting thicker stuff this this.  We just got some for trial but have never used it yet.  At 80% you would probably get the parts to cut thru, but the cost is 50% more for it.  We do mostly thinner stuff that does not justify the cost.  


Anything to do out there when I go there got training on the laser?

Thanks

[K2csq7]

M_CODE1, on 19 June 2012 - 10:08 AM, said:

Anything to do out there when I go there got training on the laser?

Thanks

Ask em to shoot some of those plastic cubes for you to take home .

Throw up a topic in off topic when your trip is comin up, I can point you to a few watering holes, depending on your poison of choice..
Thanks for the info on waterjetting!