Waterjet vs. Manual Build Process?

[Gdeaver]

We used a 500mm X-carve this past season. Yes, it can cut aluminum. However, it is not the same as a high end industrial router. The X-carve is fine on softer materials. It is based on extrusions and v wheels. There are some modifications that must be made to increase the stiffness. The x carriage is 2 40 x 20 rails with a 4mm gap between them. Look on the X-carve forum for suggestions on stiffening the x axis. The y also needs stiffening on the larger machine. Use good end mills that are coated and designed for AL. 45 degree helix is good for chip clearance. It take time and effort to square the machine and calibrate it. If this done right the X carve can give precise cuts. You will have to go slow. Chip clearance is a must. A couple of re-cut chips will lead to an exercise in friction welding. The X-carve can not " hog" out Aluminum.If you want to "hog" out Aluminum then you need a 6000$ plus machine. 6061-T6 is not to bad. This year with the stress of our catapult 6061 plates failed from shock loads. We got a 4 x 4' x .125" sheet of 7075 from a salvage yard. We cut many parts from it. The X-carve was pushed to the limit on it. .003" depth of cut and 10" per minute travel on an 1/8" mill. The cuts were precise and the 7075 did not fail. One reason I like the 500 X-carve is that it is portable. We do not have the space for a permanent location. I take it to meetings and bring it home. I used an Arduino uno r3 and a Protoneer shield. DRV8825 driver chips. I have had to replace some driver chips. When the driver chips fail it took out the arduino. With this set up I was out 23 bucks as compared to 100$ plus for other boards. Blow lots of air on the driver chips. So yes the X-carve can cut AL but it can not hog out AL. This summer The X-carve is being rebult and modified to give a larger cut area and increased stiffness to allow faster cutting next year. One more thing. Software is important. The cam software should use helical bores, ramps and v-tabs and peck drills. Plunging is not good for the x-carve.

[RogerF]

Team 2341 has used our in house water jet for the past 3 seasons. It allows the team access to fast easily cut parts. We experiment a lot more, still not enough though. We build 2 identical robots. The frames and robotic device can easily be cut in 5 hours. The kids can assemble the frame and drive train in a couple of days. It is a real game changer for our team. Our engineering skills are our limiting factor. We also cut frames for other area teams at no cost.

If you have access, use it.

Roger mentor 2341

[Clayton Summerall]

Originally Posted by RogerF

Team 2341 has used our in house water jet for the past 3 seasons. It allows the team access to fast easily cut parts. We experiment a lot more, still not enough though. We build 2 identical robots. The frames and robotic device can easily be cut in 5 hours. The kids can assemble the frame and drive train in a couple of days. It is a real game changer for our team. Our engineering skills are our limiting factor. We also cut frames for other area teams at no cost.

If you have access, use it.

Roger mentor 2341

What mechine do you have?