pic: Team 148 - 2011 - Raptor

[JVN]

Originally Posted by sgreco

I'm curious as to why you chose to stack plates instead of just cutting a thicker plate? I can understand if it was really thick for cost purposes, like over a half an inch, but wouldn't it be easier for a 3/8 piece to just cut one from a thicker piece of metal? I suppose if you're laser cutting then thicker aluminum isn't an option on all lasers because of aluminum's reflective properties.

I've also always been curious, are your parts lasered of waterjetted?

Our parts are lasered. We use 1/8" plates stacked instead of thicker plates for two main reasons:

1. The laser does have some "blow out" which will affect the tooth profile in thicker materials.

2. Our shop stocks 1/8" 6061 aluminum, so we can get it without a special order. When I'm trying to get 24 hours turns, I try not to make our shop do anything they don't normally do for production.

-John