Waterjet, Laser, Machining - Oh my!

So I promised I would be back this week to answer the questions and here I am! I usually write on Fridays but I decided to switch it up a bit and make things interesting. Plus I have to take care of my nephew tomorrow so I'll be out of office in the afternoon, that might have a little to do with it too!

Before I start. I want to set the scenery of what things are like around Fedtech today (we're just outside the twin cities, in Minnesota)...

It is 39*F outside, a little chilly wind coming through... and I've even taken the liberty of capturing a photo of outside to really bring the ambiance home...

Good old Minnesota fall weather never lets us down. Thankfully we've got a break from all the rain we've been having this past week so we're not complaining today!

Alright! On to the questions!

Q: What is the difference between water jet cutting cost vs. laser cutting costs?

A: Depending on what you are attempting to cut, your needs will require different cutting methods. However laser cutting is the cheaper process for manufacturing. But the requirements for your project may not allow for laser cutting, as with plastics, composites, rubber, or more. Generally laser cutting is used for thin stainless steel, carbon steel, or thin aluminum. (See the thickness and material table here to compare the two methods)

Q: Do you do armor coating?

A: We do armor plating and ballistic material cutting here in-house, and we have a close vendor who does our armor coating for all of our projects. By doing this we make it a one-stop shop for our customers, and one less thing for customers to worry about.

Q: Where can I find a glossary of manufacturing terms?

A: Great question! There is a whole page of industry key terms or glossary, if you will, on Fedtech's website at this link here. The terms range from everything manufacturing (focusing on waterjet and laser cutting) and if you can't find what you're looking for there, visit the FAQ's page and see if that helps. If nothing else, you can always ask me!

Q: How large is your equipment, net size, for waterjet cutting in the aerospace industry?

A: We have numerous large waterjet cutting envelopes. Our largest is 156" x 360", but you can see our whole facility list on our website. Our laser cutting beds are also large, so our capabilities for aerospace manufacturing are great.

Q: Where can I see some amazing laser cut projects?

A: We write stories about a ton of awesome laser and waterjet cut projects on our case studies page (complete with photos). It's my favorite part of the website and it gets updated the most as well.

Q: Are you a armored vehicle manufacturer?

A: We don't manufacture the vehicles themselves, we simply waterjet and laser cut the parts that are used for armor vehicles. We also have the capability in our facility to form large armor plate parts, and our vendor that I talked about before does all of our coating/painting so it all comes from our facility as a finished product part - straight to the final manufacturer.

Q: Can you cut glass on a water jet?

A: Yes we can.

Q: Can you laser cut glass?

A: We do not laser cut glass, this (as mentioned right above) is typically cut on our waterjet.

Q: How thick A36 material can be cut with waterjet?

A: We're able to waterjet cut carbon steel (and most other materials) up to 12" in thickness.

Hopefully that helps for this week! Come back soon for updated content, and of course check out www.fedtech.com for more info on our production and capabilities! Thanks for stopping by :)

Sarah

Custom this, Custom that...

Well the joys of being able to manufacture custom parts never fade away. I talked about the trumpet art sculpture in the last entry, and I might have talked about the custom retail display pieces we did (if not, here's the link) Oh, and of course the custom tile work, for the school in St. Paul... we waterjet cut tile from three different colors to create their school mascot (here's the link for that one too).

But what I can't figure out, is how these awesome projects find us. I mean, yes, I've been trying to improve our website, and update our case studies and project lists, but is there something more? I don't know... Is there something I'm missing that you guys want to see? If so, you should let me know and I'll be sure to get right on it!

Also, today I'm going to get all of our Fedtech gear up on the website, and available for whoever wants a piece or two... it's all pretty cheap prices too, so be sure to check it out. Should be up around lunch time, I would hope...

Let's see, what else here... Oh, as I mentioned last time about the John Deere award, it's now all over google, so be sure to check out all the places it's showing up! Yesterday I googled, "Fedtech John Deere Partner" and lots of results came up in places I didn't even expect! So it was pretty fun :)

I'll be back later this week with the "Ask Fedtech" portion of the blog, so don't fret! And be sure to send in your questions by Wednesday for a shot at being answered! (sarahw@fedtech.com) I'll be waiting!

Enjoy the day and make it count,

Sarah

Questions in Minnefacturing

Did I say Minnefacturing? I meant Minnesota Manufacturing. Now last week we covered some really neat stuff, so it'll be hard to beat those case studies (and the newsletter that was a real hoot!)

Well today I want to really focus on Minnesota Manufacturing, and our general dynamic way to make things work. Here we get such a rap for being Minnesota Nice, and compassionate. That's what I like to give customers the feel of, here at Fedtech. Because when you work with our sales team, each of the guys has a unique way of doing things and in a genuinely nice way. We're the essence of Minnesota (business) Nice!

And what is more Minnesotan than John Deere? You may have heard the news, but there've been recently published articles about how Fedtech has achieved 'Partner Status' with John Deere and company... which is great, because that is the highest level for suppliers to reach in their quality program at John Deere. (You can see photos and the article here!)

Now, for the questions of the week!

This is my favorite part :)

"Are there heat affected zones in abrasive waterjet cut parts?"
Nope! Waterjet cutting has no heat affected zones which makes it the perfect process for materials that need a smooth cut with no heat.

"Should I use laser or waterjet on my plastic parts?"
Most likely, waterjet. Laser has heat that sometimes doesn't work well with plastic and it's tendency to melt. However, waterjet is able to process plastic very well, and if the plastic is less than 1/8" then you're even able to use water-only waterjet cutting. Check with your sales team member, they'll help you decide.

"Where can I find custom gaskets for my car?"
You would not believe how common this question is. We've been asked to make Honda head gaskets, BMW, motorcycle head gaskets, titanium gaskets, and more. Of course we make gaskets, however we've found that when it comes to specializing in custom head gaskets for automotives... Clark Copper Head Gaskets (visit website) is a great place to go to fit that specialized need.

Well thats all the time I have for answering questions today. As always, feel free to email me at sarahw@fedtech.com if you have any questions for next week. Keep coming back to see what our next blog will be about :)

We cut it all, so can I cut a rug? Heck yes I could!

Sarah

Fedtech is "Booming"

Well I just had to write about this project that we just finished up. I went out and took pictures and they turned out beautiful on the blue sky that day! I was so excited to see how they turned out!

(See the case study on Fedtech's website here)

This sculpture that you see here, was custom laser cut at Fedtech for the luxurious apartment complex seen in the background, located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

The material used was 304 stainless steel (.500" thick) and was laser cut at our facility here in Minnesota. I absolutely love how the art piece turned out as you can see it at the right here, but I haven't even told you the best part yet!!

The best part is, that the parts were designed just right, so that when you view the sculpture straight on, you see the outline of a classic trumpet with music decor. Any other angle, and it looks like an otherwise beautiful sculpture as well, but when you know the secret, it's even cooler!

The bases of each part were also formed at Fedtech so that the parts would stand upright at the exact same angle. Other characteristics of this outdoor display, feature sculpted trees, flowers, comfy benches, and a gorgeous waterfall behind the sculpture.

Ultimately, it seems they are going to landscape the bases of the parts with flowers and more and the art piece will look even better! (If you can even imagine!)

If you want to see the whole case study, you can see the page I wrote up on our website about this project!

I also made sure to send out our quarterly newsletter today! The newsletter is something I have got sooo much positive feedback on, and so I get very excited to send out each one! Each newsletter features the 'best of the best' if you will, of the projects that we cut here at Fedtech.

So, if you're not a subscriber, you:

 a) definitely need to become one, and
b) need to check out the Fall newsletter for sure!

Military Manufacturing

Good morning!!!

It's funny that the longer you are in the business (of anything at all) the more you pick up on things outside of work. I was driving to work this morning and saw a hemit military vehicle driving down the road. You know, those ones that look all big and scary, army camo with like 10 tires? That's the one. And I thought, shoot! I should try and take a picture because we make all kinds of parts on those... but it was too late. I was in traffic and he wasn't so he sped right by without much chance for me to get a good pose. (Image seen here is from http://www.flickr.com/photos/sighlentj/2835840707)

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Just like when I was working in the auto industry, I'd notice things about cars that people in the medical field wouldn't notice. Or how those in the medical field notice things that I would never catch on to. That's the fun part about specialization. We each have our own little niche :)

I love seeing all the parts that we manufacture here in our facility for these projects. From tiny washers, to large panels, we custom manufacture parts for even the military and defense industry... I think the next entry I write will tell you all about the art and structural projects that we do as well... those are another personal favorite!

Anyways, if you wanted to see more on the military parts or if you want to read up on materials, processes, etc. Then visit our Defense Page on our website and read up on all the juicy details!

Have a great day!

Just-because-we-make-military-parts-doesn't-mean-we-don't-want-peace,

Sarah

Friday at Fedtech

Well as usual, I tend to update on Fridays here at Fedtech. A lot happens throughout the week so it's a great time to write about it all. First, I'll start with the questions of the week... those are always fun!

First, we have:

"What is the best cutting method for polycarbonate?"
Well, depending on how thick of material you are using, I would recommend using water-only waterjet for polycarbonate up to maybe .032". From there, you may have to switch to abrasive waterjet which cuts up to 12" thick.

"Can you make architectural stadium signs?"
Matter of a fact, we can! We've done a lot of signage for industries all over... and also a lot of stadium work. These are always a fun project for us to complete.

"How do copper slats on a laser work?"
Copper slats are becoming more popular among laser cutters because of their long lifespan, and less need for replacing. They cost about the same as changing your steel slats 8 times in 2 years, versus changing copper slats once every 2 years. You can see more at a website who sells the copper slats for lasers: http://www.lasergrating.com/

"Can phenolic be laser cut?"
No. But it can be waterjet cut.

"Can you laser cut foam board?"
No. But it can be waterjet cut...

"How much aluminum will a water jet cut through?"
Approximately 12" of aluminum can be cut with waterjet.

"What type of files should I give to waterjet cutters?"
Typically, we look for DXF, DWG, or some sort of CAD files. These are ideal.

Thanks for your questions! Remember to email me with any questions YOU might have and we'll feature them next week with answers. Keep your eyes peeled for case studies, which should be coming up very soon!

Warm lasers, 
Sarah

Manufacturing Monday!

If you're from Minnesota (like I am) or surrounding area, then you probably have noticed the huge drop in temperature today! It went from a high of 76° to a high of 56° in a day. So as I write this entry, I sit at my desk with a space heater by my feet, in September. And it's times like these that I remember why I just adore Minnesota...

Continuing onward, if you have been to our website lately (http://www.fedtech.com/) you may have noticed an addition to the left-hand navigation. I've added a "Cutting Method Quiz" and it seems to be a very popular portion of the website now! If you want to try it out and see for yourself, you can go ahead and visit the quiz page here: http://www.fedtech.com/Cutting-Quiz

The quiz asks you questions about your project (how thick? what material? etc.) and figures out the best cutting method for you and your project.

I also just want to give mad props to a recent business contact that I've established as far as printing our quarterly newsletters goes. I've talked to Jared from "The Goodprinter" in St. Paul, Minnesota and it was great to have some enthusiasm and hard work from him. As of now, I would definitely recommend him if you are looking to get things printed in the Twin Cities area.

Well that's it for today, questions of the week will come later this week so stay tuned :)

Peace, love and all things metal,
Sarah

Raindrops on roses and renewable energy...

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things...
(like the song? see the rest of the lyrics)

And amongst my favorite things... is my growing fascination with going green, renewable energy, and preserving the environment... I've found a few resources that are must-see's when it comes to being proactive with our planet :)

One of my favorite sites is called the "Green Guide" and it's actually hosted by National Geographic... What I love about this site is that it's everyday things that we can see or do. One of the featured items right now is about the stadiums around the U.S. that are becoming eco-friendly... You can click here to read "A Greener Playing Field" where they feature Miami, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Detroit's improvements.

"To distinguish it as ecofriendly, the American Airlines Arena includes reflective roofing materials, which reduce the need for forced cooling; water-efficient landscaping with drought-resistant plans and efficient "micro" irrigation; and underground parking instead of a heat-trapping asphalt lot" (The Green Guide).

Another article that I found there, was called "Tapped Out" which is a short story about bottled water and how Americans spent almost $11 million on bottled water in one year... then tossed over 22 billion empty plastic water bottles in the trash... Now I can say that I recognize the problem in this because I just wrote a speech a few months ago on the importance of recycling! Not that it matters, but I just wanted to take pride in a little bit that I've done my research... Anyways, that's a lot of trash... and a lot of waste.

Read that article if you get a chance, and then see how restauraunts have taken bottled water off their menus to help go green... There's obviously a lot more interesting facts in the article, so I'll let you peruse that as you wish.

Okay, next you have to see The Daily Green, which they call the "consumer's guide to the green revolution". Updated daily, the website features odds and ends ways to go green. My personal favorite is how to make one-of-a-kind home decor... an example? Using an old briefcase and turning it into a cat bed... where they took half of the briefcase, throw a pillow in it, and stick some posts on the end and voila! An upscale-looking feline-friendly home... Maybe you have to see it, to really grasp the wonder of it all... (in which, you'll want to click here)

Now if you're into do it yourself stuff, then you might recognize the website, "Do it Yourself" (or http://www.doityourself.com/) where the website helps with automotive repair, decorating, gardening and patio, plumbing, remodeling, woodworking, and more. Well now, the do it yourself site has an option to go green (and it even has a "NEW!" sign by it...) Here you can check out getting yourself a solar and wind kit... learn the secrets of green energy, find a contractor, or chat with other do-it-yourselfers in a forum. Either way, it's a site to check out.

Of course, who would I be to not mention that if you are in the industry of renewable energy (whether it be wind turbine manufacturing, solar panel manufacturing, or other means of getting the renewable energy taken care of on a major level), you will absolutely have to check out Fedtech's portion of the website that features how we help out companies like yours in renewable energy. Fedtech helps companies manufacture the large parts, intricate parts, or sensitive material, so that the green energy industry will live on!

Well hopefully these tips and tricks help you, help the environment, stay clean and liveable!

Have a happy Thursday!

Sarah