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