Although it's not something you would imagine being beautiful, you'd be surprised at how well you'd adjust to life on the production floor. No, it's not super dirty like you may picture. And no, it's not stuffy as portrayed either. On beautiful days like today, the doors swing open and let the cool summer breeze sweep through the stations.
Machines run, and operators guide and supervise the custom parts that are being made. It's certainly not a vision you would see on Mike Rowe's 'Dirty Jobs' show. It's a beautiful sight when projects are done, and employees are proud of the parts at hand. The customer smiles as they're presented - what's not beautiful about that?
We're not trying to come off as sappy. No, that's not the intention. We'd like to simply shed light on the lighter side of manufacturing that most people don't get to see. The beautiful side. Much in the same way Michael Hodges put together his "Tour Detroi's Ugly-Beautiful Manufacturing Landmarks", there is always more than one way to see things.
Think it over.
Fedtech
Showing posts with label laser cutting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laser cutting. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
the
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Show Notes for Manufacturing Podcast
Date: Thursday, June 10, 2010
Guest: Brent Erickson
To hear this podcast, click here.
Brent, the first question is; what are the advantages of waterjet versus laser cutting?
One advantage of waterjet cutting over laser cutting is there's no heat affected zones. A lot of times, this can make parts hard to work with, with secondary operations.
What are the advantages of the laser over waterjet cutting?
Lasers cut a lot faster, typically. Usually they're more economical and they hold a tighter tolerance. At the same time, with waterjet you can cut basically any material. With the laser you can be limited to stainless steels, carbon steels and aluminum.
And thin ones at that?
Not necessarily thin, we can do some plate, up to 3/16" thick for aluminum, 1/2" thick for stainless steel, and about 1" thick for carbon steel.
That answers the next question of how thick can laser cut?
Yeah, that's about the limits that we have.
So what's the best tool to cut teflon?
Teflon is typically used for either washers or small gaskets, or wearplates. Something like that is usually a water-only application, we run that on the waterjet with no abrasive mixed in. It's a real fine stream of water, about .006" in diameter, it's a real precise cut.
And why is that a benefit to cut this material without abrasive?
It just gives you a cleaner cut and allows us to hold better tolerances.
Is it possible to bend armor plate?
Yes, we do form armor plate. We do it on our largest press brake, it's a 352 ton brake with a 12 foot bed.
And that will get the job done.
Yeah.
How thick can a waterjet cut?
Usually about 12" is as thick as you want to go with the waterjet.
So, a lot thicker than laser.
Yeah, a lot thicker.
What's the best cutting method to cut bronze?
Here, we would do it on either on the waterjet or one of the milling centers, depending on what the part looks like.
How about perforated sheet metal? How would you form that?
Again, that would go on one of the press brakes. We do have three brakes here, so we do have some options with which equipment we would use.
Now one of the other questions that was brought up, is which is less expensive (because people are always looking for the cost-effective option.) Is it going to be waterjet cutting or laser cutting?
Typically it's going to be laser cutting. Again, the system is just more automated than the waterjet and the cutting speeds are a lot faster. Then again, you are limited to which materials you can use.
Does the abrasive have anything to do with it, is that a larger cost for the waterjet versus the laser, since laser doesn't use abrasive?
That is a big part of the cost of waterjet, there's a lot of consumables in the process that dictates the cost of it.
Another question we had was, if waterjet will warp a steel plate when it cuts.
Yes and no. The waterjet itself is not going to, due to any heat it adds. But at the same time, when you cut materials (especially steel) just the cutting process kinda relieves some of that natural stress within the plate. Sometimes that will have a tendency to warp, you're not going to see it as bad as you would on a flame cut part or a plasma cut part, but it can still warp.
Is it common to warp?
It depends on the type or the thickness of the plate and the type of the material. Typically A36, Grade 50, anything like that; that's under 3 or 4" - it's pretty good. Once you start getting to the thicker materials, or some of the higher tensile strengths is when you're going to start seeing some warpage.
When people say "Rockwell" or refer to a "Rockwell" what are they referring to?
Rockwell refers to a scale commonly used to note the hardness of a given material.
What is the difference between laser and waterjet cutting tolerances?
Laser can hold a tighter tolerance, typically on thinner materials; anything 1/8" or thinner we can hold +/- .003", once you start getting up to 3/8" or 1/2", we want to have a little more, maybe +/-.001".
On the waterjet, we can typically do +/- .005". If it's a real small feature, we can tighten that up some, but it's going to be on a case by case basis. Generally the tolerances on the laser are a little bit tighter and a little easier to control.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Taking Care of Business
Good afternoon readers!
Well it's only Monday and big things are already happening here at Fedtech. If you've been keeping up with the news, then you may be familiar with some of what's happening.
For starters, the new website is set to launch soon - so be prepared to check it out and make sure to watch our Twitter (@Fedtechinc) for the official update!
Here's a quick list of our current core industries: http://www.fedtech.com/industries.html
Please learn more about Fedtech, custom machine shop, at our website.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Recent Projects & Case Studies
News from Fedtech
Now, onto some neat projects and case studies that you may have been missing, due to http://www.fedtech.com/ being down for updates. So, get your fill here instead. See the following case studies and simply enjoy!
1. WATERJET CUTTING 7.5" THICK CARBON STEEL
Take one look at these parts featured here and it won't take long for you to notice that this material is incredibly thick. How thick? Well these parts were cut from 7.5" thick carbon steel (A36). The best way to cut this thick of carbon steel is to use abrasive waterjet cutting. We were able to cut through the material using multiple cutting heads (cutting down turnaround times) and waterjet cutting efficiently lacks heat affected zones (HAZ) as well.
SIDEBAR: Are you wondering about waterjet cutting or laser cutting and what they are, or which is better for your project? Find more on those processes on our company website, click here for waterjet cutting, and here for laser cutting.
That's all I have for this morning. Stay posted for updates!
Sarah
- Our new website is set to launch soon! Are you excited? You should be. The new design is going to be incredible, and we're eagerly anticipating our chance to show it off! Watch for the official announcement and then check it out. You'll definitely be pleasantly surprised!!
- As of today, you have 22 days left to enter our drawing for some freebies! Click here: http://www.fedtech.com/free to enter your email to win this month's prize! We draw a winner on July 1st, so watch your inbox!
- Did you know that we send you free stuff just for sending people our way? It's true. We appreciate the fact that word of mouth is a great way for customers to find us. We've sent out T-shirts, hats, and mugs to some great people who referred us to their friends. So go ahead and do the same and make sure they let us know you sent them! :)
Now, onto some neat projects and case studies that you may have been missing, due to http://www.fedtech.com/ being down for updates. So, get your fill here instead. See the following case studies and simply enjoy!
Take one look at these parts featured here and it won't take long for you to notice that this material is incredibly thick. How thick? Well these parts were cut from 7.5" thick carbon steel (A36). The best way to cut this thick of carbon steel is to use abrasive waterjet cutting. We were able to cut through the material using multiple cutting heads (cutting down turnaround times) and waterjet cutting efficiently lacks heat affected zones (HAZ) as well.
2. LASER CUT 310 STAINLESS STEEL
These bite-sized parts here fit right in the palm of my hand as you can see in the photo at the right. These 3" in diameter, circular, perforated steel parts were laser cut at Fedtech from 310 stainless steel. Each part featured 241 holes, at .098" in diameter each. The material itself, was .098" (2.5mm) thick. SIDEBAR: Are you wondering about waterjet cutting or laser cutting and what they are, or which is better for your project? Find more on those processes on our company website, click here for waterjet cutting, and here for laser cutting.
That's all I have for this morning. Stay posted for updates!
Sarah
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Some Fedtech Cutting Projects
So maybe you're pretty savvy when it comes to the internet. If that's the case, then you've probably heard of Twitpic.com, but in the case that you haven't, don't worry because you're hearing about it now. Twitpic.com allows you to post photos and share them on Twitter. We've added quite a few now and have a good-sized collection. You can check out our posted photos here: http://twitpic.com/photos/FedtechInc
Some of the photos that are shown there include previous case studies, but in all, it is our number one source for posting images. In other words, that's where you will find images that don't make it to the website, blog, or elsewhere.
An example of the latest pictures include:
1" thick waterjet cut UHMW
Custom machined brass handrail
Custom Aluminum business signage
And lots more. The images are always one-of-a-kind and sometimes if you're lucky, you'll find some photos from around the office of our cheerful squad in the sales and estimating department. It's always a surprise to see what pops up there, so be sure to check back often or just follow us on Twitter and get updates whenever a photo is posted on Twitpic!
Keep checking back here this week as well for a post on questions of the week and other good stuff from Fedtech!
Have a great day :)
Sarah
Some of the photos that are shown there include previous case studies, but in all, it is our number one source for posting images. In other words, that's where you will find images that don't make it to the website, blog, or elsewhere.
An example of the latest pictures include:
1" thick waterjet cut UHMW
Custom machined brass handrail
Custom Aluminum business signage
And lots more. The images are always one-of-a-kind and sometimes if you're lucky, you'll find some photos from around the office of our cheerful squad in the sales and estimating department. It's always a surprise to see what pops up there, so be sure to check back often or just follow us on Twitter and get updates whenever a photo is posted on Twitpic!
Keep checking back here this week as well for a post on questions of the week and other good stuff from Fedtech!
Have a great day :)
Sarah
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Some thoughts, some answers, some fun stuff from Fedtech
Good afternoon everyone! I am probably a little behind in blogging this week but it's been pretty busy so you'll just have to get used to it! There've been some cool projects going on lately (as I'm sure you probably would have guessed) and I've got some good photos to just throw out here today. So instead of doing a focused case study, I'll just do little blurbs for each photo and I think it should be pretty fun!
Now how cool is this shield to the right? Waterjet cut from wood and aluminum and assembled at our shop. The fun part about it, was that it was done for two Air Force members for their wedding! Now we don't know the whole story behind their relationship, but to have something this cool at their wedding is definiately something to be proud of.
These silicone rubber parts were .25" thick and were custom made. The gaskets used non-abrasive (water-only) waterjet cutting to keep the white silicone rubber nice and clean.
We really have a good time with the projects here, and each one is always a new experience. We've been open since 1996 and the stories that the guys have to tell about projects they've done in the past; it's always something different!
Question of the Week
Q) I need a metal screen/filtration part. Is that within the scope of Fedtech's work?
A) Absolutely. We have done so much work with filtration parts, perforated plate and screen fabrication that we welcome any type of part in that industry. If you're interested in seeing more, you can visit a page on our website dedicated specifically to perforated material.
Believe it or not, that is our question of the week! We didn't have many curious people last week so this is a short list! Hope all is well and take care!
Sarah
Fedtech, Inc.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Fabulous Fedtech Feels like Florida
It's been so warm here in Minnesota, it may just get confused for Florida... We've been loving the weather and it finally feels like Spring time is here! Most snow is melted and if you ignore the otherwise constant rain we've been getting, it's kind of nice!
Things inside the shop have been moving right along. The new press brake has been working wonders with armor plating and with it, we've been pressin on. (pun intended) The waterjets have been busy with mostly gaskets and flanges (both large and small) these days. The lasers have been pretty focused on thin aluminum projects along with some stainless steel work. Most of the mind-boggling work comes off the waterjets, since they can cut through a variety of material types and thicknesses.
I've been pretty busy designing the new website and putting the finishing touches on it before it goes into production. I can't give any secrets out, but let's just say that it will look like a whole new website... I'm VERY excited - the makeover is long past due.
View our website 5 years ago - View our current website
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK
Q) I have 1/2" stainless steel, should I use laser or waterjet?
A) It depends on when you'd need the parts. Sometimes lead times vary depending on how busy the waterjets or lasers are. However, if the lead times are equal, you might opt to use laser cutting as it often times costs less. At the same time, laser cutting does entail heat affected zones, so depending on the application, you may want to look into weighing the pro's and con's of each here.
Q) Can aluminum be cut with water-only waterjet?
A) Although tempting, you're not going to want to proceed with that idea. Water-only waterjet would leave rough edges on aluminum and is not able to cut through the material like abrasive waterjet can. Aluminum is better left for abrasive waterjet or laser cutting (depending on the thickness).
Q) I have a retail design that I'd like to cut from glass, can I do this with waterjet?
A) Absolutely. We've cut glass with abrasive waterjet before and can definitely look at your prints to see if your project is another success story waiting to happen.
Q) What are the odds of warping material when using waterjet vs. laser cutting?
A) Waterjet will not warp the material, and seldom does laser cutting warp material.
That's all the time that I have this week for questions. Now I have to end this here, but check back for more updates soon!
Ta ta for now,
Sarah
I've been pretty busy designing the new website and putting the finishing touches on it before it goes into production. I can't give any secrets out, but let's just say that it will look like a whole new website... I'm VERY excited - the makeover is long past due.
View our website 5 years ago - View our current website
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK
Q) I have 1/2" stainless steel, should I use laser or waterjet?
A) It depends on when you'd need the parts. Sometimes lead times vary depending on how busy the waterjets or lasers are. However, if the lead times are equal, you might opt to use laser cutting as it often times costs less. At the same time, laser cutting does entail heat affected zones, so depending on the application, you may want to look into weighing the pro's and con's of each here.
Q) Can aluminum be cut with water-only waterjet?
A) Although tempting, you're not going to want to proceed with that idea. Water-only waterjet would leave rough edges on aluminum and is not able to cut through the material like abrasive waterjet can. Aluminum is better left for abrasive waterjet or laser cutting (depending on the thickness).
Q) I have a retail design that I'd like to cut from glass, can I do this with waterjet?
A) Absolutely. We've cut glass with abrasive waterjet before and can definitely look at your prints to see if your project is another success story waiting to happen.
Q) What are the odds of warping material when using waterjet vs. laser cutting?
A) Waterjet will not warp the material, and seldom does laser cutting warp material.
That's all the time that I have this week for questions. Now I have to end this here, but check back for more updates soon!
Ta ta for now,
Sarah
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesdays with Sarah
*Image at right is from www.chumpsyclipart.com
With that being said, don't be discouraged because the sunshine is definitely worth losing a little sleep over. So chin up! It's going to be a great spring/summer...
Things have really been hopping at Fedtech. We've been completing a lot of cool projects that are definitely noteworthy. And since I can only pick one super sweet part of the week, you'll have to tune into our case studies section for all the others that don't get focused in on here!
Also, if you haven't already checked us out on Twitter, you definitely should. We post daily and keep our followers updated with projects, contests, news, and other fun stuff too. You can check us out at @Fedtechinc!
Well, without further adou, I suppose we should get on with the show!
Are you ready for....
Sarah's Super Sweet Pick of the Week
(Where, I, Sarah, pick my favorite parts that I found on the production floor)
If you were to look at the parts, you'd probably guess it were for some sort of automotive dashboard or some sort. If that really was your guess, then you're very right! The panels that were waterjet cut were used in select models of Ford Mustangs (not from the OEM but for aftermarket customizing).
The initial material came in 48" x 96" sheets of aluminum and fit with room to spare on our waterjet table. When the parts are all finished, they're inspected for quality and precision and then are shipped to the end customer.
I enjoy cars in general, and these parts would be awesome to see on the end product. I also thought in light of the auto show going on this week (in the Twin Cities, MN) that an automotive dashboard panel might not be a bad part to feature!
Hope you enjoyed!!
And now... for the questions of the week!
Question and Answer Segment
Q) Can you cut G-10 with the waterjet?
A) Yes! And here's a case study we've done to prove it: http://www.fedtech.com/phenolics
Q) How thick can a laser cut?
A) Our industrial lasers typically cut up to 5/8" in stainless steel and carbon steel and 1/8" for laser cutting aluminum.
Q) If I wanted to cut linoleum, what process should I use?
A) Waterjet cutting, since there's no heat affected zones (HAZ) then the linoleum won't have any issues with distortion or melting.
Sorry it's kind of a short list, but I must cut it short this week! Hope you have a great week.
Until next time!!
Sarah
Monday, February 15, 2010
Mondays Full of Manufacturing
Did you know that...
"On this day in 2003, the largest anti-war rally took place in Rome, Italy, where a crowd of 3 million gathered to protest against the USA's threat to invade Iraq." - Guinnessworldrecords.com
It's true.
And I also found out this morning, that the world steel production in 2010 is expected to be new record figure. Isn't that good news, considering what the economy has been like for the past couple years now. If you want to see a whole article on that, Metal-Supply.com has a nice little write up. Based on the article, there are a few reasons for the expected increase.
1. Chinese steel production and demand is likely to continue upwards greatly.
2. Indian steel manufacturing will hit an "all time" high this year based on the past year's turnout.
3. Manufacturing activity in many of the industrialized countries is improving, contributing to the rise in steel production this year.
But don't take my word for it, see the article and learn some more. Naturally it's just a prediction, but any thought-out prediction of an upcoming turnaround gives hope to the many shops relying on increasing production rates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
And now... it's time for
Sarah's Super Sweet Part of the Week
Be careful not to look too hard at the picture or you might get dizzy. The parts seen here were complex designs. However there were just a couple steps involved when creating this mystifying masterpiece.
After studying the customer’s prints, we used waterjet to cut through .470” thick aluminum. The interesting fact about this part is that it was all solely waterjet cut. The intricate design required the waterjet nozzle to loop and curve around the center in a elaborate pattern. While the use of the part is unknown, the complexity of it’s manufacturing has been solved.
I think this part is just so cool when you think of the intricacy involved. It didn't just take a shot in the dark to get it done. It was well designed, engineered, and ultimately well done!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's all I have for today. Check back in soon again, ya hear?
Have a productive Monday,
Sarah
"On this day in 2003, the largest anti-war rally took place in Rome, Italy, where a crowd of 3 million gathered to protest against the USA's threat to invade Iraq." - Guinnessworldrecords.com
It's true.
And I also found out this morning, that the world steel production in 2010 is expected to be new record figure. Isn't that good news, considering what the economy has been like for the past couple years now. If you want to see a whole article on that, Metal-Supply.com has a nice little write up. Based on the article, there are a few reasons for the expected increase.
1. Chinese steel production and demand is likely to continue upwards greatly.
2. Indian steel manufacturing will hit an "all time" high this year based on the past year's turnout.
3. Manufacturing activity in many of the industrialized countries is improving, contributing to the rise in steel production this year.
But don't take my word for it, see the article and learn some more. Naturally it's just a prediction, but any thought-out prediction of an upcoming turnaround gives hope to the many shops relying on increasing production rates.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
And now... it's time for
Sarah's Super Sweet Part of the Week
After studying the customer’s prints, we used waterjet to cut through .470” thick aluminum. The interesting fact about this part is that it was all solely waterjet cut. The intricate design required the waterjet nozzle to loop and curve around the center in a elaborate pattern. While the use of the part is unknown, the complexity of it’s manufacturing has been solved.
I think this part is just so cool when you think of the intricacy involved. It didn't just take a shot in the dark to get it done. It was well designed, engineered, and ultimately well done!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well that's all I have for today. Check back in soon again, ya hear?
Have a productive Monday,
Sarah
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Waiting for summer, living through winter
Well the grand winter days of Minnesota are wearing us thin. It was -7°F this morning when I came into Fedtech... Yes, we're used to it, but enough is enough. I'm ready to take back summer and get rid of these frigid days and nights. But, the show much go on and so it will!
These past couple months have been pretty busy if you couldn't tell, seeing as the last I entry that I wrote was back in early December. We've been getting a lot of requests for waterjet cutting. Which tells you two things, we do a great job with waterjet cutting (and even though we do great work with laser cutting...) the lead times are short on the lasers. Do you have a project that needs laser cutting? Now's the time to move it into production while you can!
If you haven't seen our website lately, we've added quite a few new case studies. This includes copper base plates, waterjet cut aluminum signage, urethane seals, micro machined parts and other updates as well. These projects were all very cool to watch and even more cool to read about and see photos.
We also have some news that hasn't been shared anywhere but here yet! It's pretty exciting: We're redesigning our whole website within the next 4-6 weeks! It's going to have a chic, updated look and feel. Not only this but the navigation will be much easier to manage for customers, and it will feature a search bar so that if you can't find what you're looking for, you'll be able to search the whole site for it! We have great plans for it, so I hope you'll tune in and see it when it's all done :)
Well that's it for today, I'll keep you posted with how things are going within the next couple weeks.
Until then, stay warm!
Sarah
These past couple months have been pretty busy if you couldn't tell, seeing as the last I entry that I wrote was back in early December. We've been getting a lot of requests for waterjet cutting. Which tells you two things, we do a great job with waterjet cutting (and even though we do great work with laser cutting...) the lead times are short on the lasers. Do you have a project that needs laser cutting? Now's the time to move it into production while you can!
If you haven't seen our website lately, we've added quite a few new case studies. This includes copper base plates, waterjet cut aluminum signage, urethane seals, micro machined parts and other updates as well. These projects were all very cool to watch and even more cool to read about and see photos.
We also have some news that hasn't been shared anywhere but here yet! It's pretty exciting: We're redesigning our whole website within the next 4-6 weeks! It's going to have a chic, updated look and feel. Not only this but the navigation will be much easier to manage for customers, and it will feature a search bar so that if you can't find what you're looking for, you'll be able to search the whole site for it! We have great plans for it, so I hope you'll tune in and see it when it's all done :)
Well that's it for today, I'll keep you posted with how things are going within the next couple weeks.
Until then, stay warm!
Sarah
Thursday, December 3, 2009
December Delights in Manufacturing
Well December has definitely arrived and you can definitely feel it. This morning was the first time I drove into work with snow on the ground and it was certainly an unwelcomed change. These past few weeks have been in the mid-40's so it's been nice. Now it was 17° F this morning and I think my car was crying on the way in... But welcome to Minnesota, huh?
Along with December 2009 (can you even believe it's that time of year again??) have come many new projects. Though confidential, we've been hard at work on parts for the defense and military industry. Which gives us a little extra skip in our step this holiday season to know that we're helping to protect the troops as well.
We've also taken a large step into a new kind of industry. Lately, we've been helping case manufacturers cut thick foam for padding in their cases like the photo seen here. This photo is of a Newport F-BK2 optical fiber cleaving tool. We don't make these ones, but it's the best photo that I could find as I haven't had a chance to get any of the ones we've made. The projects are a great fit for water-only waterjet cutting as it requires no abrasive and is very cost-effective. Leadtimes are also very short on our water-only waterjet table right now so if you're looking to custom pad cases of your own, Fedtech may be a good fit for you to look into! (www.fedtech.com/quote.php)
Another industry that has been popular for Fedtech is gasket cutting. We've had a lot of requests for copper gaskets, aluminum gaskets, rubber gaskets, and more. These are also a great fit for us, because waterjet is able to cut all these materials and more. Not only this, but it can cut tight tolerances and produce precise products (now say that ten times fast!)
Well now it's time for the questions of the week...
Question 1: Can hard, high density teflon be cut with waterjet?
Answer: Yes it can! We can use water-only waterjet for these types of projects.
Question 2: Can you laser cut tungsten?
Answer: We do not laser cut tungsten, not a good idea. Waterjet is a better choice for us to use on this material.
Question 3: How can I cut stainless steel circles?
Answer: Depending on the thickness of the stainless steel, you could use either laser or waterjet. If you want to cut steel thicker than 5/8" thick, you'll want to use waterjet for this project.
Question 4: What are some plastics that can be waterjet cut?
Answer: Oh goodness, well... it's going to be a lengthy list as waterjet cuts through nearly all plastics. This includes ABS, Acetron, Acetal, Acrylic, Celazole, Delrin, Ertalon, Ertalyte, Fluorosint, HDPE, Ketron, Nylon, Nylotron, PEEK, Polycarbonate, Proteus, Plexiglass, Polyethylene, PTFE, PVC, Sanalite, Semitron, Symalit, Techtron, Teflon, Thermoplastics, Tivar, Torlon, UHMW, Vespel, and more... *breathe*
Question 5: Which uses more energy; waterjet cutting or laser cutting?
Answer: That is a phenomenal questions. Since many of us are concerned with being green, and environmentally friendly, energy usage is a hot topic in nearly any industry. Now in the case of waterjet vs. laser cutting, it's obviously going to depend on the size of the project. However I don't have the ability to say which takes up more energy at the time.
That's the last of the questions for this week! Come back and visit again soon!
Warm holidays and weather,
Sarah
Along with December 2009 (can you even believe it's that time of year again??) have come many new projects. Though confidential, we've been hard at work on parts for the defense and military industry. Which gives us a little extra skip in our step this holiday season to know that we're helping to protect the troops as well.
Another industry that has been popular for Fedtech is gasket cutting. We've had a lot of requests for copper gaskets, aluminum gaskets, rubber gaskets, and more. These are also a great fit for us, because waterjet is able to cut all these materials and more. Not only this, but it can cut tight tolerances and produce precise products (now say that ten times fast!)
Well now it's time for the questions of the week...
Question 1: Can hard, high density teflon be cut with waterjet?
Answer: Yes it can! We can use water-only waterjet for these types of projects.
Question 2: Can you laser cut tungsten?
Answer: We do not laser cut tungsten, not a good idea. Waterjet is a better choice for us to use on this material.
Question 3: How can I cut stainless steel circles?
Answer: Depending on the thickness of the stainless steel, you could use either laser or waterjet. If you want to cut steel thicker than 5/8" thick, you'll want to use waterjet for this project.
Question 4: What are some plastics that can be waterjet cut?
Answer: Oh goodness, well... it's going to be a lengthy list as waterjet cuts through nearly all plastics. This includes ABS, Acetron, Acetal, Acrylic, Celazole, Delrin, Ertalon, Ertalyte, Fluorosint, HDPE, Ketron, Nylon, Nylotron, PEEK, Polycarbonate, Proteus, Plexiglass, Polyethylene, PTFE, PVC, Sanalite, Semitron, Symalit, Techtron, Teflon, Thermoplastics, Tivar, Torlon, UHMW, Vespel, and more... *breathe*
Question 5: Which uses more energy; waterjet cutting or laser cutting?
Answer: That is a phenomenal questions. Since many of us are concerned with being green, and environmentally friendly, energy usage is a hot topic in nearly any industry. Now in the case of waterjet vs. laser cutting, it's obviously going to depend on the size of the project. However I don't have the ability to say which takes up more energy at the time.
That's the last of the questions for this week! Come back and visit again soon!
Warm holidays and weather,
Sarah
Friday, November 13, 2009
Fridays at Fedtech
Questions of the week:
Can you custom manufacture gaskets for companies in Minnesota?
Yes we can! We simply need the prints from you, you can email them to sarahw@fedtech.com and they'll get handled right away.
Is Fedtech in Fridley or Anoka?
Actually neither. Fedtech is in Mounds View, MN - very close to New Brighton.
Is it possible to cut slate with a laser cutter?
It may be possible, though not recommended. Slate or tile is a good application for waterjet cutting though.
What tolerance does waterjet hold?
It really depends on the machinery, but our waterjets hold a tolerance of about ±.003".
Can you custom manufacture gaskets for companies in Minnesota?
Yes we can! We simply need the prints from you, you can email them to sarahw@fedtech.com and they'll get handled right away.
Is Fedtech in Fridley or Anoka?
Actually neither. Fedtech is in Mounds View, MN - very close to New Brighton.
Is it possible to cut slate with a laser cutter?
It may be possible, though not recommended. Slate or tile is a good application for waterjet cutting though.
What tolerance does waterjet hold?
It really depends on the machinery, but our waterjets hold a tolerance of about ±.003".
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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...
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
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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...
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
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
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
More Manufacturing Questions - Answered!
Well I return here with more answered questions! This week's ask Fedtech will feature questions that you yourselves have asked in the last week! So prep yourself, sit down, grab a cup of coffee and read on!
First question...
What's the difference between 17-4 stainless steel and 17-7 stainless steel?
That's a great question, typically the two grades just have different nickel content.
Next one, what are the advantages of using abrasive waterjet cutting?
There are some great advantages of abrasive waterjet. First off, you can cut through material up to 12" thick while still maintaining a smooth edge and minimal taper, depending on the material. Not only this, but it can cut hard materials like steel and titanium.
What is the best way to cut "AR" steel?
By "AR" I'm going to assume you mean armor plating, such as AR236, or AR400, AR500, etc. The best way to cut these materials is waterjet cutting. Since they are generally hard materials, it's often cut with abrasive waterjet.
What's the difference between waterjet cutting and laser cutting?
Since we answered this last week (but it's such a common question) I will redirect your answer to my latest discovery. This website now has a 'Cutting Method Assessment' tool that determines which process is best for your particular project. Give it a try, otherwise if you want to see waterjet and laser compared side by side, you can visit Fedtech.com for lots of information comparing the two.
How do I tell if an aluminum part has been laser cut?
Well if it's a matter between life and death, then you may be out of luck. But a general rule of thumb is to laser cut aluminum if it's thin, otherwise we use waterjet cutting for anything over 1/8" thick. You can usually tell what materials are laser cut as well because laser cutting sometimes leaves HAZ's, or a heat trail. You can see the edges where the laser cut, because there may be some discoloration.
How can I cut urethane?
We usually use water-only waterjet cutting for urethane parts.
Is AR500 used as ballistic armor?
Yes, it can be. But I wouldn't call it ballistic armor because it's not that strong. It's more mild, I'd opt to call it abrasion resistant instead.
What are some renewable materials used for waterjet cutting?
I think the question is intending to ask either, what makes waterjet cutting a green option, or what can waterjet cut as far as renewable materials go? I'll answer both. What we consider waterjet cutting green for, is because:
* recycle our abrasive that is used in our cutting process
* recycle our water from our RO systems
* recycle all of our metals
* test our air compressor system plant wide for leaks and reduce air pressure to optimum levels
As far are renewable materials that you can cut with waterjet, this could include bamboo, cork, plastic (polycarbonate, acrylic, nylon, polyethylene, HDPE) or rubber (foam, silicone, urethane, vinyl, neoprene) and more. We also process numerous composites with waterjet this can include glass, ceramics, linoleum, and others.
Well that's all the time that I have for this week. I'll be back next week to answer more questions that you guys send me! Comment on the post or email me at sarahw@fedtech.com and I'll get you some answers!
Have a great week!
Feed Shark
First question...
What's the difference between 17-4 stainless steel and 17-7 stainless steel?
That's a great question, typically the two grades just have different nickel content.
Next one, what are the advantages of using abrasive waterjet cutting?
There are some great advantages of abrasive waterjet. First off, you can cut through material up to 12" thick while still maintaining a smooth edge and minimal taper, depending on the material. Not only this, but it can cut hard materials like steel and titanium.
What is the best way to cut "AR" steel?
By "AR" I'm going to assume you mean armor plating, such as AR236, or AR400, AR500, etc. The best way to cut these materials is waterjet cutting. Since they are generally hard materials, it's often cut with abrasive waterjet.
What's the difference between waterjet cutting and laser cutting?
Since we answered this last week (but it's such a common question) I will redirect your answer to my latest discovery. This website now has a 'Cutting Method Assessment' tool that determines which process is best for your particular project. Give it a try, otherwise if you want to see waterjet and laser compared side by side, you can visit Fedtech.com for lots of information comparing the two.
How do I tell if an aluminum part has been laser cut?
Well if it's a matter between life and death, then you may be out of luck. But a general rule of thumb is to laser cut aluminum if it's thin, otherwise we use waterjet cutting for anything over 1/8" thick. You can usually tell what materials are laser cut as well because laser cutting sometimes leaves HAZ's, or a heat trail. You can see the edges where the laser cut, because there may be some discoloration.
How can I cut urethane?
We usually use water-only waterjet cutting for urethane parts.
Is AR500 used as ballistic armor?
Yes, it can be. But I wouldn't call it ballistic armor because it's not that strong. It's more mild, I'd opt to call it abrasion resistant instead.
What are some renewable materials used for waterjet cutting?
I think the question is intending to ask either, what makes waterjet cutting a green option, or what can waterjet cut as far as renewable materials go? I'll answer both. What we consider waterjet cutting green for, is because:
* recycle our abrasive that is used in our cutting process
* recycle our water from our RO systems
* recycle all of our metals
* test our air compressor system plant wide for leaks and reduce air pressure to optimum levels
As far are renewable materials that you can cut with waterjet, this could include bamboo, cork, plastic (polycarbonate, acrylic, nylon, polyethylene, HDPE) or rubber (foam, silicone, urethane, vinyl, neoprene) and more. We also process numerous composites with waterjet this can include glass, ceramics, linoleum, and others.
Well that's all the time that I have for this week. I'll be back next week to answer more questions that you guys send me! Comment on the post or email me at sarahw@fedtech.com and I'll get you some answers!
Have a great week!
Feed Shark
Friday, November 14, 2008
Laser Cutting of Sculptures at Fedtech
So we have a couple sweet projects we've done this week so I wanted to focus on those in an entry this week, after all it's been a little while since I updated our blog!
Sooooo first, I will start with this trumpet sculpture because, c'mon, it's really cool lookin! The company who did this is pretty well-known in the Twin Cities area. The sculpture they designed here will go in a park where the pieces of steel are to be spaced equally apart from each other. When you look at the sculpture from different angles, it's equally interesting. But when you look at it from straight on, it looks amazing. Isn't it crazy what some people can come up with? I'm just glad we could help out on such a cool project! I can't wait to see it outside where it belongs in the park!
Technical notes: To complete this project, these pieces were laser cut from 1/2" 304 Stainless Steel.
Stay tuned for my next post, I'll talk about another cool project :)
Thanks for reading, see you soon!
Sarah
Sooooo first, I will start with this trumpet sculpture because, c'mon, it's really cool lookin! The company who did this is pretty well-known in the Twin Cities area. The sculpture they designed here will go in a park where the pieces of steel are to be spaced equally apart from each other. When you look at the sculpture from different angles, it's equally interesting. But when you look at it from straight on, it looks amazing. Isn't it crazy what some people can come up with? I'm just glad we could help out on such a cool project! I can't wait to see it outside where it belongs in the park!Technical notes: To complete this project, these pieces were laser cut from 1/2" 304 Stainless Steel.
Stay tuned for my next post, I'll talk about another cool project :)
Thanks for reading, see you soon!
Sarah
Monday, October 6, 2008
Where can I learn about waterjet cutting?
Learning about waterjet cutting is very easy. It's getting up-to-date, quality information that is the hard part. Be critical when reviewing information online. It's difficult to research accurate information as capabilities are continuously changing and improving.
A good rule of thumb is to check the credibility of the source you are referrencing. Though this might be a given, alot of the time people tend to forget this when they are desperate to find information on a certain topic.
I know while I've been doing research on what other manufacturing shops are doing, I've come across different statistics and capabilities that might very well be true, but could also be very false. Do your research, and you'll find the information you need.
Some good resources for learning about waterjet cutting include:
Wikipedia
ThomasNet (This is also a good resource for finding a service provider near you)
Wardjet (A leader in sales of waterjet machines)
The Fabricator (Top magazine for fabricating/manufacturing industries)
Fedtech (An established manufacturing shop in Minnesota)
When it comes to laser cutting, you often hear: Where can I learn more about laser cutting?
Well, here are some excellent resources for laser cutting:
Fedtech
Global Spec
CNC Information
Wikipedia
ThomasNet
Another great source that you can take with you is an informational podcast about manufacturing. Each episode features a different manufacturing process and serves as an educational learning tool for listeners interesting in finding out more about waterjet cutting, laser cutting, finishing, forming, welding, drilling, tapping, and more. You can find that podcast at www.modernmanufacturing.mypodcast.com or search for "Modern Manufacturing" in iTunes.
Hope this helps! If you have any questions feel free to send me a message at sarahw@fedtech.com and I will do my best to answer them in my next posts!
As always, thanks for reading!!! Have a good day :)
A good rule of thumb is to check the credibility of the source you are referrencing. Though this might be a given, alot of the time people tend to forget this when they are desperate to find information on a certain topic.
I know while I've been doing research on what other manufacturing shops are doing, I've come across different statistics and capabilities that might very well be true, but could also be very false. Do your research, and you'll find the information you need.
Some good resources for learning about waterjet cutting include:
Wikipedia
ThomasNet (This is also a good resource for finding a service provider near you)
Wardjet (A leader in sales of waterjet machines)
The Fabricator (Top magazine for fabricating/manufacturing industries)
Fedtech (An established manufacturing shop in Minnesota)
When it comes to laser cutting, you often hear: Where can I learn more about laser cutting?
Well, here are some excellent resources for laser cutting:
Fedtech
Global Spec
CNC Information
Wikipedia
ThomasNet
Another great source that you can take with you is an informational podcast about manufacturing. Each episode features a different manufacturing process and serves as an educational learning tool for listeners interesting in finding out more about waterjet cutting, laser cutting, finishing, forming, welding, drilling, tapping, and more. You can find that podcast at www.modernmanufacturing.mypodcast.com or search for "Modern Manufacturing" in iTunes.
Hope this helps! If you have any questions feel free to send me a message at sarahw@fedtech.com and I will do my best to answer them in my next posts!
As always, thanks for reading!!! Have a good day :)
Friday, September 19, 2008
How do I cut this stuff??
A familiar question to me now is; How do I cut steel?
(Other versions of this question include; How can I cut stainless steel? How can I cut through copper? How can I cut stuff from thick aluminum? etc.)
The obvious answer is; Superman. But when he's not available the next best thing is waterjet cutting (or laser cutting) depending on the thickness of the metal that you want to process.
Typically stainless steel that is over 3/4" thick should be cut using abrasive waterjet. But anything less than that is fair game for laser. Unless you really do want to use waterjet cutting, you can go that route too. Waterjet cuts materials as thin as .001" and as thick as 12" which is pretty amazing in itself.
Now I know what you're thinking, what if I'm not cutting stainless steel? What if I'm trying to cut thick aluminum, or copper, or a cheese pizza?? Well... in that case, aluminum can be cut using waterjet (not so much the choice project for laser, but it could be I guess) and for copper, that is straight up an abrasive waterjet cutting job. And cheese pizza? You could opt for water-only cutting, as this video demonstrates... But that's besides the point.
To see a chart demonstrating the difference between waterjet and laser cutting, you can visit Fedtech's website and compare the two.
Either way... good luck with that! At least you know what you're doing now :)
(Other versions of this question include; How can I cut stainless steel? How can I cut through copper? How can I cut stuff from thick aluminum? etc.)
The obvious answer is; Superman. But when he's not available the next best thing is waterjet cutting (or laser cutting) depending on the thickness of the metal that you want to process.
Typically stainless steel that is over 3/4" thick should be cut using abrasive waterjet. But anything less than that is fair game for laser. Unless you really do want to use waterjet cutting, you can go that route too. Waterjet cuts materials as thin as .001" and as thick as 12" which is pretty amazing in itself.
Now I know what you're thinking, what if I'm not cutting stainless steel? What if I'm trying to cut thick aluminum, or copper, or a cheese pizza?? Well... in that case, aluminum can be cut using waterjet (not so much the choice project for laser, but it could be I guess) and for copper, that is straight up an abrasive waterjet cutting job. And cheese pizza? You could opt for water-only cutting, as this video demonstrates... But that's besides the point.
To see a chart demonstrating the difference between waterjet and laser cutting, you can visit Fedtech's website and compare the two.
Either way... good luck with that! At least you know what you're doing now :)
Monday, August 25, 2008
Wonderful World of Waterjet (www)
Well it's as if I can't explain how wonderful waterjet cutting is. Before taking this job here (you can see our full homepage at Fedtech.com), I always thought of the manufacturing world as a very dirty, hard-pressed territory (and elsewhere it might be) but boy have I proven that to be so wrong.
I think the neatest thing here is that these waterjets can cut through materials never even thought possible before. The first project I took pictures of was abrasive waterjet cutting through 10" thick copper rounds without any taper or edges... and sure enough when all was said and done, there it was. (You can see more about this story here...)
And then the next day they cut 9.25" aluminum blocks... leaving the drop in one clean piece that was both much cleaner but even more important, had the ability to be recycled or reused (saving a lot of money). This was equally impressive, if you want to see pictures of that one, you can see the case study here...
I think my favorite project yet though, was processing these tiny titanium strips (.025" thick) that would be used for a conducting electricity in a line of vacuum cleaners. This was so cool because 13,200 pieces were cut in a matter of a day (obviously it takes a bit longer in the process of things though since we had to make the CAD file, order the material, and then figure it into the schedule of the waterjets) but it was very cool to see these parts cut. The coolest part of it, was that when waterjet cuts through titanium, sparks just fly! It's really cool to see, but kind of scary when you see it for your first time... I was definitely worried for the waterjet operator's fingers but he laughed and assured me not to worry they do it every day... I guess! (You can see pictures of that project here!)
Anyways, I just had to share the details. I'm sure I'll have more fun things to say as time goes on, so I'll keep you all posted. Until then, keep on cuttin on! (Get it, waterjet cutting? Haha...)
I think the neatest thing here is that these waterjets can cut through materials never even thought possible before. The first project I took pictures of was abrasive waterjet cutting through 10" thick copper rounds without any taper or edges... and sure enough when all was said and done, there it was. (You can see more about this story here...)
And then the next day they cut 9.25" aluminum blocks... leaving the drop in one clean piece that was both much cleaner but even more important, had the ability to be recycled or reused (saving a lot of money). This was equally impressive, if you want to see pictures of that one, you can see the case study here...
I think my favorite project yet though, was processing these tiny titanium strips (.025" thick) that would be used for a conducting electricity in a line of vacuum cleaners. This was so cool because 13,200 pieces were cut in a matter of a day (obviously it takes a bit longer in the process of things though since we had to make the CAD file, order the material, and then figure it into the schedule of the waterjets) but it was very cool to see these parts cut. The coolest part of it, was that when waterjet cuts through titanium, sparks just fly! It's really cool to see, but kind of scary when you see it for your first time... I was definitely worried for the waterjet operator's fingers but he laughed and assured me not to worry they do it every day... I guess! (You can see pictures of that project here!)
Anyways, I just had to share the details. I'm sure I'll have more fun things to say as time goes on, so I'll keep you all posted. Until then, keep on cuttin on! (Get it, waterjet cutting? Haha...)
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