So I'm working on a prototype rack for my Diamondback bed cover (more on that later) and needed some fairly intricate cuts done on 1/4" aluminum plate. My initial pl...
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- Thread starter Ryan
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So I'm working on a prototype rack for my Diamondback bed cover (more on that later) and needed some fairly intricate cuts done on 1/4" aluminum plate. My initial pl...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
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it really is an amazing service if you're handy enough to be able to design the parts. I designed a 2x48 belt sander frame and had them cut it for me. Came out perfect and allowed me to make a tool I otherwise would never have had the capability to.
elvee
Well-known member
Laser cutting is really the way to go over water jet, if they can deal with the material thickness. At my shop we farm out most of our steel sheet work to one of two local laser shops. Most aluminum sheet and plate cutting gets done on our 5x10 router table though. Water jet, especially on thicker material, requires too much cleanup afterwards. And lasers are starting to come down in price, making them that much more appealing.
JSGAuto
Well-known member
Like any other manufacturing processes, there are pluses and minuses to each. The newer waterjet technology (OMAX tilt-a-jet or A-Jet for example) has very little clean up from taper. But with thicker material (several inches thick), the velocity does slow down and can create issues.
The laser has just as much issues with clean up, as the material gets thicker. But more importantly you have to consider material properties. A laser creates a heat effect zone which could cause serious strength issues, and also difficulty machining later.
For aluminum 1/4" Plate, waterjet is the way to go.
Jim
dr_clyde
Well-known member
I am very fortunate to have an outstanding laser shop just down the street.
They are a customer of mine, and we share work often. I design just about everything with laser cutting in mind, mostly because it is incredible how cheap and fast it is now.
I often times can't buy raw metal cheaper than they can supply a finished part. These new fiber lasers can absolutely fly, and they can cut a wider range of materials than mirror lasers, like copper.
Waterjets have their place too, for sure. We get any steel over 1" waterjet cut, as well as over 1/2" stainless and 1/2" aluminum too. Waterjets also excel at plastics, composites like fiberglass, wood, just about anything imaginable. Yep, they're slower, but the cut quality with these tilting stream waterjets is very good.
They are a customer of mine, and we share work often. I design just about everything with laser cutting in mind, mostly because it is incredible how cheap and fast it is now.
I often times can't buy raw metal cheaper than they can supply a finished part. These new fiber lasers can absolutely fly, and they can cut a wider range of materials than mirror lasers, like copper.
Waterjets have their place too, for sure. We get any steel over 1" waterjet cut, as well as over 1/2" stainless and 1/2" aluminum too. Waterjets also excel at plastics, composites like fiberglass, wood, just about anything imaginable. Yep, they're slower, but the cut quality with these tilting stream waterjets is very good.
OP
That might be the case from a metallurgy standpoint, but from a tolerance and finish perspective, what I got back is as close to as perfect as I could ever expect. These things look as though there were cut with a router template and then edges sanded to like 220 or something. I'm super impressed.
aka Larry
Well-known member
I've had several projects done by SCS and have been very please with their pricing, quality, and expediency.
Metallitubby
Well-known member
Ryan,
I had never heard about this service until you posted it here. If nothing else, it gives me reasons to start making more small parts the correct way instead of "drill, cut, drill, cut, grind, grind, grind, paint"
I had never heard about this service until you posted it here. If nothing else, it gives me reasons to start making more small parts the correct way instead of "drill, cut, drill, cut, grind, grind, grind, paint"
casmurbax
Well-known member
Is this the new diamond back cover, that the company sent you to review or different one?
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464001
A co-worker of mine used this company and was absolutely thrilled with the results and the cost.
Those pieces look really nice.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=464001
A co-worker of mine used this company and was absolutely thrilled with the results and the cost.
Those pieces look really nice.
OP
Not the same one from my last review, but a Diamondback cover on a Toyota Tacoma... I plan on making a video of the build. It's coming along nicely... and I think it's gonna be crazy functional.
SCS are great guys.....I know them personally, and they will take care of you. They are into ev cars, hot rods, and such too. Jake and Jim are good dudes....true hot rodders, but also professional, uber smart guys.
Have you guys ever seen the Teslonda? Look it up on youtube.....Jim Belosic the guy from SCS with Teslonda....Jake is working on an ev dirtbike right now.....about to get it done, with a Yamaha yz450 chassis....
Have you guys ever seen the Teslonda? Look it up on youtube.....Jim Belosic the guy from SCS with Teslonda....Jake is working on an ev dirtbike right now.....about to get it done, with a Yamaha yz450 chassis....
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matt_i
Well-known member
Nothing but good to say about them, I'm about 5 projects into their services with several "on the brain".
I did use Alro here in MI last year as they could laser cut 3/4" HR that I needed for a project. They said they could do 1" thick as an upper limit. The 3/4" came out impressively finished on the sides.
I did use Alro here in MI last year as they could laser cut 3/4" HR that I needed for a project. They said they could do 1" thick as an upper limit. The 3/4" came out impressively finished on the sides.
VR6ix
Well-known member
SendCutSend said:
Throw some calipers on those brackets and tell us how the dimensions compare to the file you sent!
Any decent fibre laser with some power will rip through 1/4" aluminium no problem and the deburring will get you that nice clean finished edge. We have a 6K Bystronic laser at the shop I work at and the cut speeds and rapids are crazy fast for a machine that's a bit more than a few years old now - no reason to go waterjet until the thickness is too much for a laser to handle. If the part needs to be precise we just add extra material to the laser blank and have the CNC guys machine it down to print.
Can't wait to see "SendPaintSend" or,... "SendPowdercoatSend"... or "SendChromeSend"... "SendCNCSend" - lol the possibilities are endless!
OP
I have... The easiest measurement is the height of the main body of the rails. They were designed at 2" tall. Using my calipers, I get 1.998" pretty consistently across the rail... Very little variance and what is there can be explained away as caliper error and how I'm casually measuring...
paranoid56
Well-known member
for singles and whatnot they are ok, but or qty their price is kinda high
PDX
Well-known member
Would you mind naming names? Been lurking around here for years but I don't have enough posts to PM you yet, hah!
OP
Bodj Built
Well-known member
Dang! I remember you from being on DR back in the day haha
dv8customs
Well-known member
I have used SCS several times and everytime the parts have been exactly what I needed
PDX
Well-known member
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I've had nothing but great experiences with SCS.
Time is money when it comes to production, even if it is your time for your projects. I'm often in the need of wanting something done quickly just to get a project done faster and not absorb time I could be doing something else.
Metallitubby
Well-known member
Time is money when it comes to production, even if it is your time for your projects. I'm often in the need of wanting something done quickly just to get a project done faster and not absorb time I could be doing something else.
I fully agree. I have access to our (Honda's) facilities, but often the hassle of setting up, cleaning, and just waiting for them to become available isn't worth the time or effort.
I have plenty of time and experience making things in vector files, so SCS is perfect for someone like me.
Huge fan of SCS. They’re basically my ace in the sleeve for prototypes for customers.
You need it when? I don’t know, I’ll see what I can do.
Pro tip: for 3D objects, add a serrated line to relieve some material and bending steel and aluminum sheet becomes really easy with a basic brake or jig.
Prototype voting system enclosures.
You need it when? I don’t know, I’ll see what I can do.
Pro tip: for 3D objects, add a serrated line to relieve some material and bending steel and aluminum sheet becomes really easy with a basic brake or jig.
Prototype voting system enclosures.
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JSGAuto
Well-known member
That is because they were. They use a time saver, which is why the surface of the part looks like it does. and not like raw plate (or sheet) stock.
Like I said, each machine has its place. I use both types of machines daily, its just important that you (and whoever is reading), is understanding what they are buying.
Jim
Sometimes local is the way to go and in a lot of chances it may be cheaper to keep it local. Sometimes it works out that way but sometimes it doesn't. I think it also depends on the process you need and when you need it.
aka Larry
Well-known member
SCS is setup for the 'one-off' type projects. My local shop is not interested in that type of work.
Actually I'm not sure how SCS could make their process any easier, which makes it super convenient. Upload a vector file, choose the material, and get an instant quote.
I'm on the east coast and the time frame from the quote to the product being at my door is typically just six days.
grant00
Well-known member
SendCutSend is fantastic. I use them for custom car parts and brackets. They just recently added press brake bending to their services starting at only $5 which is awesome for thicker parts but I also bought a box and pan brake to bend up the parts I don't want to pay to have bent. $5 for a one off part in a press brake is better than any local shop will do for single/low quantities. They also have carbon fiber, plywood, and various plastics now as well!
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Good stuff! I am interested in doing a knife project... will give them a shot.
JackOfDiamonds
Well-known member
I did some 1/2 aluminum as well and it was both expensive and the kerf wasn't very good. I conclude that 1/2" aluminum is just not optimum for this service if you need good tolerances but I use them for 1/8 chromoly and 1095 like it's going out of style. It's almost too good to be true for a hobbyist.
sz0k30
Well-known member
I've found the same thing, unless your buddy owns the shop. Around here shops don't work for beer. They have a minimum price just to turn on the machine & go up from there.
dr_clyde
Well-known member
Aluminum is hard to cut on a laser once you get above a certain thickness.
Lasers are optimized to cut steel and stainless, but they can do a passable job on nonferrous metals up to a point.
After a certain thickness, waterjet, plasma or oxyfuel becomes more competitive.
Lasers are optimized to cut steel and stainless, but they can do a passable job on nonferrous metals up to a point.
After a certain thickness, waterjet, plasma or oxyfuel becomes more competitive.
Itsjustdirt
Well-known member
Very cool! Is there any way for someone who doesn't know how to create the cutting file to have parts made?
Say someone designs a part and draws everything out with precise measurements... Is there a way for this person to get part made without being friends with someone? Can you pay someone to make this into a file?
Say someone designs a part and draws everything out with precise measurements... Is there a way for this person to get part made without being friends with someone? Can you pay someone to make this into a file?
aka Larry
Well-known member
AFAIk, not by SCS.
Send me your drawing. I can probably help you out.
4 FN 27
ALLIANCE MEMBER
8000 Watts Maximum Cutting thickness (at least on our Mitsubishi's):
1.000 thick Hot Rolled
.500 Stainless
.375 Aluminum
Thickest I have done in the Water Jet was 2 in Bar Stock and 2 inch Aluminum. Have done some D2 Tool Steel at 1.500 thick +/-.
The Laser only houses are racing their way to the bottom on pricing to stay competitive which is a good thing for GJ peeps. Us, we'll stick with the value add of complete fabrication including BOM Management and Assembly.
A few of our latest creations:
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OP
Wow. Rad.