water jet machine, will it leave a clean edge on glass

[scootinbob]

Ok buying glass trophys and sculptures is getting kinda expensive and I want to make custom images, what is a good water jet to buy and does it leave a clean edge on the glass? I want to open up another department to my buisness and I think this may pan out I hope anyways by advertising custom glass trophys and so on. I dont know much about water jets at this time but if someone knows could you help me out.

 

[andy]

Waterjets produce a smooth frosted cut edge on glass. What specific type of glass do you need to cut?

Before you spend too much time researching waterjets it's worth pointing out that these are VERY expensive machines which require a lot of TLC and a strict maintenance routine; you will need to strip and rebuild most water and hydraulic side assemblies several times a year replacing parts which cost several hundred dollars each (and all your parts are always paired cos there are two sides to your pump system).

What you've got to work out is how much profit you can make from each piece of glass cut and then compare this to the cost of machine hours.... due to the life cycles of expensive consumable parts waterjet is one production method you do not want to waste on nickle and dime production.... you'll spend more on maintaining your machine than you will earn from running it.

 

[Dzrt1st]

Straight from the horse's mouth -

http://www.flowwaterjet.com/en/default.aspx

 

[scootinbob]

I'm cutting 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch glass award trophys, but with custom images and some 45 or 30 degree edges

 

[schramm]

To do things that small you will need a 5 axis water jet. I use a company from time to time in Chicago to do mine and the edges are great and with a 5 axis machine you have options. I would love to own one and have thought about the purchase a bunch of times but I love out sourcing that kind of work to the experts. I buy all glass, mirror and speciality glass at wholesale rates which helps offset the cost that intricate water jetting can cost. I love getting letting done. I did a blue mirror logo with clear mirror lettering and used a water jetting company to get that done.

 

[andy]

Schramm,

Have you got any info on mirror and specialist glass? We have a waterjet setup in our shop and glass is something we don't really push as much as we ought to because we don't really know what kind of glass sheet products are available.

 

[James Burke]

I've done a lot of waterjet cutting with aluminum and steel, and I think you need to contract out your work initially. With glass that thick, I think you may end up with "flow" or "sweep" marks on the glass due to turbulence whenever the jet passes over the support slats on the machine. These marks vary with speed of cut and a few other variables, but in no way would the edges be suitable for polishing unless you want to spend considerable time and effort.

I would leave that kind of work to the glass experts.

JB

 

[scootinbob]

I wonder how the glass awards that I get are cut then because the edges are very clean. I like to do whatever I can to keep things in house and another way to expand my business. What would you suggest I do because the one account could be quite a substacial ammount of money for me and I thought if I could keep it in house I could hire another employee to run the glass cutting for me, but I also want to keep the overhead low enough that its profitable for me. I looked at lasers but I think that dosent leave clean edges also. Some of the award blanks I buy are up to around $40 or so

 

[scootinbob]

have you ever had the company cut 1/2-3/4 inch glass for personalize award blanks?