Need a jeweller/workshop with cnc laser cutting
Discussion
Does anyone know such a person or workshop here in the UK?
I get self winding rotors cut in Switzerland at the moment, but would like to switch to a UK based workshop. Partly to bring more component manufacture into the country, mainly because the pound vs anything-else exchange rate is not looking like it'll shift anytime soon.
Really need help finding the ideal workshop.
Before and after pics; 30 mm wide, cut part is less than half a mm thick and copper.
I get self winding rotors cut in Switzerland at the moment, but would like to switch to a UK based workshop. Partly to bring more component manufacture into the country, mainly because the pound vs anything-else exchange rate is not looking like it'll shift anytime soon.
Really need help finding the ideal workshop.
Before and after pics; 30 mm wide, cut part is less than half a mm thick and copper.
I don't know much about them, other than they do precision laser cutting and are in the same city I live in.
http://micrometric.co.uk/laser-cutting/
http://micrometric.co.uk/laser-cutting/
TZ-UK is good for advice on style, but Pistonheads has the sort of person that can get an enormous turbo on their Griffith AND sort out all the problems it causes, and therefore might just know the perfect company for cnc laser cutting. :-)
At the end of the day, building a watch is the same as modifying a car, just smaller, a little less oily and much less likely to annoy the wife.
At the end of the day, building a watch is the same as modifying a car, just smaller, a little less oily and much less likely to annoy the wife.
Lorne said:
TZ-UK is good for advice on style, but Pistonheads has the sort of person that can get an enormous turbo on their Griffith AND sort out all the problems it causes, and therefore might just know the perfect company for cnc laser cutting. :-)
At the end of the day, building a watch is the same as modifying a car, just smaller, a little less oily and much less likely to annoy the wife.
Well while it does have a preponderance of advice on which Rolex to hoard there have also threads where members have given pointers on access to services such as advanced case lapping & Roccos semi-miraculous laser micro welding repair of case damage.At the end of the day, building a watch is the same as modifying a car, just smaller, a little less oily and much less likely to annoy the wife.
Still, up to you.
Pupp said:
Pupp said:
Lorne said:
TZ-UK is good for advice on style, but Pistonheads has the sort of person that can get an enormous turbo on their Griffith AND sort out all the problems it causes, and therefore might just know...
It was a Chimaera edit: or did the laser go into the centre of the wheel hub so you can really cut up a car as you pass it?
Edited by Lorne on Monday 23 October 16:59
Lorne said:
You didn't use laser cutting to trim some of the plumbing by any chance?
edit: or did the laser go into the centre of the wheel hub so you can really cut up a car as you pass it?
Cheers Lorne; very kind. Water jetting on a chassis cross-brace was as close as it got!edit: or did the laser go into the centre of the wheel hub so you can really cut up a car as you pass it?
Liking the die punching idea above if that could be done cleanly enough
I’m in the laser business , I’m not convinced laser would be the best way to do that , wire EDM would be a better option IMHO , even a small CNC would work but give rounded corners. Copper / brass is the worst stuff to laser cut due to reflection and the edges would probably need cleaning up , water jet is messy , do the jewels come out as they would get covered in water and abrasive powder. I’m not sure if our lasers would cut that thickens as they are designed for laser engraving , if you need that doing then I’m your man !
matjk said:
I’m in the laser business , I’m not convinced laser would be the best way to do that , wire EDM would be a better option IMHO , even a small CNC would work but give rounded corners. Copper / brass is the worst stuff to laser cut due to reflection and the edges would probably need cleaning up , water jet is messy , do the jewels come out as they would get covered in water and abrasive powder. I’m not sure if our lasers would cut that thickens as they are designed for laser engraving , if you need that doing then I’m your man !
Hi MatjikThanks for your thoughts and ideas. I'm not keen on wire cutting as you need to cut the wire in, cnc milling because of the round corners (great for the cases), water cutting because it isn't sharp enough and stamping because I'd like a flat rotor at the end of it.
Currently it's done with a fiber-laser as the fibre-optics apparently produce a tighter focussed laser beam that cuts copper easily. I'm no expert, but I can't see why a reasonably powerful CO2 machine wouldn't be just as good.
OK well if its being done by fibre laser now and your happy with the results then that's the way to go, Most laser cutters are set up to handle large sheets as that's where most of their work comes from. You will get a better cut from a fibre as the wavelength absorbs into meta, so you can use much lower powers and gas pressures (compared to co2) we use pulsed fibre laser for the engraving but we only go up to 75 watts and I would think a proper cutting set up with gas and .5kw would be needed to do a quick clean job on brass . You already have micrometrics contact info, if they cant help i might have a few more to try.
Cheers
Cheers
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