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Waterjet Group -> General Chat & Discussion -> Best Way To Cut Lexan(Plexiglass)
Post Info TOPIC: Best Way To Cut Lexan(Plexiglass)
JE5SEJAMES


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Best Way To Cut Lexan(Plexiglass)
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Ok, My Company Just Got A Flow A Month Or 2 Ago. When I Cut Lexan (1/4" and 1/8"), I Get "Clouds" On The Glass Where The Slats Are.

Furthermore, Occasionally In These Same Spots, It Blasts Off Pieces Of The Material And Leaves A "Nick" On The Corners Of The Material.

It Has Also Done This With Aluminum, Not As Bad Though...

Seeing As How These Are The Main Two Types Of Material I Will Be Cutting, A Solution Is Greatly Needed.

I Am Aware That This Is Called Deflection.

I'm Also Aware Of Using "Bricks" To Set The Lexan On. But How Do You Clamp On It? Use The Height Setter In Mid Air? Not Move The Sheet Any To Hold Tolerances Of +/- .005?

I Have Been Nothing But Excited To Learn About This New Type Of Machining. But With These Issues (Plus What I'm Hoping Are Only Growing Pains With A New Machine), I Have Nothing But Bad Things To Say About Waterjet Cutting. I'm Really Hoping Someone With REAL WORLD Experience (Not Textbook Theories) Can Help Me Out With This And PLEASE Change My Perspective!

Thanks In Advance!



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Flow IFB 60K
pdubU


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YOu need one of two things.

cut over open water - create fixture that holds edges and remove slats

or

cut over sacrificial material: Foam will get blasted away but may work. Use plywood, OSB, MDF or Alunimum. this material will get cut but you will greatly reduce the "Jet Kickback"

You clamping solution: Washers and Drywall Screws. hang washers over edge and drive drywall screws to hold material. You could also clap everything together with large mouth bar clamps or "quick clamps"

Hope these help.

The machine is exciting, and hang in there it will come.

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austinz32


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what size pump are you running if you are running a 90k pump on high pressure settings try turning the pressure down however this will not make the problem go away just lessen it the only real way that i know of is to completely remove the slats from the section of material you are cutting and clamp the edges of the material on the slats that the edges are sitting on how ever this will cause your part to fall in the tank but you can always (1) toothpick it in (2) and tabs to your file (3) grab it with your hand (defiantly not safe) and as long as your pierce lead is long enough you wont have any marks on the under side of the pierce any other questions feel free to ask i hope this helps you with your issue



austin ergle

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Bud Weiser


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I use OSB on the bottom and flake board on top . Screw it together with drywall screws and I've never had frosting since I started cutting this way.

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JE5SEJAMES


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Thanks All For The Suggestions, I Ended Up Putting It On Plywood And Clamping Around The Sides. I Also Use Weights For The Middle Of The Sheet And Set My Jet Standoff To .200 Instead Of .100. It's Going A Lot Better Now!

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Flow IFB 60K
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