Starting April 18, 2022, quoting and ordering will begin moving from Big Blue Saw to the Xometry website. You'll continue to be able to get fast service and instant quotes, in addition addition to a whole host of new materials and manufacturing processes!
It’s best to take into consideration the flexibility and limitations of the waterjet right from the start. That way you don’t have to start over and potentially re-design an entire assembly to work with custom waterjet cut parts.
Placing cutting lines too close together can cause vibration in the thin section, leading to the cutting stream breaking through across the face of the part. 1/16 inch (0.063” or about 1.5 mm) is a safe distance between features for even thin stock material.
Waterjets work best with 2D vector files showing exactly the outline of the part, scaled 1:1. DXF is the file format most used with waterjet cutting machines. Nearly all CAD software supports export to DXF.
The DXF file for manufacturing with waterjet cutting should contain only the outline of the part to be waterjet cut, scaled 1:1. If you do need a CAD file with more operations or instructions, save that in a separate file.
While waterjet cutting can work with a huge variety of metals, plastics, woods, and composites, make sure your material won’t shatter or delaminate when being cut. Any material that can’t stand some exposure to water, like cardboard, won’t work with waterjet. On the other hand, most metals, including stainless steel and heat treated aluminum, are ideal for waterjet cutting.
When drawing your part in a 2D CAD program, make sure that all of the endpoints of your lines, arcs, and splines meet around the perimeter of the part. Without these entities making a closed loop, the waterjet cutting machine can’t determine the outline of the part.
When working with DXF drawings, it’s easy to make a mistake with the scale and accidentally make a drawing that’s 2:1 or 4:1, or a drawing that’s in millimeters instead of inches (or vice-versa). That’s why it’s important to check the overall size of the part using Big Blue Saw’s online quoting system before ordering.
Raster files can be very convenient if you’re used to editing in a program like Windows Paint or Photoshop. This works great for decorative pieces, signs, and artwork. However, when designing with a bitmap editor, you’re limited by the resolution of the pixels. When designing parts of a machine or mechanical assembly, it’s best to stick with a vector based editor or CAD program for maximum accuracy.
Keep in mind that the kerf (cutting diameter) of the waterjet is about 0.04 inches or 1 mm. This means that the waterjet can’t make holes or slots smaller than that size. Additionally, your design should take into consideration the cutting accuracy of the waterjet and the waterjet taper (and use low-taper waterjet cutting if appropriate).
If your parts need to be touched by an operator or will be visible in the final assembly, make sure that you choose a finishing option like GlassBlast or PadPrep finish to make sure your parts look their best and are free of burrs.
With these tips in mind, you're ready to place your first order for custom waterjet cut parts from Big Blue Saw. Just upload your design to our online quoting and ordering system to get started. More questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions list. Still need help? Contact us.
Here it is: Big Blue Saw's sale on 0.12 inch stainless steel 304. Stainless steel's combination of strength and corrosion resistance makes this a sale not to be missed. Simply place your order online for waterjet cut parts Thursday, October 10, or Friday, October 11, and you will automatically receive a quantity discount.
If you've never used our service before, this is a great time to start turning your designs into custom parts.
Questions and Answers about Big Blue Saw's Sale On 0.12 Inch Stainless Steel
Remember, this sale ends 11:59 PM on Friday, October 11, so get started by uploading your designs now.
This past Friday, Bite Force, featuring custom waterjet cut parts from Big Blue Saw, was once again crowned champion of BattleBots!
Paul Ventimiglia and the APTYX Designs team defeated Witch Doctor to win the Giant Nut for the 3rd time! Congratulations to the team once again.
To celebrate, Big Blue Saw is offering 30% off on all orders placed online for waterjet cutting! Just place any waterjet cutting order online for $300 or more, and receive a 30% discount when using coupon code BB2019. Use code WIN3 to get 10% off any online waterjet cutting order of $150 or more. Upload your design now and be sure to tell your friends!
Hurry, the offer ends at 11:59 PM Wednesday, October 2.
This week, save on our most popular material in the most popular thickness! We're having a sale from Wednesday, August 21, through Friday, August 23.
Just order your custom waterjet cut parts made from aluminum 6061 alloy in ⅛ inch thickness (that's 0.125" or 3.175 mm) though our online quoting and ordering system, and you'll automatically receive a quantity discount, even when you order as little as 1 part.
We are now halfway through the BattleBots 2019 season. Let's take a look at the robots featuring custom parts from Big Blue Saw and see how they're faring.
Texas Twister 2-0
This new robot from a veteran team has won its first two matches, including one convincing knockout.
Bite Force 2-0
Returning champion Bite Force is off to a great start, winning its first two matches, one by knockout.
Minotaur 2-3
After a slow start, Minotaur managed to reach the finals of the Desperado tournament. They've got some momentum, so they're one to keep an eye on.
Bloodsport 1-1
This rookie team has proven that their robot packs a powerful punch, defeating veteran team Lucky.
P1 0-1
P1 is off to a slow start, losing to Sidewinder by KO. They're tweaking their drive and weapon system and will be back for more.
Extinguisher 0-0
Sadly, we have yet to see the powerful hammer and slick paint job of Extinguisher in action. They ARE scheduled for future fights, so keep your eyes open.
Overall, robots sponsored by Big Blue Saw now have a record of 7-5 in the BattleBots 2019 tournament. Need custom parts that are as tough as these BattleBots? Get an instant quote on custom parts now!
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