If you guys cut your own flanges what is the best to use? Torch, plasma, etc??? Looking for something that will leave relatively clean edges for minimal cleanup if that exists.

 

sawzall, drill press & carbide bit. No slag and it takes a little longer to cut but there is less cleanup with the grinder after. I did a bunch with a plasma cutter and results weren't bad but it looked pretty chunky at first. The air chisle makes quick work off 90% of the slag

oops, the above are most definatly the 'best' ways to do it. CNC mill or CNC plasma, or laser cut are all better.


Modified by Bailhatch at 9:59 PM 8/24/2004

 

anything else?

 

seriously, it isn't worth the time to make flanges. I have a plasma cutter here and have made a couple, but for the hours and hours you waste its worth paying the 25 or 30 bux and getting someone to make them for you.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by legendboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">seriously, it isn't worth the time to make flanges. I have a plasma cutter here and have made a couple, but for the hours and hours you waste its worth paying the 25 or 30 bux and getting someone to make them for you. </TD></TR></TABLE>

How long does it take you to cut a flange with a plasma? I watched them do some cutting with it and it looks really fast.

 

it doesn't take all that long, but it looks like **** compared to a cnc or cnc plasma/laser cut

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by legendboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it doesn't take all that long, but it looks like **** compared to a cnc or cnc plasma/laser cut</TD></TR></TABLE>


Nothing compares to a CNC/laser-cut/waterjet-cut part

 

i had parts cut on a water jet and it was VERY pricey. i would suggest finding someone with a CNC and have them do it. what sort of flanges are you talking about?

 

plasma would work or a good bandsaw, the plasma would be hard to work with on a thick piece. The best would be the bandsaw would cut the cleanest but it needs to be a good blade and stong machine. And you could simply clean up the edges with a sander.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 90DALS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i had parts cut on a water jet and it was VERY pricey. i would suggest finding someone with a CNC and have them do it. what sort of flanges are you talking about?</TD></TR></TABLE>


manifold, turbo, and wastegate flanges

 

Waterjets do the best job and are much quicker than CNC. I have a company water jet my cyl head, wastegate, turbo inlet, turbo outlet, and exhaust flanges out of 304SS......have also done a few mild steel ones too
I can make quick chages in ACAD and email them the files...easy

turbo inlet flanges....no clean up needed except thread the bolt holes


I wish I had some pics of the head flanges handy...they look in SS


Modified by BROOD at 10:39 AM 8/26/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BROOD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Waterjets do the best job and are much quicker than CNC. I have a company water jet my cyl head, wastegate, turbo inlet, turbo outlet, and exhaust flanges out of 304SS......have also done a few mild steel one too
I can make quick chages in ACAD and email them the files...easy</TD></TR></TABLE>

I actually have a friend who owns a shop and has a brand new CNC machine in there. Any idea how I can get ahold of these "blueprints" of these flanges? Thanks.

 

Learn CAD and draw them............

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BROOD &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Learn CAD and draw them............</TD></TR></TABLE>

can you trace them on a digipad?

 

I use this contraption that my father made in around 1975. You cut the shape out of wood and mount it to the top, it has worm motor in it that fallows the shape, and the torch cuts it out. Works pretty well for custom flanges that you can't buy.

 

that's cool!

They have plasma machines like this that allow you to cut a shape out of construction paper, then the machine scans it and makes the parts. You can set the machine to make multiple parts at a time and it even figures out how to do it with the least amount of waste.

You should convert your Dad's machine to plasma, then you'll be able to cut thicker parts faster

 

Yeah that's what I want to do in the future, I just need to get a plasma machine first.