Waterjet cutting of small parts?

[Wannashootit]

I'm looking for a shop that can cut a couple of sets of jaws for my milling vise.
My mill is an old horizontal that was converted to vertical with a Tree head, very "vertically" challenged- only a foot of clearance from spindle to the table with the knee fully lowered. I have a Kurt on it, but I also have a much lower profile, 7" vise that gives me an extra 1-1/2" of clearance. Unfortunately, it was missing one of the jaws so I'm looking to have two complete sets waterjetted.

Anyone know of a small shop they'd recommend for this?

 

[B y r o n]

Why waterjetted?

 

[Tiger_Shilone]

You have a mill already. Why not cut your own aluminum jaw sets out of .500” stock? We make .500 .625 and .750 sacrificial/custom jaws all the time at work, they work just as well as the kurt jaws for our job shop type of fabrication.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

Waterjet would work, but you would be much better off milling them yourself.

There are a bunch of job shops in FL that could do it for you, but I can’t name one off the top of my head.

I’m sure Google could return a few that are somewhat close.

 

[308pirate]

Waterjet is fine for a rough cut. You'd have to mill or grind them to final size if you want any precision.

 

[Wannashootit]

I know I could make them, but sometimes time is more important than money, right? I figured it would be relatively inexpensive, no complicated programming and I want four of them. I've had 3/4" plate done for structural bearing plates at a huge red-iron fabrication shop- they'd laugh at this little shit I suspect so I was seeking a smaller shop.

I think I've found a local one.

I'd need to have the faces ground regardless of whether I make them, or have them cut. Maybe I'm missing something- but I don't see why the edges matter.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

The edges are

I know I could make them, but sometimes time is more important than money, right? I figured it would be relatively inexpensive, no complicated programming and I want four of them. I've had 3/4" plate done for structural bearing plates at a huge red-iron fabrication shop- they'd laugh at this little shit I suspect so I was seeking a smaller shop.

I think I've found a local one.

I'd need to have the faces ground regardless of whether I make them, or have them cut. Maybe I'm missing something- but I don't see why the edges matter.

It’s mainly aesthetic. I used to be a service tech for a WaterJet manufacturer and although what they can do is impressive, they have their place.

 

[sjmpcc022]

I know I could make them, but sometimes time is more important than money, right? I figured it would be relatively inexpensive, no complicated programming and I want four of them. I've had 3/4" plate done for structural bearing plates at a huge red-iron fabrication shop- they'd laugh at this little shit I suspect so I was seeking a smaller shop.

I think I've found a local one.

I'd need to have the faces ground regardless of whether I make them, or have them cut. Maybe I'm missing something- but I don't see why the edges matter.

If you want anyone that sees them to know you are a hack and a butcher, leave the edges saw/waterjet/laser cut.

Assuming you want to do precision work, don't start out with a vice that was excellent but you turned into a piece of shit.

Scratch the aluminum idea also, unless they are form jaws to hold a specific piece. Jaws on a machine vice need to be heat treated and ground, on at least four sides.

While we're at it, you will still need to drill and counter bore the screw holes, unless you can waterjet a counterbore? Might as well just make them.

 

[...]

Big Blue Saw is who I use for all my water jetting