README.md

# microcutting

Comparison of micro-waterjet, laser, EDM, NC, ... cutting

# micro-waterjet
# [MicroMAX at OMAX Demo Lab - https://www.omax.com/omax-waterjet/micromax]
Nozzle: 7/15 MAXJET5 Minijet Nozzle with 0.007" ID diamond orifice and 0.015" Roctec 500 mixing tube

Abrasive: 240 mesh Barton HPX garnet with a mean particle size of 60 um at a flow rate of 0.12 lb/min

Pressure: 50 ~ 55 ksi

Cutting time: 3.1 min


# solid-state laser micromachining
<!-- (picture of machine, cost of machine, machining time, picture before and after post-processing) -->

# ultrafast laser micromachining

# EDM

## Full-scale Toolpathing

We toolpathed the microspline part at the full ~2" long scale. This would be cut from a stack of six sheets of 0.03125" thick brass layered on top of a 1/16" thick piece of steel. We added slits in the frame to avoid pre-drilling any holes. We also removed all of the tabs. This may prove to be a bad idea but it allows us to get a sense of the speed of Wire-EDM vs uAWG without having to do a lot of pre-processing. The total path length of the full scale toolpath is 52.5 inches. With an expected cut speed of at most 0.22 inches/minute, the expected cut time is approximately 4 hours.  

# NC

# [Fablight fiber laser](http://cba.mit.edu/tools/display/?type=tool&id=fablight_3000_laser_cutter)

Machining time: ~5 min

Cost of machine: sheet only machine with the 3000 laser is around $80,000, and the tube & sheet is around $90,000

Machine settings:

![Fablight settings](../images/Fablight_settings.jpg)

Sample photos:

![fablight 1](../images/Fablight_01.jpg)

![fablight 3](../images/Fablight_03.JPG)

![fablight 5](../images/Fablight_05.JPG)

After burr removal 

![fablight 6](../images/Fablight_06.jpg)

The brown seen on the edges of the piece are burn marks where the machine cut. 

![fablight 7](../images/Fablight_7.JPG)

![fablight 8](../images/Fablight_08.JPG)

# ...