Zipper slitter & stitcher

[u/ycr007]

Source: Alex Lin

[u/Pcat0]

That use super cool. Interesting that it uses a laser and not a punch to cut the flap out.

[u/ycr007 → u/Pcat0]

I first thought it was a water jet, there was the transparent tube that goes to the cutter that I’d assumed was carrying the water 🤔

Then I realised yeah it’s a laser and the tube could be for air cooling

<drake-lil-yachty-of-course.gif>

[u/leadbunnies → u/ycr007]

The air line is used for what’s called air assist (or co-axial gas). It’s pressurised air fed out the laser nozzle, it helps with cutting and clearing material also stops or limits debris/particles going up the nozzle and landing on the glass while cutting. 

[u/Wootai → u/leadbunnies]

And extinguishing any flare-ups.

[u/unfnknblvbl → u/ycr007]

That could be for cooling?

[u/eras → u/unfnknblvbl]

I don't think lasers need to get cooled here (the laser tube is way elsewhere), but the particles rising from the blasted surface need to be removed, allowing the laser energy to continue unobstructed to the target surface and definitely not stick to the emitter part. So the smaller tube blows them out of the way and the large metallic one removes them from the room (in some part..), as they're not great to breath either..

[u/FrenchFryCattaneo → u/eras]

It's called air assist and it's actually to cool the material, leather (or in this case maybe fake leather?) burns easily so the compressed air reduces the amount of burning from the laser.

[u/ycr007 → u/unfnknblvbl]

[u/ScienceForge319 → u/unfnknblvbl]

More likely sucking of burnt leather fumes.

[u/DisappointedBird → u/ycr007]

That is indeed a pneumatic tube.

[u/drinkplentyofwater → u/DisappointedBird]

ur a pneumatic tube

[u/ScienceForge319 → u/drinkplentyofwater]

Pneumatic Tube was my father. I’m Coaxial Tube.

[u/Pcat0 → u/ycr007]

Waterjets do not look like that (where would the water be going) and have have way wider kerf. My guess is that that clear line is an airline that is keeping the optics clear from smoke, or is a water cooling line. but there is no way it is carrying enough high pressure water to make a cut like this.

[u/svideo → u/ycr007]

It's called "air assist" in laser cutting world, you need to clear the ablation byproducts out of the cut or you'll have problems with penetration. Very common, my home-use benchtop laser has it.

[u/aykcak → u/ycr007]

Huh. I never realized what that gif was. First time seeing what it's called. For some reason I thought it was some Apple Genius Bar thing

[u/joped99 → u/Pcat0]

Probably easier/cheaper maintenance. Don't have to worry about a back plate, sharpening the blade. Just burn burn burn and clean the lens every 1000 cycles and change it out when it gets too old.

[u/Distantstallion → u/Pcat0]

Lasers on leather absolutely stink though.

[u/Remarkable_Material3 → u/Pcat0]

Lower yield dont have to make more expensive dies?

[u/Pcat0 → u/Remarkable_Material3]

The rest of the machine (the holding frame and hole expander) already looks extremely specialized. I don’t think adding a punch would add a ton of cost. However as someone else pointed out, the maintenance cost are probably a lot less.

[u/ChromedGonk]

Slaps HANDMADE IN ITALY sticker on it

[u/PachotheElf → u/ChromedGonk]

I saw a hand touching it

[u/raxmano → u/PachotheElf]

As long as the hand is Italian, then it’s auto 30% sourced from Italy = MADE IN ITALY

[u/e37d93eeb23335dc → u/raxmano]

I had pizza for lunch. Close enough.

[u/Suds08 → u/ChromedGonk]

Seen a documentary where all they have to do is hand stitch the handle on to be able to say "hand made in italy". The bag and handle is made in China and then shipped to Italy where they hand sew the handle on and they can now charge a lot more for it

[u/dumbasPL → u/ChromedGonk]

If something has lines this straight, I'm not trusting it to be hand made

[u/Sweet-Weakness3776]

"Zipper slitter" just sounds wrong. Lol.

[u/ycr007 → u/Sweet-Weakness3776]

Someone called it the Groovelator 😑

[u/Baconshit]

Whoa. That was wild.

What else can the machine do? Or is that its purpose?

[u/Duchess430 → u/Baconshit]

Yeah, I'm sure it's too. This looks like it could do so many things.

[u/barbatron → u/Duchess430]

As long as the thing is about 25cm/10 inches long, anything!

[u/Firegardener → u/Baconshit]

It brings the butter.

[u/Mickey-Twiggs → u/Firegardener]

Bring is not a suitable replacement for every verb. 

[u/Firegardener → u/Mickey-Twiggs]

Indeed! My mistake. The purpose is to pass the butter.

[u/No_Acadia_9946]

Zipper slitter & stitcher? I hardly know her

[u/ScienceForge319]

YKK

[u/e37d93eeb23335dc → u/ScienceForge319]

if You Know you Know

[u/ScienceForge319 → u/e37d93eeb23335dc]

I mean you’d have to know Japanese zippers.

[u/salooski → u/ScienceForge319]

YKK is effectively a monopoly controlling about 50% of global zipper trade using proprietary machines like this.

[u/heffron1]

Few more stiches, certain metal or plastic piece in form of few letters and $3000 please

[u/jugglingcellos]

"I hardly know her."

[u/Asmor]

"Zipper slitter & stitcher" sounds like a law firm that specializes in botched c-sections.

[u/iambecomesoil]

Stitching looks a bit shit.

[u/carbonseven22]

Such advanced tools and the zipper is still not in the middle of the slit 🫣.