Machsupport Forum
General CNC Chat => Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) => Topic started by: btboone on December 21, 2012, 08:28:25 PM
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Here's a new ring I made today. It's a WORKING handcuff ring made in titanium. It clicks closed like normal and has a tiny key that actually opens it. I made it to bottom out at a specific ring size so it would not get too tight. It was cut from four thicknesses of .051" 6al4v titanium plate with my Mach 3 controlled fiber laser, and was laser welded before finishing.
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MAN, that is cool Bruce !
Beautiful stuff on your site too !
The laser cut series is especially neat.
Thanks for the post,
Russ
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Thanks Russ. The laser opens up all kinds of possibilities that weren't open to me before. I've been working on a ring that works as a music box and plays Ode to Joy! I'm still working out the details; it has too much friction right now. Doh!
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Please be careful with making rings out of TI. IF the need arose to cut it OFF in the emergency room NONE of them have the tools to do so. It could mean the loss of a finger one day.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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Not true. I make my living making titanium rings, and have made probably around 30,000 titanium rings over the years. The first thing I did was cut a ring off of my own fingers using various methods including a ring cutter, hack saw, bolt cutter, and Dremel tool. You can cut through one fairly easily with a hacksaw. Although titanium can be hardened, it is not done so on rings. It has a Mohs hardness of around 6 or so. Stainless steel is similar in properties. I have had 4 customers that I know of have them cut off. Emergency rooms are equipped to handle it. Tungsten carbide cannot be cut by conventional means, but it can be cracked off in a vise or vise grips.
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Sorry but the medical profession disagree with you. MOST do not have the resources to quicky remove hard metal rings from swollen or crushed rings on fingers.
Just a thought, (;-) TP
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The people in the medical profession that dont think so also don't work with it each and every day. I do and have for the last 20 or so years. The Internet is full of misconceptions about titanium. While yes, it is harder than gold or platinum, I assure you it can be cut off by conventional means. Most do indeed have ring cutters that will cut it off. I've done it several times. Certainly they would have a hacksaw, bolt cutters, or Jewelers saw as well. Titanium has the reputation of being much stronger than steel, while that is not necessarily the case. It is just stronger per weight.
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Fantastic job! I am wondering how you installed the click that holds it closed.
Vince
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That's a thin T shape that was cut in .020" stock by the laser. Titanium sheet was used there too since titanium is springy. The outer walls have a small rectangle cut into them that the tips of the T stick into and locates and traps it in place. The inner walls just have straight cut guides. The T is bent to more of a J shape, so it goes below the key and loops back around to be able to engage the pawls. There's some room left below the J on the inside sections for the piece to be able to be cantalevered away from the pawls when the key pushes it down. The rectangles protruding through the walls were laser welded so they are no longer visible.
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Here's another ring that's cut by the laser. I call it The Man Ring. It has a working bottle opener, comb, saw, straight blade, and serrated blade. It's all titanium with an internal axle of titanium as well. It's riveted together with brass rods. It's an amazingly handy thing to have.
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I want that airplane flight security ring knife survival tool! Great work.
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Thanks for posting and the rings are certainly interesting.
RICH
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Here's a new one from today. Simple, yet very different. My wife wore it this morning and get a comment on it at the first place she went to.
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Hi Bruce,
Fantastic work you do with those rings! Thanks for posting. Curious what laser does it take to cut these?
Dan
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Some wild pieces, Bruce, just amazing work you have done!
Dave
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Dan, it's a 4500 watt fiber laser. I built it onto a Tormach machine and use the Mach 3 control. It can cut through at least 7mm of titanium.
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Thanks, Bruce. Sounds like an impressive laser cutter.
Dan
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I can't believe the first comments were about cutting the ring off rather than asking about the laser. As long as you have the tiny key on you then no problem! I wear a plain titanium wedding ring but won't worry about needing it cut off.
Fiber lasers are amazing. Maybe in a few years there will be cheap Chinese versions that us hobbyists can afford.
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(http://www.boonerings.com/largepics/bikedrivetrain.jpg)
Here's another new one. The chain goes around a tiny sprocket and is driven by the thumbwheels. The chain wraps around and travells in the groove going around the ring. It's a fun fidget ring.
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Now, that is just neat. I dont wear jewelry of any kind but I would probably wear that one out. Do you have a link to order these and repair bushings/bearings for the thumb wheel ? ;D
Brett
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I do have a link! They are all titanium, so they should last a while. :-)
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Well done Bruce, a lot of imagination
Marcel
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Yes! Exactly!
Dan