CUT AND RUN

Family owned and operated by the Martin family since 1963, M&M Cut-O-Matic, Inc. (Downey, CA) is a leading provider of saw and waterjet cutting services. During the past four years, this company has seen its industrial cutting business grow by 10 percent to 30 percent each year, even as other businesses struggle to maintain flat sales. A.J. Martin attributes this continued success to the company?s decision to add waterjet cutting technology to its long list of cutting capabilities.

M&M uses two waterjet cutting systems, including a 4 ft x 8 ft High Rail Gantry waterjet from Jet Edge (St. Michael, MN) and a 6 ft x 12 ft system built by a manufacturer that has since left the waterjet business. ?We acquired our waterjets to broaden our capabilities in the cutting industry,? explains Martin. ?Our business has grown every year since we added them, and we are still keeping busy. Another thing that sets us apart is the quick turn-around time and same-day service they enable us to provide. We have gained long-term customers because of our quick turnaround. These waterjets make our delivery even faster by increasing our productivity.?

In addition to the two waterjets, M&M uses several bandsaws and cut-off saws for production cut-off sawing of up to 18 in square or round materials up to 20 ft long, block sawing of materials ¼ in to 15 in thick, circle sawing, contour sawing, mitre sawing of 0 to 45 deg, bundle cutting, and plate sawing for materials up to 10 in thick and 20 ft long.

The company has 12 employees, including two waterjet operators that run their systems 10-12 hours a day, plus two or three Saturdays per month. These waterjet machines cut virtually any material, from titanium to copper, marble and plastics with a stream of water that is pressurized up to 60,000 psi and mixed with garnet abrasive. The company has waterjet-cut materials up to 10 in thick, including 5½ in titanium and 6 in steel, all within a tolerance of ±.005 in.

Martin says these waterjet systems have helped him save time and money by allowing him to cut faster and to tightly nest parts, which reduces scrap and increases productivity. As an example, he can now cut 6 in strips from 96 in x 240 in x ¼ in sheet steel in two hours, versus two-three days on a plate saw. In addition, a 3 in thick stainless steel part that once took a day or two to cut manually on a saw can now be cut in two to three hours on the waterjet.

Waterjet technology has also enabled M&M to take on a number of tough projects that would have been impossible or cost-prohibitive to cut using conventional cutting methods. One of the toughest jobs was waterjet cutting 12 in x 12 in windows in 30 in dia x 60 in long steel pipes that are used in temporary event lighting systems at a New York state park.

The company has cut 5½ in thick titanium landing gear parts for Boeing and suspension parts for an off-road racing team. It has provided architectural cutting services to several Las Vegas hotels and has waterjetted parts for the railing on the San Francisco pier, cut the ESPN Zone signs at Staples Center in Los Angeles, and cut hundreds of aluminum parts for an aluminum company?s statue in Dubai.

Martin adds that he has been very happy with his Jet Edge system. ?Its reliability is really good and the tolerance is very accurate,? he says. ?The pump on this machine is a lot smoother and the reliability is better. I would score them a ?10? for service: never had any issues they couldn?t help me with; if I need parts, they get them to me, whether I need them red-labeled and shipped right away or shipped ground. And the tech support on the phone is great.?

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M&M Cut-O-Matic, Inc., 9316 Washburn Road, Downey, CA 90242, 562-869-9629, Fax: 562-861-5454, www.m-mcutomatic.com.

Jet Edge, Inc., 12070 43rd Street NE, St. Michael, MN 55376-8427, 763-497-8700, Fax: 763-497-8701, www.jetedge.com.