Xbox, Xbox 360 taken to console heaven by water jet cutter

While there's no shortage of interesting ways to dissect (or completely obliterate) your favorite gizmo, this one came straight out of left field but still manages to impress. If you've never been around a pressure washer and had vivid thoughts of cutting up your precious Microsoft console with it, you're probably in the (vast) majority, but the zany folks over at Waterjets fulfilled their own fantasies. Offered a bunch of malfunctioning Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles, they put their laser water cutting skills to the test by making an "X" out of an original Xbox, carving out Xbox logos from the circuit boards, and creating a hole in the middle of an Xbox 360. Sure, the utility here is questionable, and the methods are most certainly unorthodox, but we can't deny the wow-factor. So if you're interested in seeing just what else happens when that oh-so-powerful jet gets fired up, be sure to hit the read link for the full rundown of slicing and dicing.

[Via MAKE]

[Zeek @ Dec 21st 2006 11:06AM]

Very gordon matta clark.

[Vini @ Dec 21st 2006 11:14AM]

quite cool. certainly a step on from dremels, presumably leaves a rather smooth edge too?

[Blackster @ Dec 21st 2006 11:27AM]

i'd say a more razorsharp edge ;)

[Derek11 @ Dec 21st 2006 11:22AM]

LOL!

That is so cool :D

[andy @ Dec 21st 2006 11:54AM]

razor sharp edges.

The problem with water cutting is that it leaves a V cut. The edge is not perfectly straight up and down which can wreak havoc when trying to machine something within spec. One fix is to cut from both sides and get an X cut, and another is to cut taking the V into account and then cnc down the edge.

The main advantage of water cutting is speed, and I'll bet this took waaaaayyyyyy more time to program the cutting tool than to cut through the console's even with the CAD programming interfaces.

I would love to see this in person.

[kaztm @ Dec 21st 2006 12:15PM]

"I would love to see this in person."

Me too!!

But until then, I can settle for some videos. Perhaps I'll search for some tonight.

[PoeticJuggler @ Dec 21st 2006 1:11PM]

andy depends on the waterjet unit. Some of them use an autocad type interface so programming an X stupidly simple. With running pressures of 85kpsi I don't see taper being a problem for this setup. But yes alot of shops use waterjets for a roughing process because you can lop off 95% of your material and do a finish pass with a cnc.

The edge is actually pretty smooth but it varies with the speed of the cutting head. It's like a sandblasted finish.

[andy @ Dec 21st 2006 3:00PM]

I didn't mean programming takes a long time. I was referencing the speed difference between cutting 3/8" plate vs. cutting a plastic and fiber xbox.

As in, I bet this took like 15 seconds to cut.

[Matt @ Dec 21st 2006 2:45PM]

It would be more impressive to have an Xbox in an x-shaped case and still functioning.

[brandon @ Dec 21st 2006 3:03PM]

my only question is why? and i know what i'll hear - why not?, because they can, etc. just because we can do something doesn't necessarily mean that we should do that something.

[Mark @ Dec 21st 2006 3:38PM]

What's your point?

They probably did it for fun. :)

The Xbox's were bricked anyways.

[Dave @ Dec 21st 2006 3:09PM]

Did you ever see that episode of Star Trek: TNG where the Borg cut a chunk out of the enterprise? That's what the 360 looks like.

[Mr.Ortiz @ Dec 21st 2006 4:33PM]

It's like a case mod gone terribly, terribly wrong.

[emeraldtears @ Dec 21st 2006 11:11PM]

Um, I dunno why this is news now...

I work, and have worked, down the hall from theese two examples for about a year now. In fact, as I write this, I could get up and walk over to them, needing to pass through only a single door.

I'm curious if this was news when they were done to begin with, actually...

[Brett @ Dec 21st 2006 11:11PM]

Wow. It's impressive to realize that these cuts were done with water.

[Jeddar @ Dec 22nd 2006 8:44AM]

I'm curious why this is news at ALL.

[nimro @ Dec 22nd 2006 9:17AM]

Um, that would be an abrasive jet, not a water jet! Don't you read the links you provide?