Question on how this 1” plate was cut

[Alcap]

I picked the 1” thick plate at the salvage yard to use as a possible steady rest project. After looking at it at home I was wondering how it was cut so nice ? I’ll have to cut about 2” across the bottom to make it work

 

[Lo-Fi]

Waterjet possibly...

I'd break out the 9" or 12" grinder for chopping through the bottom of that, then clean up on the mill.

 

[brino]

Great find......... it looks so much like a steady rest already!
-brino

 

[Papa Charlie]

Waterjet, depending on the settings, you can make some amazing cuts. From the top down here are some waterjet cuts: Rough, Coarse, Medium, Smooth and Fine. I use these images in one of the fab estimating tools that I developed at Boeing, to help estimators understand. Our support facility can waterjet up to 8" thick Aluminum plate and 6" Titanium.

If I were to venture a guess, I would say these parts fall in the Medium, maybe the Smooth.

 

[main_cogg]

Wire EDM would be another possibility. Generally slower than water jet, but capable of holding very precise tolerances.