sheet metal cutting

[eggplant]

Hi all,

I may have to cut some thin (0.5mm - 0.75mm) ally sheet into small sizes (about 70mm x 40mm) they need to remain flat so tinsnips etc are out of the question, the edges also need to be as clean as possible.
Can anyone offer any suggestions? this is likely to be a one off or almost one off so 1000's on equipment is out of the question.

Thanks

 

[big-all]

most fine tooth tct wood blades are sutable for non ferrous metals
so all you need it a table saw that will be happy with ally swarf

you would need to back it with 6mdf or simmilar for cutting

 

[Hitachimad]

Air nibbler, £30.

Set up a little jig to cut strips then strips into squares.

Or find someone with a guillotine.

 

[Diyisfun]

Depending on the quantity, you may find a local company with a guillotine would do it for a resonable charge. Its the sort of thing that they would do for a 'drink'

 

[mother]

hire a shear, even get cordless.

 

[Belle427]

a good tin snips should not deform the edges

 

[JamesHughes]

If its all straight edges and you can man handle the pieces, I would use a stanley knife (!!) and a straight edge to score along the cut line. Keep scoring until 25-50% through (wont take more than 4-5 scores with that thickness). Then simply bend back and forth along the score line - fatigue will do the rest. I use this for large panels of 16gauge ali for side panels on kit cars, so should be really quick for you. Dead straight lines, that only need a light file to finish.

James

 

[Trazor]

For that thickness aluminium, purchase a paper guillotine from a stationers, especially if you have quite a few to cut.

 

[wilhelm]

guillotine. any local enginnering firm will have them.

err thinking abarrt it 1mm =40 thou so maybe trazor has got the answer.

im used to swg,

 

[Trazor]

The guillotine's used by engineering firms would have to be in very good condition, with very sharp blades, to cut 0.5 m/m aluminium cleanly.

These guillotines can cut from 1 m/m upto 12 m/m in some cases.
They will cut thin metal but tend to take a burr down the blade.

 

[wilhelm]

phew thank the tinternet

of course trazor, depends if its pure ally.soft as sh eet, or hardened..

etc.

 

[DIWHY]

If practical
Stack the sheets together, pref between 2 sheets of ply then fine metal saw Jig or Circular blade
Great for limited run mass production

Or if ally is soft, cut single sheets with tailors scissors (longish blades) and flatten out a stack after (hammer/press between wood blocks)