aluminum plates and profiles

[Arthur Harrison]

For 0.062" or less thick aluminum of most alloys (6061, 5052, etc.), a small
shear is far
preferable to a saw.  Of course, engraved panels may be 0.093" or more,
and that will require a relatively big shear.  (I understand that some of
the finest shears
are made in Germany.)  Here in the US, a good shear with capacity for 0.62"
thick, 2'
wide material costs about $2500.  BTW, cutting aluminum in the thickness
range
of 0.125"and up is indeed a chore, even with a BIG bandsaw.

-Art


-----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Davis <dcd at gower.net>
To: Martin Czech <martin.czech at intermetall.de>; synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl
<synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl>
Date: Tuesday, December 08, 1998 5:03 PM
Subject: Re: aluminum plates and profiles


>Just out of curiosity, why do you say cutting aluminum is an awful job?
>It has been my experience that, so long as you have a fine-toothed metal
>cutting blade 3/8 inches wide (I had one made for a 14 inch bandsaw for
>$10), a relatively low-power bandsaw works just fine.  And while it does
>create aluminum "sawdust", it does not send it flying like a circular saw
>does.  If you buy or make a ripfence, then cutting nice square panels is
>quite easy.  The edges need only a minimal amount of smoothing.  Anyway,
>just my opinion.
>
>Dave
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Martin Czech <martin.czech at intermetall.de>
>To: synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl <synth-diy at mailhost.bpa.nl>
>Date: Tuesday, December 08, 1998 9:27 AM
>Subject: aluminum plates and profiles
>
>
>>Hello,
>>
>>I just got an answer from Schaeffer Apparatebau (these people do engraved
>>front panels). I asked if they could also cut aluminum plates for the
>>other 5 sides of a module box, and also alu profiles in order to connect
>>front panel and the 5 other sides.  Well, they can do this, but since
>>they have no saw but only a computer controlled engraving machine this
>>can get very expensive. OTOH aluminum cutting is an awful job, I guess
>>a proper saw (be it circular or not) would cost about 600 DM.
>>
>>Does anybody know a shop in Germany or nearby where I can get my aluminum
>>cut?
>>
>>m.c.
>>
>