Forum section: "Materials, techniques, processes and tools"?

[Thud]

hehe,
very nice.

[MitchJi]

Hi Tyler,

I don't own a mill. I have a lathe, tablesaw, drillpress, bandsaw, jigsaws, routers, mitersaws and angle grinders.

I'd like to cut and dado 5/16" thick 6061 flat aluminum. One cut is 5/32" wide and one is 9/16".

I can send it to a shop or get a buddy to mill it... but if it can be done in a home shop, I'm game to try.

Doable?

Definitely!

I think you could get good results using an Abrasive Saw Blade like this in a table saw or worm drive skill saw:
http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW3511B5-Performance-Cutting-Abrasive/dp/B005B8LVUY/ref=sr_1_18?s=power-hand-tools&ie=UTF8&qid=1336704083&sr=1-18

DEWALT DW3511B5 7-Inch High Performance Metal Cutting Abrasive Saw Blades, 5-Pack
Price: $15.16

I got a pretty clean cut, using a blade like that with a worm drive skill saw. Two 6' cuts and one 4' cut.

Based on Thud's comments one of these should work even better (and cost a bit more):
http://www.lenoxtools.com/Pages/Product.aspx?productId=MetalCuttingCircularSawBlades

LENOX METAL CUTTING CIRCULAR SAW BLADES
A Faster Way to Cut Metal™

EXTENDED LIFE
Titanium carbide tipped
Resists material build-up on teeth

CLEAN, COOL CUTS
Less burr than abrasive blades
No need for secondary grinding
Reduces material burning

MODIFIED TRIPLE CHIP GRIND
For added durability

RESHARPENABLE

Aluminum - Copper - Brass

Code: Select all

Diameter
IN             MM    PROD NO          TOOTH COUNT    RPM
7-1/4        184    21882AL714060CT    60       5800    
10            254    21887AL100080CT    80        5200
12            305    21889AL120080CT     80        4000
14            355    21892AL140080CT     80        3000


Some choices:
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=n%3A552292%2Cp_n_feature_browse-bin%3A387631011%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_browse-bin%3A2801548011&page=1#/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D552292&field-keywords=aluminum&rh=n%3A228013%2Cn%3A!468240%2Cn%3A328182011%2Cn%3A552262%2Cn%3A552286%2Cn%3A552292%2Ck%3Aaluminum

[TylerDurden]

Thanks, Mitch.


Testing .stp 214 upload...

"The extension stp is not allowed."

Still no joy.

[TylerDurden]

On the subject of tools, a new place has opened in southern MI:



$100/mo. (or $900/yr) membership provides access to shop, training & tools.
http://maker-works.com/

[Miles]

Test

edit: DXF seems to work ok. We're investigating why .stp files are rejected......

[Miles]

See: http://www.endless-sphere.com/forums/vi ... =1&t=39945

[MidnightRider]

maybe fixtures, or diy (best ones?)