PDA

View Full Version : Cutting 1.6mm mild steel with a CNC machine?



HankMcSpank
25-04-2012, 04:00 PM
Assuming you had a machine that was up to it (mine isn't), what would be the approach for cutting 1.5mm sheet mild steel?

Cutting tool type,
Cutting tool diameter
Spindle RPM
feed rate
depth of cut per pass (this would be for 1.6mm steel

Anything else I've missed?

Yes, I know laser cutting would be the way to go...but the few I've contacted are like [sharp intake of breath]...."Hmm I dunno mate...those parts are quite small ...we'll lose them inside the machine"

I only need a few made...so exploring options!!

John S
25-04-2012, 04:25 PM
Yes, I know laser cutting would be the way to go...but the few I've contacted are like [sharp intake of breath]...."Hmm I dunno mate...those parts are quite small ...we'll lose them inside the machine"

I only need a few made...so exploring options!!

tell them you will accept them tabbed.

I get some small parts cut and they ship the whole sheet with all the parts still attached and leave it to me to push them out.
Think big Airfix kit. :sentimental:

boldford
27-04-2012, 06:20 PM
I agree with John in having the parts tabbed but you might also investigate water jetting. We had some part for 82045 delivered that had been cut that way and the edge finish was outstanding.

Jonathan
27-04-2012, 07:08 PM
I only need a few made...so exploring options!!

How many's a few in this context? I can cut mild steel on my router.

HankMcSpank
01-05-2012, 09:56 PM
How many's a few in this context? I can cut mild steel on my router.

I actually only needed half a dozen to get me going, but would have happily placed an order for a few hundred with the laser cutting companies...I went back to one & said "can you do them tabbed?" ....word came back that at just 3mm wide the edge would be ppor (after they blanked me on the first request I chnaged the size & went back to them 52mm x 3mm x 1.6mm).

It seems the human race can put men on the moon ...also, look at any cheap chinese product & it's probably full of steel widgets that are only 3mm wide...yet UK Plc seems to struggle with a fairly basic part request! (do you think we can hold our own on a global stage?)

In the end I hacked some (swearing & muttering as I went)...and now have what I need to get me going - so thanks Jonathan (& everyone else for their input)