Where to get Mild Steel Plate?

[Chaz]

Ah ah they want £246 + vat for 920 x 700 x 20mm standard 6082-T6 plate which is last size I bought just before Xmas. Think I paid £187 inc vat for Ground tooling plate.

Do they cut into smaller sizes? I dont have tools to cut large sheets, part of the issue. What is the best option for something to cut required sizes from thickish plates (like 25mm)?

[mekanik]

A couple of 10mm plates welded as per Nick's recommendation and use 30/40mm square section on the edges for mounting your bearings or rails.Joining the plate is done by machining a pattern of holes in one of the plates you intend to join clean both matting faces and clamp them together then weld the inside the holes.
Regards
Mike

[magicniner]

What is the best option for something to cut required sizes from thickish plates (like 25mm)?

Last time I did any work on heavy steel plate I had access to Oxy/Gas burning kit, the only thing I have now is my plasma cutter which is only rated for 13mm steel, I suspect you could rent a plasma cutter for a day from a tool hire outfit,

- Nick

[JAZZCNC]

Do they cut into smaller sizes? I dont have tools to cut large sheets, part of the issue. What is the best option for something to cut required sizes from thickish plates (like 25mm)?

Yes they will cut to smaller sizes. I'll often buy Rectangular plates like for Z axis just slightly over size leaving just a finish pass. Less machine time this way.

[Chaz]

Yes they will cut to smaller sizes. I'll often buy Rectangular plates like for Z axis just slightly over size leaving just a finish pass. Less machine time this way.

Yep, exactly what I need.

In my case, would you use Mild Steel or Alu for my Z setup? I suspect Mild Steel will be more suitable.

[Jonathan]

I've used ASC - good service etc.

In my case, would you use Mild Steel or Alu for my Z setup?

Yes ;)

Aluminium is much easier to machine...

[Chaz]

I've used ASC - good service etc.



Yes ;)

Aluminium is much easier to machine...

Yep, doesnt make it better though :-|

I could probably weld the plates up to leave the slot for the bearing / ballscrew. My Denford can do mild steel machining without too much of a problem - albeit fairly slow going.

[JAZZCNC]

Yep, exactly what I need.

In my case, would you use Mild Steel or Alu for my Z setup? I suspect Mild Steel will be more suitable.

I'd go with steel if could work with it. However I'd only use it if could do it correctly which means will need heat treating and stress reliefing then grinding in critical places.
If you can't do this then you may find Ground tooling plate will be more accurate as it's already been heat treated and ground flat.

Plug welding will allow thinner plate to be used but all the above still applies and will require more work because all that heat will warp and put stresses into the whole assembly. If those are not released carefully then they will release eventually which will make for bad day when you do realise.!!

[Jonathan]

I agree with all the points in the previous post, but will also add that the advantages of each material are quite slight, so you might as well pick the easy option and use aluminium.

[Chaz]

I'd go with steel if could work with it. However I'd only use it if could do it correctly which means will need heat treating and stress reliefing then grinding in critical places.
If you can't do this then you may find Ground tooling plate will be more accurate as it's already been heat treated and ground flat.

Plug welding will allow thinner plate to be used but all the above still applies and will require more work because all that heat will warp and put stresses into the whole assembly. If those are not released carefully then they will release eventually which will make for bad day when you do realise.!!

Yep, this I cant do at home, so looks to me a limited option for me then.