Thread: Straight sections of box steel
-
29-12-2011 #1
Im looking to use some mild steel box section for a base/support table for a diy laser cutter. The only steel I have had experience with so far is prob from the cheaper end of the market mild box steel. We have been using it to build agricultural machines. Its quite straight but for my laser im looking to buy some steel that is as straight as the aluminium profiles you can buy from Bosch or Misumi. So my question is how do you classify different grade of steel and where is the best place to start looking for high end engineering type material.
Gav
-
03-01-2012 #2
Personally I would go the route of just using the staightest box section you can find with the heaviest wall you can get. Make your frame and get it as square and flat as you can with whatever tools you have access to, for me, square being the most important. Bolt the whole thing down to concrete securely shimming as level as poss. Fit your rails and then shim them flat, level and parallel take your time and you'll be amazed how good a result you can get. If you have access to oxy/acet then you could try heat shrinking any bows out of your box but it's just not worth it IMO, shim the shiny bits instead.
Jeff.Nothing is foolproof......to a sufficiently talented fool!
-
03-01-2012 #3
Completey Agree with Jeff.
It's all about prep and patience not rushing being the key. You can get very very accurate with shiming and scraping/grinding, Don't rush the welding and keep the runs short to minimise warping trying to balance the weld location not heating one spot too much.
I also think you'll be surprised just how NOT flat or straight some of the Alu profile can be, even the better stuff. . . . .Or should say more expensive stuff.!!
If you want truely truely flat the both would need to be machined surfaced or ground.
Thread Information
Users Browsing this Thread
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Similar Threads
-
FOR SALE: for sale or trade, lots of aluminium modular sections and a few slides and rams
By nobby in forum Items For SaleReplies: 3Last Post: 25-06-2013, 08:30 AM -
Effect of Forces on Gantry Cross-Sections?
By WandrinAndy in forum Gantry/Router Machines & BuildingReplies: 37Last Post: 22-12-2012, 10:34 PM -
WANTED: ER20/25 straight shank collet chucks
By m_c in forum Items WantedReplies: 4Last Post: 24-10-2011, 12:19 PM -
can't cut straight or even drill straight, so need help
By deannos in forum Machine DiscussionReplies: 2Last Post: 02-10-2011, 05:35 PM -
Where did you buy your threaded rod?(cheapo leadscrew!) - was it straight?
By HankMcSpank in forum Marketplace DiscussionReplies: 18Last Post: 04-06-2009, 03:44 PM
Bookmarks