Cutting metal shapes

[EddyCurrent]

I think this is currently the cheapest on ebay that includes delivery, seeing as you are well North.
J Nielson No 2A Deep Throat Fly Press c/w 2 Weights | eBay
Then you could use the spare 1.85k to get some tooling made

If you could stretch your budget there's this

sheet metal punch presses-in Punching Machine from Industry & Business on Aliexpress.com

Edit: Axminster have some nice little mills that you could maybe convert to cnc
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Axminster-Tool-Centre?_rdc=1

[RoboCutter]

Something like this maybe: https://www.stepcraft-systems.com/

[jmac80]

Something like this maybe: https://www.stepcraft-systems.com/

hi
that does look a nice build, looks a lot nicer than the cheap Chinese ones.
would it basically been a router not mean it would make a mess of 1050 grade aluminium ?

[Jonathan]

Something like this maybe: https://www.stepcraft-systems.com/

Judging by the photos on this page, the machine uses simple brass rollers on a (possibly?) aluminium extrusion to guide the X-axis. Although it looks like the rigidity of that system is adequate for engraving, I'd be concerned about the longevity.

The German word for 'ballscrew' is 'kugelrollspindel', but they've instead used 'Rundgewindespindel's, which are leadscrews. This means the machine is likely to have higher backlash, especially once the leadscrew nuts have worn a bit. This is confirmed by the 'Wiederholungsgenauigkeit' (positioning repetability) being +-0.05mm. That's enough to show up on a detailed engraving.

Interestingly they have given some measure of stiffness. Although it says torsional, the units imply linear stiffness hence I think they are saying that the machine will deflect by between 0.1mm and 0.14mm if a force of 20N is applied, so the stiffness is between 143N/mm 200N/mm. Unimpressive, though might be adequate as your requirements are small. The thing to do would be to ask someone who'se got one of the cheap machines from eBay (e.g. CNC6040, CNC3020) to measure its stiffness, then we can make an objective comparison.

[jmac80]

thanks :) will go for a look!

[IanS1]

I think you'll find it's been sold.

[jmac80]

Yep.... Sold now

[jmac80]

wondering will it just be easier to get the mrs a scroll saw, something like a hegner se with variable speed. then she can cut custom shapes from soft 1050grade aluminium with that. i tried on the aluminium myself with a jigsaw and metal blade, it cut fine so a scroll saw with metal blade should be good.... all be it slow but maybe ok for custom one off stuff.
From what i can see on videos on the net a cnc router would make a mess of soft aluminium.

[jmac80]

does anyone have a small chinese style router i could send a small bit of aluminium sheet to to see if it cuts a shape ok?
i just don't want to spend a heap of money on one if it doesn't work! :)

[magicniner]

does anyone have a small chinese style router i could send a small bit of aluminium sheet to to see if it cuts a shape ok?
i just don't want to spend a heap of money on one if it doesn't work! :)

It will to some extent depend on how it's cut.
If you use a single flute ally cutter with a bit of light lube and have Cam software that will generate paths that move around the shape whilst ramipng down into the material at a constant rate, you should get a fairly neat cut. This is because you can set the depth of cut so it doesn't overstretch the machine rigidity whilst getting your part out at the optimum speed without multiple tool retractions.
Personally I wouldn't miss out on the chance to buy a CNC mill, Cad/Cam software and fly press ;-)

- Nick