Need expert guidance on rookie DIY build.

[Steeki]

You would need something like this :

If I had the money, this would be my machine alright.

No problem, I like an intellectual challenge :)

How long are these slots? I just a little concerned how you'd move 3m of tubing under cutter and still have rigidity and repeatability since you can't necessarily take a 5mm deep cut, it'll need several passes.

The slot will be a maximum of 300mm from the end of the tube and no more. so that is the basic cutting area.

Would a pipe threading machine convert ? extend stroke length, mount Z above, control rotation.

or this ?
http://www.jgsfab.com/tubepro.html

Thats a brilliant job that. would be exactly what im looking for, minus the engraving tool. Although The chuck looks a bit small for my application.

On this note, what type of chuck is this? One with a through bore hole and clamps around the workpiece? This would be the first part of my jigsaw.

Do you want to cut thru slots in tube or pocket slots for say Key ways etc.? . . . . This will make a huge difference to how the machine needs building regards strength.
If just thru slots then plasma is the simple way just like the link eddy provided if it's the latter then something similiar would work but would need Major strength and clamping at the cutting head.

its thru slots mate. Ive decided to use a 12mm slot drill to mill these slots out. Im guessing here, but maybe it would be cheaper to put together than plasma? Also running cost maybe cheaper? All I need is my machine set to a constant speed and feed rate as the material will never change, nor will the thickness.


I will try and draw something up to explain it better. Im sure we could all understand a few drawings