The sheet is 2 mm thick. I need to cut out a plate taking the shape of several arcs combined so end mills is the only tool option for me. I have tried 2-flute 5 mm end mill which is OK but the amount of materials removed seems to be more than necessary. If I go for smaller diameter end mills, chip evacuation will be a problem. Will roughing end mills be better ? 4 flutes or 2 ( haven't seen such type ) ? what diameter and RPM will be optimum ?
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Need advice - Cutting 1018 cold roll steel sheets
- Thread starter compact8
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John
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2019
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2mm is close to sheet metal so best tools for that will be snips or shears. How much do you need to do and how large are the pieces?
Manual option:
www.northerntool.com
lots of other possibilities, if it's only one piece your mill might be fine but if you're having problems backing with wood may solve them.
More info and pictures will help.
John
Manual option:
Ironton Mini Rotary Metal Shear 5.9in. x 5.9in. x 19.7in. | Northern Tool
This Ironton® Mini Rotary Metal Shear is precision designed and manufactured to allow for quick and easy trimming of sheet metal pieces. T...
www.northerntool.com
lots of other possibilities, if it's only one piece your mill might be fine but if you're having problems backing with wood may solve them.
More info and pictures will help.
John
Its a rather small workpiece. Less than 2 inches across so the tools mentioned above may not be applicable. Only one piece need be made
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AFAIK, roughing endmills don't come smaller than 3/8". For a single, small part it sounds like you have already found the most practical solution. This is probably too small, but for a lot of this kind of stuff I bandsaw and belt-sand, tolerance permitting.
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If the curves are cosmetic (and not slider/bearing surfaces), a plasma torch is the cat's meow.
Only about 1/16th of the width was sacrificed by the cut. And it is fast.
Below is a picture of my step-son using a plasma torch to cut steel sheet, the example is a straight cut, but it also does artful curves too.
Only about 1/16th of the width was sacrificed by the cut. And it is fast.
Below is a picture of my step-son using a plasma torch to cut steel sheet, the example is a straight cut, but it also does artful curves too.
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FYI Accusize sells 1/4 and 5/16 roughing end mills