Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I've got a 30mm thick 300 x 300 sheet of structual alloy, 5xxx series ?

I've heard talk of using a drop saw ( timber blade type ) to cut alloy window frame sections - question is, will a drop saw cope cutting thick plate ?
Anyone done it ?

popeye wrote:I've got a 30mm thick 300 x 300 sheet of structual alloy, 5xxx series ?

I've heard talk of using a drop saw ( timber blade type ) to cut alloy window frame sections - question is, will a drop saw cope cutting thick plate ?
Anyone done it ?

You need to get a negative hook blade and use some wax to lubricate the blade (otherwise the aluminium will stick to the teeth and screw it up). I don't see any reason why the thickness would be a problem, I would find out for sure before doing it though.

What size dropsaw?

nething half decent will cope no problems, just cut slowly. Take your time and it should be fine.

I cut some 25mm plate with an angle grinder and a saw blade. Just took it really slow and used a heap of wax to lube the blade.

i need to cut some 8mm thick titanium soon. does anyone know if those super thin cut off discs for angle grinders will be able to do it?

Can you set up a video camera when you try it

popeye wrote:I've got a 30mm thick 300 x 300 sheet of structual alloy, 5xxx series ?

I've heard talk of using a drop saw ( timber blade type ) to cut alloy window frame sections - question is, will a drop saw cope cutting thick plate ?
Anyone done it ?

I've never cut thicker than about 12mm, and usually I'm cutting 6mm but I wouldn't imagine that the greater thickness would be any prob. Just go really slow on a saw bench and no prob. If you need to cut curves, a bandsaw eats 6mm plate so I'm sure 30mm would be OK if you went really slow.
Stu

Cutting 8mm titanium with hand tools is going to be a very long and painfull process, I'd recomend talking to a laser cutting shop to see if they can cut it (at the shop I used to work at we cut up to 2mm titanium with no worries, not much cal for 8mm though....) or an engineering shop about getting it wire cut. The problem with titanium is that it is too hard to cut effectively with normal cut off wheels, you can do it, but you'll eat up a lot of cut off wheels and be there a long time.

those thin discs will cope if you take it slow

WHat about a jigsaw, A bit slower but should be alot safer/easier.

Just done it - toooo easy . cut better with some spray on cutting fluid though.

Thanks.

I wonder if you woke the neighbours?

I cut Aluminium body lift blocks with my timber drop saw but took it slow spraying the blade so it kept pretty cool and lubed.

Shane

N*A*M wrote:i need to cut some 8mm thick titanium soon. does anyone know if those super thin cut off discs for angle grinders will be able to do it?

Completely off topic .. but what are you doing with 8mm titanium ??

N*A*M wrote:i need to cut some 8mm thick titanium soon. does anyone know if those super thin cut off discs for angle grinders will be able to do it?

they will do it but be extremley careful they dont shatter they have a hight tendancy of doing this,
better off if you have a good plasma cutter useing it , like the others have said take down to a workshop who will cut it for ya ,
plasma or lazer ,

i've got a a drop saw clamp type thing for the angle grinder so i dont have to be in the firing like. i'll mount a video camera on a tripod and do it in low light to see all the sparks. the Ti plate is for the tail of my bike.