I need to cut large sheets of aluminum down into manageable sizes for projects. Some of the sheets are so large they’d hang out of the enclosure. I’m wondering if I should attempt to process these on the S3 XXL or if I should try to setup a table saw to process them. If I do it on the S3 they will be nice and clean and accurate but there are some downsides.
Approximately how many feet of straight cuts can a 1/8" end mill make through 1/4" plate before it becomes dull? No coolant just air blast.
I would use the table saw to break down the sheets of aluminum. It will be significantly faster and easier. Ideally, just get an aluminum specific blade (I am using: Amazon.com on my table saw) and buy or make a cross cutting sled with a hold down clamp to help keep your arms away from the stream of warm aluminum chips flying off the blade.
I second @crpalmer about the table saw. The SO3 is a great machine but cutting alum is a strain. Add on the 1/8" end mill and it is double trouble. The table saw has risks but is much faster. With both machines it makes a mess you have to clean up. I hate the chips created by alum but keep the goal in sight of getting manageable pieces. If you want to cut on the SO3 try a 1/4" end mill because it is stiffer and does waste some alum but waste is builtin to every project.
Yep,
Same here, a CNC router is great at complicated shapes but for straight lines and breaking down stock I’d go with a saw every time.
Bandsaw, jigsaw or table saw all work.
If you’re using a table saw
The wax is suprisingly useful at stopping clumps of aluminium getting stuck in the saw teeth. You’ll hear it when that happens, you’ll start to get a ‘thunk, … thunk’ from the blade, that’s a gullet between two teeth filling up with packed in swarf, best to stop and clear the jammed tooth before something bad happens.
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.