I've looked on ebay but shipping is a ton. Any suggestions?

Try here:

http://www.metalsupermarkets.com

They have a location in Houston.

Gerry

www.onlinemetals.com?

Other than that, try your local salvage yard, scrap dealer.

Eric

http://www.auctionworks.com/store/gallery.asp?sfo=lowcostmetals
http://www.shapirosupply.com/

Ok, my next question is how thick of a plate should I get. I was looking at .500 inch for the end plates and gauntry. These are the parts that I want done in aluminum. http://cnczone.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=15999

1/2" is good for the endplates. If you can, use (or make) a "C" channel for the cross piece. Less flex.

Actually the side plates can benefit from that sort of design too. My sides can (and do) flex a little from the inertai of accel and decel.

Eric

What do you use to cut all of your aluminum plate? I'm assuming a table saw for bigger pieces. Will a band saw or jig work for any curved pieces I might be doing (with the proper blades of course).

http://www.auctionworks.com/store/default.asp?sid=200310231725550000000039639590&sfid=12065

I use my tables saw with a carbide blade. Read many places on the web said the used woodworking tools with carbide blades/cutters. I was leary, but now that I've done it, no big deal. Haven't tried a router yet.

Phil

p.s. the auction works site, my last order was $10 shipping on a $100 order of aluminum

Thanks a great site, I just bidded on some alum.

OK, this may be a dumb question, but what do the numbers mean (e.g. aluminum 6061 and aluminum 5052)?

--bb99

They stand for the different grades of aluminum. 6061 is the standard grade. 7075 is stronger but slightly heavier.

I buy most of my aluminum from Yarde Metals, the website is http://www.yarde.com/ Go to the drop zone on the menu on the left of the page.
Hope this helps.
John

I recommend Speedy Metals. Low price and never over charge on shipping. their 888-744-4140 or SpeedyMtls@aol..com

Make friends with you local welding shop. Mine gives me all the scrap I want. I probably have 1500lbs of sheet, plate, box and extrusion.

Alan T.

Originally posted by bb99
OK, this may be a dumb question, but what do the numbers mean (e.g. aluminum 6061 and aluminum 5052)?

--bb99
Those numbers are alloy & temper designations. For wrought aluminum alloys, the 1st digit identifies the alloy type, the 2nd digit identifies the alloy variation, the 3rd & 4th digits are used to seperate that alloy from others in the same series (unique number). Temper designations are as follows:

F - as fabricated
O - annealed
H - strain hardened
W - solution heat treated
T - thermally treated

Cast aluminum designations are similar but there are differences.

Hi,

If you use structural channel for a gantry cross-member, keep in mind that the inside surfaces are not very precise, so if you are using THK style bearing rails and don't have the facilities to machine a flat surface in the channel, I would recommend using the outside surface to bolt the rails to. With Thomson style round rails it isn't quite so critical.

Steve

I plan to use round linear rails.

Cold Fusion and cadman,

Thanks for the info! I keep learning something new from this site every day.

Happy New Year!
bb99

YGPM Alan T

Find a company that does commercial door and window instalations. They have great scrap bins full of box and extrusions.