Advice on laser cutting of thin stainless sought

[ElectronicsEng]

Hi all,

I am absolutely new here. My background is anything but metal working, I haven't really run a mill or lathe since 1968. But I have designed plenty of stuff since. I am principally an electronics engineer but with qualifications in physics and mathematics as well.

If there is somebody here who can laser cut thin stainless steel would you care to comment on the design questions below? Naturally he who helps gets the RFQ! Initial reqirement is for prototypes with probably 100pce production runs after that.

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My five year old daughter has decided that we need to build little robots. I have some motors (well, many of them and a good supply!) which are approximately 10 x 12 x 24mm for which I wish to make some mounting brackets. Although I haven't done a detailed drawing yet here is an outline for anyone to comment on so I can finish the design and get an RFQ placed here.

1.. Material probably 0.020 - 0.030" 304 or similar stainless.
2.. Smallest holes - 1.8mm (for M1.7-0.35 screws)
3.. Tolerance of hole size porbably required to be 0.1mm ( .004-.005" )

What I need to know:

1.. What would be the minimum bend radius for such a material?
2.. It has been suggested that some of the bends could be done by the user at install time. In this case the bend should be replaced by a narrow slot, for 0.6mm stainless it was suggested the slot be 0.25-0.3mm wide. Is this feasible?

Thanks in advance!
John

[jhwatts]

We have a few things in common. I have a B.S. in physics with a minor in mathematics. My day job is a nuclear instrumentation scientist but I worked as a machinist for six years prior to taking my current position. I have a small shop at home. If you could email me some type of sketch on what exactly you are looking at doing I would like to try to help and be able to quote the job. jasonhwatts@earthlink.net

[ElectronicsEng]

Jason,

I have sent you an email with a drawing in it. Thanks for the offer of assistance.

John