Cutting Aluminum...HELP!!!

[wilson248]

What is the best way to cut 1/4" thick 7075 sheet? I am looking to get large cuts ~ 7" x 48" sheets out of the stock. I believe I had some shear cut before and they ended up slightly bowed, which was less than ideal. This is for small run manufacturing, anticipating 60 cuts of that size per year. I don't have a shop and the aluminum supplier charges ~$10.00 per cut. Is there any more reasonable method? Water jet cutting, vertical band saw? I need to find the cheapest solution. Any suggestions/help would be great! Thanks!

[keebler303]

Shearing is probably the cheapest way. The bowing is probably from the material itself and not from the cutting. You could use waterjet, plasma, bandsaw, etc. but I doubt any of them are cheaper than just getting it sheared to size right at the distributor. Then you don't have to pay to have someone else handle it.

If you are a little flexible on dimensions and/or material, you might be able to find extruded aluminum and then just cut it to length. Any way you go, aluminum extrusion and sheet is not known for being terribly flat.

Matt

[-Chris-]

I would just get it in a full sheet and use a straight edge and a skill saw with a blade that has carbide teeth it will cut like butter i cut 1 inch plate all the time no problem. save your money and do it your self -Chris-