Modifying feeler gauge stock

[Fred Ming]

Greetings:

I need to take about 100 pieces of 1/2" x 12 feeler gauge stock (.007 - .010) and:

1) cut each piece into 3 sections .395 +0/-.010 each, and

2) reduce the width of each piece to .470 (+0/-.005)

These operations don't have to occur in the above order.

I have found that a shear works pretty well to do the cutting. Any other suggestions?

More importantly, I am need a simple way to do #2 above. I did some pieces on a Bridgeport, clamping them in sacrificial aluminum, but I no longer have access to the machine and am hoping to do it by sanding the .030 away. I'm trying to use a miter slot to move them past a disk sander, but it's hard to hold the little devils. Any suggestions??

Thanks!

[lerman]

Originally Posted by Fred Ming Greetings: I need to take about 100 pieces of 1/2" x 12 feeler gauge stock (.007 - .010) and: 1) cut each piece into 3 sections .395 +0/-.010 each, and 2) reduce the width of each piece to .470 (+0/-.005) These operations don't have to occur in the above order. I have found that a shear works pretty well to do the cutting. Any other suggestions? More importantly, I am need a simple way to do #2 above. I did some pieces on a Bridgeport, clamping them in sacrificial aluminum, but I no longer have access to the machine and am hoping to do it by sanding the .030 away. I'm trying to use a miter slot to move them past a disk sander, but it's hard to hold the little devils. Any suggestions?? Thanks!

Is that a typo? Should it be three sections 3.95?

Is the material steel?

Alternatives:
1 -- Have someone laser cut it from a larger sheet of material.
2 -- For cutting the width. Stack 100 sheets of .010 vertically in a vise so that it is 1.00 thick by whatever length. Then face mill the entire stack. Or (possibly better) surface grind it. I haven't tried this, so take it with a grain of salt.

Ken

[Fred Ming]

Originally Posted by lerman Is that a typo? Should it be three sections 3.95? Is the material steel? Alternatives: 1 -- Have someone laser cut it from a larger sheet of material. 2 -- For cutting the width. Stack 100 sheets of .010 vertically in a vise so that it is 1.00 thick by whatever length. Then face mill the entire stack. Or (possibly better) surface grind it. I haven't tried this, so take it with a grain of salt. Ken

There is a typo - it should be three sections 0.375 . . .

Regarding cutting these 'blades' from a larger sheet, how flat do you imagine they will be? There is some cast to the big rolls of material. And lots of materials spring some when cut out of a larger sheet.