Anderzander Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Anyone cut Ally with a plasma torch? I'm wanting to cut holes in one side of a box section extrusion and wondered how it'd work ... any info gratefully received. Stephen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl hurst Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 It will cut it but leaves a carp edge finish, i use a carbide burr in a die grinder to clean edge up, good results are acheivable, Carl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landmannnn Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 As with steel, works just fine. As with steel if you try to work freehand you will make a terrible mess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troddenmasses Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 If the edge finish is rough, the power is up too high. I cut ally using a plasma cutter, and so long as you use a straight edge the finish is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 If the edge finish is rough, the power is up too high. I cut ally using a plasma cutter, and so long as you use a straight edge the finish is great. Ali + Plasma is superb, but as many here have said quality of cut can be an issue I use a piece of flat wood strip, about 8mm thick as an edge and this helps hugely, then I clean up with a file, I did this on trimming the wings (3mm) on the North Off road cage I fitted with a clean up and with the wood, looks as tho guilotined Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
landroversforever Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Plasma's are Magic used one for the first time a few months ago... lovely finish when you move at a steady speed and use a guide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted June 9, 2009 Author Share Posted June 9, 2009 Thanks guys - I'm cutting circles.... I was concerned that it might cut into the back face of the box section, where I only want to cut into the front. Is that a danger? The internal gap is approx 10mm. Sorry for the beginners questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkk2 Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 How big are the holes would a hole saw do the job for you seeing its ally Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 I'm enlarging some existing holes, but not concentrically, so no scope to use a hole saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hybrid_From_Hell Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 For cutting circles I have a long rectangular lump of MDF with a selection of Hole sawed holes in, clamp on and then plasma around the mdf hole With box 10mm ali make sure the power setting is as low as possible for the cut and move as fast as you can to cut, wopuld suggest a few practise runs 1st if you can you should be OK if you get the movement speed and power settings right Nige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardAllen Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 I'm enlarging some existing holes, but not concentrically, so no scope to use a hole saw. You could always clamp a bit of wood behind the hole you want to enlarge and use the type of hole saw which has a pilot drill in the centre. Regards Richard (Know nothing about plasmas) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 You could always clamp a bit of wood behind the hole you want to enlarge and use the type of hole saw which has a pilot drill in the centre. Regards Richard (Know nothing about plasmas) Exactly what I would be doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Al Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 If you can stick a bit of scrap steel or something behind the face you want to cut, it will protect the rear face. Use the minimum power possible (or if you can protect the rear face sufficiently, use the correct power for the cut). It all depends on your particular plasma really, play around with some scrap first. Al. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 Unfortunately its an extrusion of small box section - I can't get wood or steel in behind the front face to shield the back one. Otherwise I would have done that and gone the hole saw route. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_d Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 How big are these holes and how many have you to do? Sounds to me like opening them up with a die grinder would be quicker and easier. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderzander Posted June 10, 2009 Author Share Posted June 10, 2009 You could be right. Four holes - each going from an inch to 2 1/2". I have some steel porting tools - but they are taking a long time and I don't think are cut out for removing this much material. I have a dremel and a few stones but they again are just too small for the job. The Ally is about 3mm thick. Maybe I should see if Aldi have any Air Die Grinders left - or check out screwfix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbocharger Posted June 10, 2009 Share Posted June 10, 2009 C'mon, spill the beans - what're you making. We want to see the fag packet drawing, the CAD model and photos of the raw materials... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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