Any success stories cutting 1/8" steel???

I'm wanting to cut some inserts for my router table using 1/8" steel and I was wondering if anyone has had any success stories that they wouldn't mind sharing?

Like feeds and speeds, RPM's, bits used, cutting fluid used, etc.

I'm thinking 4 flute carbide bits with cutting fluid running as slowly as I can with RPM's and slow feeds...

Since these will be thin pieces I was thinking of sandwiching them to keep them from bending while cutting but uncertain at the moment.

If I had a laser that would be the ideal solution...

Adam,

Can you be more specific about the nature of the steel and the form of the inserts?A simple hacksaw might suffice for sheet steel.

I was looking to cut something similar to what Grizzly is selling...

Attachment 476886

As for material, I need something a magnet can hold onto and with a decent finish but also easy to cut since I want to cut it on my router table.

I guess another option would be to send a drawing out and have it cut by a service but I think it will be too costly for a handful of inserts... unless anyone knows anyone that is extremely reasonable.

Adam,

I a not sure what your lasercutting prices are like in the States, but a set of router table inserts like that, out of 4m steel, would probably cost me the equivalent of about $30... I would be inclined to just buy something like this though: https://www.banggood.com/Drillpro-23...0&rmmds=search.

Edit: I see you need yours to be magnetic, ignore the link above :)

Appreciate the reply Luke Peter, if I were shopping for a laser cutter are there hobbyist (less expensive) options available than the steel mill down the street, any services on the Net anyone knows of?

Adam,

I live in a pretty small town about 40mins away from a decent city (in South African terms). There are 4 laser cutters in Durban that I could use, they are "industrial", but you are quoted per part, and they will cut your parts along with a batch of everyone else that needs cuts out of that thickness of material. Have you done a google search for laser cutters in your area? Hobbyists are unlikely to have the capacity to cut steel, but you may find a CNC plasma machine in someones garage that is looking for work - In my experience though, the hobbyist will be more expensive part for part because of economies of scale.

you could also cut it out of UHMWPE on your CNC, and cut pockets for something ferromagnetic to give you magnetic behavior.