Re: Need to flatten 5/8" thick aluminum plate
I contacted the vendor and was informed that Alcoa's standard is .1" longitudinal and .125" transverse and they will not replace it.
Oddly, other vendors specs are below .032" for this size plate.
So far, I have sent out about 5 RFQs in the Chicago area for: grinding, straightening, or plane milling, none have responded thus far. Very interesting there has been no response, makes me think the shops are so busy they don't need the work, or, they are not business savvy and are losing business because they don't check their own electronic forms that are used for RFQs.
Still pondering all options.
I have a brand spanking new VMC just outside of my office that is plenty large enough to machine this plate. Unfortunately, the company doesn't want to "dirty it up" because the machine is for sale (we are an importer). Too bad there isn't a customer requesting a test cut on it, that would open the door for me to use it for this purpose!
Oh well, that's what I get for being cheap!
Chris D.
Re: Need to flatten 5/8" thick aluminum plate
Chris its not a big job so nobody is interested. One user suggested grinding, I have not seen a wheel able to grind aluminum, The way I look at it, you can try to sell on maybe Craigslist locally or try one of the fixes I and a couple of others suggested. You have nothing to lose except your time
A wood working shop may have a drum sander that wide, 30 inches, you will need to buy them a new sanding drum, or someone in your area might have a CNC router table that can do light aluminum. Heck I can do 48 x 27 I think you said. .
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Re: Need to flatten 5/8" thick aluminum plate
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wmgeorge
Chris its not a big job so nobody is interested. One user suggested grinding, I have not seen a wheel able to grind aluminum, The way I look at it, you can try to sell on maybe Craigslist locally or try one of the fixes I and a couple of others suggested. You have nothing to lose except your time
A wood working shop may have a drum sander that wide, 30 inches, you will need to buy them a new sanding drum, or someone in your area might have a CNC router table that can do light aluminum. Heck I can do 48 x 27 I think you said. .
How do you think they Grind Aluminum Tooling Plate you can Grind any type of material you want to put on a Grinder if you know what you are doing, most all companies that have Blanchard Grinders will do Aluminum
Your Router or even a big Mill would not machine this piece of Aluminum Plate flat enough for a Machine Table, Grinding is the only way to do it, some planer Mills could do it but would not be as good a surface finish or as accurate
Some of these company's have in stock Ground 6061 stock sizes or custom, snip of a 12" X 12" piece
Ground Brass and Part of a Aluminum Injection Mold Aluminum that I did on my Grinder
Mic6 Plate comes in sizes up to 60.5" x 144.5" Ground finish
Re: Need to flatten 5/8" thick aluminum plate
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Chris D
I contacted the vendor and was informed that Alcoa's standard is .1" longitudinal and .125" transverse and they will not replace it.
Oddly, other vendors specs are below .032" for this size plate.
So far, I have sent out about 5 RFQs in the Chicago area for: grinding, straightening, or plane milling, none have responded thus far. Very interesting there has been no response, makes me think the shops are so busy they don't need the work, or, they are not business savvy and are losing business because they don't check their own electronic forms that are used for RFQs.
Still pondering all options.
I have a brand spanking new VMC just outside of my office that is plenty large enough to machine this plate. Unfortunately, the company doesn't want to "dirty it up" because the machine is for sale (we are an importer). Too bad there isn't a customer requesting a test cut on it, that would open the door for me to use it for this purpose!
Oh well, that's what I get for being cheap!
Chris D.
Even with that Big Mill you would have a job to keep it flat while milling it would move all over the place, Blanchard is really the most accurate way to machine your plate or double disc Grinder that will do both sides at the same time
Re: Need to flatten 5/8" thick aluminum plate
It would certainly be a challenge to mill it flat with that much bow. It would require a lot of flips and special clamping to get it from the sides and no top clamping.
I am currently pricing out some MIC 6 that is ground to within +- .005 which I am ok with. I may end up cutting this bowed piece into smaller pieces as I need them. Can never have too much raw material!
Interesting range on the prices so far - ranges from $220.00, $380.00, and the highest is at $550.00, none include delivery.
Chris D
