On Sep 30, 7:25*am, Tim Wescott wrote:
OK, so I'm looking for a low-ball shear, because I want to cut out some
panels, make one cruddy right angle bend in each one and drill some
holes, and assemble them into a 'U' shape. *I'm starting to think that
this'll be cheaper to do in house than to farm out, particularly at
first when I'm making little engineering changes on every part made.

So it seems that all the itty bitty iron working machines from Enco,
Horror Freight, and Wholesale tools top out at 20 gauge mild steel. *I
don't know why this is a magic number, but there it is. *I may just
spring for one, knowing that I'll be abusing it by cutting thicker
material, but I hate doing that.

Without jumping up from $200 to $2000, is there a tool that will make a
nice straight cut in a 1/16" sheet of mild aluminum?

Initially I think I'm going to buy a $20 brake from Horror Freight and
use a reciprocating saw to cut out the panels, then use a file and elbow
grease to clean up the cut.

Can a power nibbler ($50 from Harbor Freight) make a straight cut, or
will it be a waste of $$?

Your opinions, please.

Thanks.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Serviceshttp://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" gives you just what it says..
See details athttp://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

How about a power shear?
http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/nibblers_and_shears/?ref=googaw637&kw={keyword}
I used to use one on 16 gauge mild steel. Of course the straightness
is up to you.
Karl