On Mon, 20 May 2013 12:09:40 -0500, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:

Ok, 'solutions guys'...

I have some 0.010" phosphor bronze (spring temper) in rolls 6" wide x
80" long.

I need to cleanly slit some 3/8" strips x 80" from this without any edge
distortion.

We tried taking one a sheet metal house that had a long scissor-type
shear, and it cut it, but also curled the edge too much for our
application. It has to wind flat in a coil when finished.

I've tried sheet metal hand shears without much joy, a nibbler just chews
it, and sawing it on anything we've got is impossible.

We must not heat it. Also cost is an issue, or I'd have it done at a
waterjet and laser house down the road, but they want a couple-hundred
just to set up a job. For only five strips, that's not in budget.

Yeah, waterjet would be my choice, given a budget for it. I don't see
how a laser could do it without ruining the temper, but I know little
about the laser cutting process, other than what a friend's Analog did
for his wood projects. No temper problems here. heh


A virgin roll has perfect edges, and rolls tightly. The mill that makes
the rolls from larger sheet stock cannot go narrower than 1".

Any ideas?

Are in-house costs included? If not:

Does it cut fairly cleanly between steel blades? And would rolling
the edges back to flat be acceptable?

OR, got a grinder to remove the curl?

OR, cut 7/16" wide and wind it, then grind the curled edges off to
proper width?

What about a sheet-metal house? In bad times such as these, the
mandatory minimums are often overlooked.

--
If you're trying to take a roomful of people by
surprise, it's a lot easier to hit your targets
if you don't yell going through the door.
-- Lois McMaster Bujold