In article .com,
Bugs wrote:
Tin snips have definite limitations, then you graduate to the hacksaw,
fret saw and bandsaw. As your finances and inclination dictate you can
devolve to the cutting torch and plasma gun driven by CNC.

There are other tools which can be helpful within a reasonable
ranges of gauge. There are the nibblers, starting with the hand-powered
Adel nibbler, which is probably within the experience of any electronics
hobbyist. It cuts out rectangular pieces, 1/4" wide, and perhaps 1/16"
deep. And your hand gets *really* tired doing much with it. But, you
can make right-angle turns with it, or do a pretty good job of following
a tight curve.

There is also another style which uses three blades -- two
stationary and one moving which cuts a thin strip out of the workpiece.
It won't turn as tightly, and the thin strip tends to form a coil which
gets in the way of turns even more, but it is pretty nice for near
straight-line work.

Beyond that, there are two flavors of powered nibblers -- One
like the three-bladed one described above, available both attached to an
electric drill motor style of power source, and the compressed-air
powered ones.

And, still in the compressed-air power line is something similar
to the Adel, except that it punches smaller pieces, which take on a
crescent moon shape. Like the Adel, it can follow a rather tight curve,
though it will require that corners be finished up with a file.

Finally, there are the various shears. A stomp shear can handle
up to 50+ inches wide (since standard sheet metal sizes are typically
48x96" this works out nicely), but it is really only good for straight
lines.

And the "Beverly" shear, which is hand powered, and which can
follow a curve fairly well.

Enjoy,
DoN.

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