Hello
Does anyone know if it is possible to get laser cut metal sheet templates
for use in routing made up to my own design. What I'm thinking about is a
template that can be clamped to the wood and the router used to remove the
wood, this would then allow accurate repetition of the design. I am in the
UK.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Julian Ashcroft
Julian Ashcroft wrote...
> Does anyone know if it is possible to get laser cut metal sheet templates
> for use in routing made up to my own design.
Definitely possible. Be aware that the laser-cut edge is not perfectly
square to the surface; that's probably no big deal, though. It's not
perfectly smooth, either. You might want to clean up the edge a bit
before using it as a template.
Cheers,
Jim
"Julian Ashcroft" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hello
>
> Does anyone know if it is possible to get laser cut metal sheet templates
> for use in routing made up to my own design. What I'm thinking about is a
> template that can be clamped to the wood and the router used to remove the
> wood, this would then allow accurate repetition of the design. I am in the
> UK.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Julian Ashcroft
Look for a machine shop with CNC and talk to them about it. It
wouldn't be cheap, though.
I'd probably opt to create the pattern in a CAD program, then print
and trace it to some MDF so I could create it myself. If you're just
using these as router templates, they probably wouldn't need to be
sheet metal.
FWIW
Brian.
"Julian Ashcroft" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Hello
>
> Does anyone know if it is possible to get laser cut metal sheet templates
> for use in routing made up to my own design. What I'm thinking about is a
> template that can be clamped to the wood and the router used to remove the
> wood, this would then allow accurate repetition of the design. I am in the
> UK.
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
> Julian Ashcroft
Julian,
Don't know why you want sheet metal. Most people people make their own
templates from MDF / Ply etc. You could try acrylic (perspex) for
something more durable or find a signmaker with a CNC machine who will
cut templates in both materials for a price.With sheet metal you will
need a considerable thickness for the template guide to ride on.
Rgds
Noel
noel dot hegan at virgin dot net
Mon, Dec 8, 2003, 9:56am (EST-3) [email protected]
(Noel=A0Hegan) says:
<snip> With sheet metal you will need a considerable thickness for the
template guide to ride on.
Not to mention how heavy it would be. Which could be a plus, no
need to tape or screw it down, it'd be so heavy it wouldn't move, just
rout around it. Hehehehe
My templates/masters are plywood. Much easier to make changes,
which I almost always wind up doing. Got a master I glued some popsicle
sticks onto, now have to take it to the shop, and trim to final size.
JOAT
Where the choice is between only violence and cowardice, I would advise
violence.
- Mohandas Gandhi
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 7 Dec 2003.
Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/SOMETUNESILIKE/
I make my 'tracing' templates out of 1/8" 'Whiteboard' and my SERIOUS router
templates from 1/4" hardboard faced with the 'Whiteboard' {which is then
waxed}.
For less heavy-duty use I paint the hardboard with Seal Coat, then give it a
couple of coats of water-based poly. I give special attention to the edges.
Regards & Good Luck,
Ron Magen
Backyard Boatshop
"jmac" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I like to make templates of 1/4" or 1/2" hardboard.
I know someone who did just that, here in the USA. it's going to be
expensive, so you will have to be making a bunch of whatever it is you
are making to be worthwhile. cnc laser cutting is a specialty machine
shop thing....
templates of thin plywood aren't too hard to make and the freedom to
make changes to your design as you go along can be valuable. even if
you are going to have a metal one made, I'd suggest you do your
prototyping in wood or plastic anyway
here are a few places to try:
http://tinyurl.com/y8mb
http://www.kellysearch.com/gb-product-54691.html
http://www.b-and-z.co.uk/
http://www.5750components.co.uk/
and some other websites of interest:
http://www.stonewood-precision.com/index.html
http://www.dnc-electronics.co.uk/cnc/resources/machining.html
http://www.spurengineering.co.uk/
bridger
On Mon, 8 Dec 2003 11:37:37 -0000, "Julian Ashcroft" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Hello
>
>Does anyone know if it is possible to get laser cut metal sheet templates
>for use in routing made up to my own design. What I'm thinking about is a
>template that can be clamped to the wood and the router used to remove the
>wood, this would then allow accurate repetition of the design. I am in the
>UK.
>
>Thanks in advance for any advice.
>
>Julian Ashcroft
>
"Julian Ashcroft" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello
>
> Does anyone know if it is possible to get laser cut metal sheet templates
> for use in routing made up to my own design. What I'm thinking about is a
> template that can be clamped to the wood and the router used to remove the
> wood, this would then allow accurate repetition of the design. I am in the
> UK.
Talk to the metal working guys. There are all sorts of methods of cutting
sheet metal that is very accurate. The problem with metal though, is that
it can play hell with your router bits in case of an ooops.
Ed