Sheet metal is a common building material used to make fences, gutters and canopies. You can often find ready-made galvanized steel products on sale, such as ridges or pipes for draining rainwater from the roof. But what if the product is of non-standard size and you need to cut sheet metal yourself?
Tools for cutting metal sheets
Initially, when choosing tools, you need to decide on the tasks. Not only the amount of work matters, but also the time frame, the accuracy of the cut and the possibility of damage to the protective coating. Electric scissors are often used at construction sites. However, you should not expect a very smooth edge. The advantage of such a device is the speed of work.
How to cut a sheet of metal straight? At home, the problem can be solved quite simply - by using metal scissors. But this method requires a lot of time and physical effort. Scissors will not work if you need to cut long strips. The most even cut can be obtained using slotted scissors. This tool is quite expensive and is usually used by professionals.
Equipment for cutting profiled and galvanized sheets:
- Bulgarian;
- low speed saw;
- electric scissors;
- hacksaw;
- jigsaw for metal.
How to cut a sheet of metal with a grinder
One of the fastest ways to cut galvanized sheets is cutting with a grinder. Among the disadvantages of this processing are torn edges, which will have to be additionally cleaned and smoothed. A grinder is not suitable for cutting corrugated sheets, since sparks during cutting can damage the polymer coating. But for simple work that does not require high precision and accuracy, an angle grinder is quite suitable.
Please note that when using such a power tool, purchase a special disc that will not damage the protective coating on the galvanized sheet. After cutting the corrugated board, the edges must be cleaned and coated with special paint. This equipment can be used if you are building a shed from corrugated sheets or making a canopy. In this case, you do not have to purchase a special and expensive tool.
Rules when working with an angle grinder:
- choose discs with carbide teeth;
- operate at low speeds;
- Treat the cut areas with a special anti-corrosion coating.
Hacksaw for metal
Many craftsmen have a hacksaw for metal. This is a universal and cheapest tool. It should not be used if you need to cut out shaped edges, but for making smooth plates, a hacksaw is suitable. The biggest disadvantage of such a tool is the time it takes to carry out the work. You need a lot of it.
Jigsaw
If you need to cut a circle in a sheet of metal, you should use a jigsaw. It works quite quickly, so you will get a neat hole in a matter of minutes. Among the disadvantages of the equipment are noise and the possibility of a burnt edge when processing profiled sheets.
Subtleties of working with a jigsaw:
- it is necessary to use saws with fine teeth;
- you need to choose a reciprocating mode;
- it is necessary to control the inclination of the cutting part;
- rapid failure of consumables.
A circular saw
Sometimes a circular saw is used to cut metal. If you work with corrugated sheets, then the equipment should be turned on at low speeds. Otherwise, the polymer coating may be damaged. To work, you will need a partner to hold the sheet. Among the advantages of this tool is that the work is performed without heating, so you will not damage the protective coating on the profiled sheet. It is best to use an aluminum circle.
To set up fast work with a circular saw, you need to prepare a plywood pattern. The groove is not completely cut out in this sheet. This will be a kind of blank that allows you to preserve the galvanized or polymer coating on the sheet. An excellent tool for cutting metal is a double-blade saw. It, unlike the grinder, does not leave a torn edge and works much quieter. Unfortunately, not every master has such a tool.
What and how to make a hole in a sheet of metal?
It all depends on the size of the hole. If the diameter is small, a drill will do. If large holes are needed, special drill bits are used. Pay attention to the material from which the horse-drawn horse is made. To process profiled sheets, you should use nozzles with a carbide coating. Processing should be carried out without increasing the temperature.
A jigsaw is used to make a large diameter hole. With this tool, cutting out a circle of large diameter will not be difficult. When working, use a saw with fine teeth
Metal is the material that the angle grinder (angle grinder) was originally designed to work with. Now it is used to cut reinforcing bars, various metal sheets, pipes of various diameters, brick, concrete, stone, tiles and other building materials. Thanks to the presence of a variety of attachments, the grinder also allows you to polish and grind the surfaces of products. Cutting metal with a grinder is one of the main, most common jobs. To reduce the likelihood of injury, it must be performed correctly, with strict adherence to general and personal safety requirements.
Bulgarian belongs to the category of relatively dangerous power tools. You can get injured from a flying disc or a tool falling out of your hands. In both cases, the danger is associated with the high speed of rotation of the device's electric motor.
To increase the efficiency of the grinder and expand its functionality, in practice they use such additional accessories:
- tripods;
- retainers.
Their use makes it possible to improve the quality of sawing metal workpieces and increase the accuracy of the process. Working conditions also improve in terms of safety, and productivity increases.
The use of additional accessories allows you to use the tool as a machine designed to perform different types of work.
To make the cutting process as safe as possible, working on metal with an angle grinder should follow a number of rules. They are conventionally divided into preparatory and main (working) activities.
Before cutting begins, a number of manipulations must be carried out.
If possible, the material to be sawn should first be securely fixed, for example, in a vice, in order to eliminate possible accidental movements. Holding workpieces in your hands or between your knees is prohibited.
Correct use of the tool
When you start sawing any part using an angle grinder, you should adhere to these rules.
- When cutting metal, you need to hold the grinder firmly, with both hands.
- The wheels can be changed only after they have completely stopped rotating and cooled down to an acceptable temperature, disconnecting the power tool from the power supply.
- Do not place the working tool on the ground or table (do not let it out of your hands).
- Required periodically for about 5 minutes stop to rest, and to keep the disk cool.
- It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the cutting wheel, preventing it from being pinched by the edges of the workpiece being cut.
- Do not leave the tool plugged in unattended.
- Use only discs of the correct size as specified in the operating instructions for the device you are using.
- Get the job done better on a flat surface so that the body position is stable.
- Make sure that the power cord is kept away from the rotating circle, sharp edges, and objects heated above 100 degrees.
- Movements not directly related to cutting should only be performed with the power tool turned off.
- You need to position yourself on the side or behind the tool, doing the work with your own hands so that parts of the body are not in the cutting plane.
When cutting metal with a grinder is finished, you should wait until the disk stops completely and disconnect the power cord of the tool from the network. Afterwards, it is recommended to ensure that there are no signs of fire. When cutting materials, a right-handed person should correctly hold the handle of the device in the area of the on/off button with his right hand. The left hand is placed on the handle screwed into the body of the power tool from above.
It is unacceptable to perform work using an angle grinder when you are very tired, or under the influence of alcohol, psychotropic or narcotic drugs.
As for the question of which direction - toward you or away from you - the disk of the turned-on angle grinder should rotate, there is no definite answer. The operating instructions indicate that the first option is correct. This is due to the fact that the resulting sparks fly away in the direction opposite to the operator, without causing harm. Also, fragments of the circle will fly in that direction if it breaks into pieces.
But if the rotating disk jams towards itself, the tool will fly off towards the worker. For this reason, many specialists prefer to cut metal so that the circle rotates “from itself”. A power tool torn out of your hands will fly in the opposite direction. This reduces the likelihood of injury, and clothing, shoes and gloves will protect the user from flying sparks.
Cutting sheet metal with a grinder
To cut metal of different types and thicknesses, use appropriate cutting wheels of various thicknesses and diameters. The algorithm for sawing sheets is as follows.
- To cut using a grinder, sheet metal is first laid on a flat surface.
- Mark with chalk (marker) the exact dimensions of the cut out fragments on the surface of the sheet.
- Sawing is carried out along the marked lines, without changing the angle of the initial inclination of the disk to the working surface, so that it does not jam and break the power tool.
If you do not have the skills to saw sheet metal with a grinder, it is recommended that you first practice on soft material- this will give you the opportunity to feel the operation of the instrument.
It is necessary to take into account that the lower proximal segment of the disc cuts metal more effectively.
When cutting a sheet of metal, the following recommendations should be taken into account to obtain a high-quality result.
- To improve cooling, a sawing area is required water, which will also increase the life of the circle.
- You should start cutting metal only when the disk is rotating: you cannot turn on the tool if the stationary circle is in contact with the surface of the workpiece.
- To saw tin (thin sheet metal) or cut out various geometric shapes, it is more convenient to use small, worked out circles(“bits”)
- You should not press the angle grinder with significant force: cutting should take place almost exclusively under the angle grinder’s own weight.
- If the cutting wheel stops in the slot (when the power tool is turned off), then work can be resumed only after it is removed.
If sawing the sheet occurs slowly, you should change the working nozzle. Excessive load on the angle grinder when cutting metal will lead to overheating or jamming of the rotating wheel.
Cutting a round hole in metal using an angle grinder
In practice, it is often necessary to cut a circle in metal, and the only tool available is an angle grinder. But it is quite enough for this purpose. The algorithm of actions is as follows.
- Draw a circle with a compass on the surface of the metal or on a pre-made paper (cardboard) template with chalk or a marker.
- Holding the grinder at an angle to the surface of the sheet, make a preliminary marking cut of the metal along the marked contour, making short movements with the disk (sawing in small sections).
- Then, moving the nozzle in the same way, deepen the slot until it is completely cut out.
Need to cut along the outer contour of the circle so as not to reduce the size of the circle. If its diameter is small, then they cut by touching the metal with a disk point by point (without longitudinal movement of the nozzle). The round hole will have an oblique cut, as well as some minor flaws (they depend on the skill of the worker). Afterwards it is processed, if necessary.
The entire process of cutting a round hole in sheet metal using a special tool is shown in the video:
Features of working with thick metal, copper, cast iron, aluminum
When it is necessary to cut thick metal into separate fragments, it is recommended to additionally perform the following steps:
- constantly cool the area of contact between the metal and the disk using cold water due to the strong heating of the slot;
- make all cuts only in a straight line;
- different curved contours should be cut out in separate straight sections of short length, removing unnecessary parts;
- You need to completely cut the workpiece in several approaches, deepening the slot with each subsequent one;
- if you need to cut corners, I-beams, channels, rails, then each of their structural parts is sawed separately.
Cutting cast iron, stainless steel, as well as non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum and copper, is carried out using special circles designed to work with these materials. All the necessary information about the discs is contained in the markings of these products, printed on their sides. In this case, the circles differ in the composition of the fillers:
- in some, the additive is a super-strong material that can cut alloy steel;
- others use mild binders.
Cutting stainless steel with conventional metal cutting discs is prohibited, because they contain substances that lead to accelerated corrosion of the cut site. Aluminum and copper are very viscous non-ferrous metals. They are sawed using a grinder, pouring kerosene the slot formed by the disk. In this case, it is necessary to comply with fire safety rules.
Cutting pipes from different metals is a popular operation when carrying out repair and construction work. Products have to be cut off when installing sewer and heating systems and water lines. In this regard, the grinder copes well with various tasks. Discs for work are selected according to the material from which the pipe is made.
Using an angle grinder makes it possible to:
- saw pipes at different angles, for example 45 and 90 degrees;
- cut large diameter products;
- cut profile (rectangular or square) pipes smoothly;
- perform longitudinal cutting of tubular blanks;
- sawing cast iron pipes;
- cut thin-walled tubes.
If you need to cut a large diameter pipe, then using a grinder allows you to complete this work without significant financial costs. But at the same time, labor productivity is low, and the risks are considerable. When long pipes lie on supports, only saw off hanging parts. If you cut in the center, the cutting edges will jam the cutting wheel, which will lead to jamming of the tool and possible injury.
Specialists not only cut pipes from different materials at the required angles, but also cut holes of the required shapes in them. Work with profile and round workpieces is carried out in a similar way, with mandatory observance of safety regulations.
Sawing pipes at different angles
It is necessary to cut round and profile pipes at an angle of 45 and 90 degrees when laying various communications. In any case, it is necessary to saw off the pipe evenly so that the elements that need to be connected are connected to each other as tightly as possible.
Res at an angle of 45 degrees cylindrical pipes are carried out as follows:
- take an ordinary square sheet of paper;
- fold it exactly diagonally;
- This template is used to wrap the pipe;
- use chalk or other marking device to mark the future cutting line;
- remove the template;
- clamp the workpiece in a vice;
- cut off the marked piece of pipe.
When applying the template, either of the two short sides of this triangle should be parallel to the central axis of the pipe.
When to cut at an angle of 90 degrees, the pipes are simply wrapped in a circle (cylindrical) or around the perimeter (profile) with a sheet of paper. After this, mark the cutting line. You can also mark a profile pipe very simply using a regular square.
If it is necessary to cut a significant number of profile pipes at an angle of 45 and 90 degrees, appropriate templates are made from this material, only with a larger cross-section. This allows you to perform the required measurements only once. In this case, a construction square or a protractor is used for initial marking. When the template is made, the cut pieces are inserted inside it, marking the cut lines. Then sawing is done.
Templates are also made for other angle sizes. This method increases labor efficiency.
Features of cutting cast iron and thin-walled pipes
Cast iron is brittle material. To cut a cast iron pipe with a grinder, proceed in the following sequence:
- mark the cutting line;
- place a wooden block under the pipe, which will serve as a support for it;
- make a cut along the contour several millimeters deep;
- insert a chisel into the recess made;
- the instruction is hit hard and sharply with a hammer.
After the impact, the pipe will split along the cut line. Its edges will be quite smooth. If necessary, they are further processed.
To perform longitudinal sawing of a pipe, it is also important precise marking. To apply it, various devices are used, for example, construction thread (“beat”). The entire sawing process should be carried out carefully, slowly, so as not to stray from the marked line.
Thin-walled pipes are one of the varieties of this type of product. They are often made of non-ferrous metals: copper or aluminum. Cutting them is a difficult task. In this case, you should use grinder wheels that match the material of the workpiece.
Sawing thin-walled tubes must be done very carefully, because they can easily become deformed even when applying a slight load.
To reduce the likelihood of bending of the cut part, various bulk fillers are poured inside it, for example, ordinary purified sand.
Cutting corrugated sheets and metal tiles
Quite often in practice one has to face the need to cut a profile sheet or metal tile. These materials are made of steel, which is coated with zinc and polymer protective layers and painted.
There are different opinions regarding the possibility of using a grinder for cutting them. The installation instructions say that the corrugated sheet cannot be sawed using an angle grinder. To do this you need to use other tools. But they need to be purchased, which is not always justified by the volume of work to be done, and also requires additional financial investments. When there is no tool other than an angle grinder, before sawing with a grinder, you should know the possible Negative consequences.
- If you cut metal tiles or corrugated sheets with an angle grinder, the protective coating in the cut area and a little near it will be destroyed, and the cut edge will begin to rust.
- The material is removed from warranty.
- Flying sparks can not only ruin the appearance of the rest of the sheet (sear the paint), but also damage the polymer coating.
- The edge of the cut may turn out torn.
All considered negative consequences can be minimized if you cut corrugated sheets or metal tiles with a grinder, following the following recommendations:
- carry out all work immediately before installation;
- treat cuts with anti-corrosion compounds;
- cover the cut edges with a primer and paint;
- use metal discs of minimal thickness (up to 1 mm);
- To keep the edges neat, you need to cut quite quickly;
- Carefully sand the torn edges.
Before sawing, as usual, carry out marking sheets.
If you need to cut a square, do this:
- draw it on the surface of the sheet;
- cut through the material along the marked contour with a grinder;
- At the end, carefully cut out each corner.
Circles or other shapes are cut out using the same pattern.
Using a grinder for cutting metal tiles and corrugated sheets makes the work easier. It becomes more convenient to perform it, because you can adjust the sheets to size directly on the roof.
In order for metal tiles or corrugated sheets to remain under warranty, you should measure the object and order factory cutting of the sheets. You can also try to choose a material with dimensions such that trimming is not required.
Cutting metal with a grinder is a cheap, practically accessible and quite effective way of sawing it. In this case, appropriate discs without defects should be used for each material. Not only the quality of the result obtained, but also your own health will depend on this. When cutting metal, it is imperative to follow safety rules and use personal protective equipment. You should always remember that when working with an angle grinder, any shortcomings or inattention can result in injury. Therefore, you need to work with concentration and caution.
Bench cutting
TO category:
Metal cutting
Bench cutting
Cutting is the process of dividing a workpiece into parts of specified sizes and shapes. Cutting is used to produce workpieces of specified sizes and shapes from rolled products and sheet metal, as well as slots and holes in the workpieces. Modern cutting methods provide high-performance processing of workpieces of almost any size and from materials with any physical and mechanical properties.
The following technological cutting methods are distinguished.
1. Sawing with hacksaws, band saws and circular saws. Used for cutting long products.
2. Cutting with scissors. Used for cutting sheet metal.
3. Cutting on metal-cutting machines (lathes, milling, etc.).
4. Anode-mechanical, electric spark and light beam (laser) cutting. These methods are used in cases where other methods do not provide sufficient productivity and the required quality. For example, they are used for cutting high-strength materials along complex and precise contours, etc.
5. Oxy-acetylene cutting. It is used for cutting workpieces of considerable thickness made of carbon steel. It does not provide high accuracy and leads to changes in the structure and chemical composition of the material at the cut site. However, it is widely used in single production environments due to its simplicity, high productivity and versatility.
Rice. 1. Sawing (a) and cutting workpieces with scissors (b): 1 - workpiece, 2 - knives; y - rake angle, a - rear angle, P - sharpening angle, 8 - cutting angle
Cutting can be done either manually or mechanically.
The physical essence of cutting is based on various methods of destruction of the workpiece material at the cutting site.
When sawing and cutting on metal-cutting machines, the force F applied to the cutting wedge is directed at an acute angle to the surface being processed. Therefore, the cutting wedge cuts the material and turns it into chips. When cutting with scissors, the force F applied to the cutting wedge is perpendicular to the surface being processed. Therefore, the tool cuts the material without creating chips.
Electric spark cutting is based on electrical erosion (destruction) of the workpiece material. Capacitor C, included in the charging circuit, is charged through resistor R from a direct current source with a voltage of 100-200 V. When the voltage on the electrodes (tool) and (workpiece) reaches the breakdown voltage, a spark discharge with a duration of 20-200 μs occurs between their nearest microprotrusions. The discharge temperature reaches 10,000-12,000 °C. At the point of discharge on the workpiece, an elementary volume of material instantly melts and evaporates and a hole is formed. The removed material in the form of granules remains in the dielectric medium (oil) in which the processing process takes place. Discharges following continuously one after another destroy all the workpiece material located from the tool at a distance of 0.01-0.05 mm. To continue the processing process, the electrodes must be brought closer together, which is done automatically.
Rice. 1.6. Electric spark cutting of workpieces: 1 - wire-tool, 2 - workpiece
When using oxygen-acetylene cutting, the workpiece metal at the cut site is first heated with an oxygen-acetylene flame to its ignition temperature in oxygen (for steel 1000-1200 °C). Then a stream of oxygen is directed into this place and the metal begins to burn. This generates so much heat that it is sufficient to maintain a continuous cutting process.
Anodic-mechanical cutting is based on the combined destruction of the workpiece material - electrical, chemical and mechanical. Direct current passing at the cutting site between the workpiece and the tool causes electrical erosion of the workpiece surface. The resulting molten particles of material are removed from the processing zone by a rotating tool - a disk. At the same time, the electrolyte supplied to the processing zone, under the influence of an electric current, forms oxide films on the surface of the workpiece, which are removed by the same rotating tool.
Cutting tools. When sawing, hacksaw blades (for manual and mechanical hacksaws), band saws and circular saws are used as cutting tools. Hacksaw blades and band saws are a thin strip of high-speed or alloy (Х6ВФ, В2Ф) steel with fine teeth in the form of wedges on one or two sides. Band saws are made by bending a strip into a ring and soldering its ends with high-temperature solder. A circular saw has teeth located on the periphery of the blade. The cutting teeth are hardened to a hardness of 61 - 64 HRQ. To prevent the tool from jamming in a narrow cut, its teeth are spread apart.
When choosing a sawing tool, you should first take into account the length of the cut and the hardness of the material being processed.
When making long cuts, it is necessary to choose blades with a large tooth pitch, and when processing thin-walled workpieces - with a fine one. At least three teeth must be involved in cutting simultaneously.
The higher the hardness of the material being processed, the larger the sharpening angle should be. The chips formed in this case have the shape of a comma and fit tightly into a small space. When machining soft materials, use tools with a large chip space. A positive rake angle improves productivity because the tooth cuts rather than scrapes the workpiece material.
To process high-strength materials, hacksaw blades with synthetic diamonds on the working surface are used.
To cut sheet material, cutting tools in the form of knives are used, which are most often removable. Knives come with straight, curved and round (roller and disk) cutting edges.
In anodic mechanical cutting, thin discs made of mild steel are used as a tool. On an electric spark machine, a continuously moving wire is used as a cutting tool.
Equipment and accessories for cutting. In a tool shop, small workpieces are cut with a hand saw. The hacksaw blade is mounted in a frame so that the teeth are directed away from the handle.
Manual lever shears are designed for cutting sheet material. Tool shops use small, portable shears. They can cut sheet steel up to 4 mm thick, aluminum and brass up to 6 mm thick.
Hand scissors are designed for cutting sheet material, making workpieces with a curved contour, cutting out holes with a complex contour in workpieces. For straight cuts, scissors with straight, wide knives are used. If the upper cutting edge is located to the right relative to the lower one, then the scissors are called right-handed, and if they are on the left - left-handed. To obtain external curved cuts, use hand scissors with curved wide knives. Cutting out internal curved contours is done with scissors with narrow curved knives.
Mechanical cutting of sheet material is carried out using manual electric shears, vibrating shears, as well as roller, multi-disc and sheet shears.
Sequence and techniques of work when cutting. Cutting is preceded by marking. Then the cutting method, equipment and tools are selected.
Correct execution of cutting techniques is of great importance for quality processing. The location of the workpiece and tool during manual cutting must be such that the marking line is constantly accessible for observation. When the cutting length is large, the pressure on the hacksaw is increased, and when the cutting length is short, it is reduced. Since the teeth of a hacksaw break especially easily at the beginning and end of a cut, at these moments the pressure on it should be minimal.
When cutting, hand scissors should be opened to 2/3 of the length of the cutting edges. In this case, they easily grip the workpiece and cut well. The cutting plane should always be perpendicular to the surface of the workpiece being cut. Misalignment leads to jamming, crushing of edges and the appearance of burrs.
Correct adjustment of the tool is of great importance. So, with a weak tension on the hacksaw blade in a hand hacksaw, the cut is oblique. A large gap between the knives leads to the formation of burrs. The appearance of burrs with correctly adjusted knives is a signal that they have become dull.
When cutting with a hand saw, you should stand freely and straight, half-turned towards the vice.
When working with wood or metal, as a rule, there are no problems with accurate and high-quality cutting. Polymer materials are a completely different matter. Acrylic or polycarbonate, due to their physical properties, require a special approach to processing. These modern materials can melt at the point of contact with the cutting tool, scratch, and also splinter. In this regard, there are often cases when even the simplest cut looks sloppy or leads to irreparable damage to the part. We have prepared a description of the three most effective methods for cutting plastic, which are suitable for materials of different types, qualities and thicknesses.
If there is a need to cut sheet polycarbonate or acrylic plastic, the thickness of which is 2-3 mm, then the best tool for this work will be a regular mounting knife with replaceable blades, used for cutting drywall. It is better to carry out the work on a hard, flat surface, securing the sheet to it with clamps. Accurate markings play an important role when cutting plastic. Do not forget that in case of an error, it will be impossible to correct the defect and the sheet of material will be damaged. A metal ruler or profile is placed along the line along which it is planned to divide the sheet, along which several passes are made with a mounting knife. You need to cut the plastic slowly but surely, making sure that the blade does not go to the side and plunges into the polymer to the same depth throughout the cut.
Once a sufficiently deep groove has been created, it is tempting to break the sheet along this line, as one does with glass. This solution often leads to undesirable consequences, such as the appearance of chips or cracks. To complete the cutting process, turn the plastic over, secure it again on the table and, placing a ruler on a clearly visible line, repeat the manipulations with the knife on the reverse side. After this, you can remove the clamp, move the sheet to the edge of the table and carefully break off the cut off part with your hands.
How to cut thick sheets of plastic
Cutting polycarbonate and acrylic sheets whose thickness exceeds 20 mm is performed using electric tools. Circular saws are best suited for these purposes. To do this kind of work, you will have to go to the store and purchase a special saw blade designed for working with plastic. It differs from discs for wood and stone by its small thickness and smaller, specially shaped teeth. Under no circumstances should you use discs intended for other materials, as damage to the material in this case will be inevitable. Wood saws have teeth that are too large and spaced apart. Sawing acrylic or polycarbonate with such a disk will lead to the formation of torn edges of the cut and even melting of the polymer.
Just as with manual cutting, before sawing the sheet on a circular saw, it must be accurately marked. It is best to draw a line with a permanent marker, the line of which is clearly visible and has sufficient resistance to erasure. Before starting work, the plastic must also be firmly secured. They cut polymer sheets in the same way as plywood, with the difference that when cutting a significant length, it is better to pause so that the disc cools down and does not melt the edges of the cut.
Complex shaped cuts
When working with plastic, it is often necessary to make curved cuts. With thin sheets, you can use a mounting knife, but if the thickness of the polymer exceeds 10 mm, then it is better to use an electric jigsaw. Manufacturers produce saw blades designed specifically for working with acrylic or polycarbonate, having a special tooth shape and a non-standard angle. When working with plastic with a thickness of more than 20 mm, it is permissible to use saw blades for wood with the finest teeth. In this case, you need to set the minimum number of engine revolutions, otherwise the material will begin to melt when cutting.
No matter how hard you try, you most likely will not be able to get a perfect edge at the cut site. Therefore, after completing the work, it is necessary to sand the ends with sandpaper or a sanding block. Experts recommend using coarse abrasives at the beginning of grinding, gradually moving to finer ones. If you show maximum care and patience, the edge at the cut site will be perfectly smooth and will not cause any trouble even with precise joining of the elements.
Separately, it is necessary to mention safety precautions when performing such work. Cutting plastic should be done on a stable workbench or table with a working tool. It is also necessary to take care to protect your eyes with glasses, since some types of polymers, when cutting, can form fragments that fly over a considerable distance.
Useful tips
Loading...