Cutting metal stock

[Robert Rosensteel]

Would like to know the best tools out there for cutting and punching metal plates.Will be cutting plates for boats dashes and wood awards at this time and will also be making small signs.

[Larry Bratton]

Robert:
Depends on what kind of metal your talking about. Probably the biggest asset you can invest in to do precision cutting and routing is a CNC router.
It will do a variety of materials, wood, aluminum, pvc, mdf, foam board, etc.We cut aluminum on our router all the time with the proper cutters of course. I doubt you could cut anything else in the way of metal, maybe some soft brass with it. To cut steel you would have to have plasma. I think waterjet would also and a 1000watt laser will cut stainless. But your talking some big bucks there. Lots of manufacturers out there from hobby type machines to high production high dollar machines. Good luck!

[Gary Hair]

Robert,
My guess is that you are talking about thin metal, correct? If so, there are several shear and punch manufacturers that make what you need. I would check out Main Trophy Supply:
http://www.maintrophysupply.com/presses.htm
and Accucutter:
http://www.accucutter.com/
here is the shear I bought:
http://www.engraversnetwork.com/store/shears.html

I was going to buy their 9385 shear and 9353 punch/press but ended up getting a great deal on a used shear and ended up just buying the punch. It was highly recommended by several people on Engraving Etc forum as well as the DSSI forum.

You will need two different shears, one for metal and one for plastic. The blades are ground at very different angles and don't work well when you use the wrong one.

Whatever you do, don't go cheap with your shear! Harbor Freight and similar will only leave you frustrated with crooked cuts and bent metal. Spend a few hundred bucks and get quality equipment.

Gary

[Robert Rosensteel]

Thanks Gary they are the WEBSITES I need. Have good week.

[Robert Rosensteel]

Thanks Larry I did'nt know you can cut metal on cnc. I was looking more for what Gary shared with me. Thanks