Cleaning aluminum 'slots' & bending sharp corners??

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I'm making something, call it a square or rectangle. I cut it on the cnc as one flat piece and cut slots where I want to bend it at. . It's .100 aluminum, I'll bend it and I really want a sharp bend. Do I need to scribe the back side with a angle grinder to get a nice sharp bend? I'm using the little hand break from HF with the angled top plate. Nothing fancy.My second issue is that I can't find a good way to clean into the slot where the plasma cutter was. I've tried rags and paper towels with acetone as well as brushes, but nothing seems to clean it worth a damn. As soon as I light up it's junk. Did about 12 of these welds last night and 2 were beautiful and the rest not so much. The kerf of the slot is pretty large like 1/16 if not a hair larger so there is a lot of junk that will float up to the top from both sides of the cut. Trying to avoid a wire wheel as I finish the piece with a sander prior to bending so I don't have to do it after.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Problem with CNC plasma on alum isn't oil contamination, it's alum oxide from the air used in the plasma arc process. Jim Colt might be able to tell you if you'd be able to deal with this using Nitrogen vs air as your plasma gas.  Tig and heavy alum oxides will not play well together. Water jet would be a better option for ready to weld edges or machining with carbide tooling. Slots will be a PITA to clean up. A zip wheel may work though I've never tried it. Once bent you'd have better access to your plasma cut edges and a carbide bur may do what you want..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:So you're cutting slots, bending, then welding the slots?Are you trying to make things more difficult than they need to be?My name's not Jim....
Reply:Originally Posted by BoostinjdmSo you're cutting slots, bending, then welding the slots?Are you trying to make things more difficult than they need to be?
Reply:I remember seeing a thread once about using a table saw to cut part way through at the bend lines on thick aluminum.Then it bends nice and easy with an extremely easy partial weld to make to fill the corner out.I use a table saw to cut individual pieces, or a skill saw - I don't like welding plasma cut aluminum.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Dave, you are thinking about one of Denny's ( Yorkiepaps) old posts similar to this one.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-quot-aluminum.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWDave, you are thinking about one of Denny's ( Yorkiepaps) old posts similar to this one.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-quot-aluminum
Reply:I use a tracksaw to score and bend aluminum a angle grinder will work too but is a lot more work and not as consistent
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