Cutting Plasma Circles

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I'd like ideas on how people cut circles with their plasma cutters (becides CNC). Circle cutters that piviot from the center seemed usless to me as the torch needs to be suported by the main material. I have cut PVC couplings to the right height and used the ID and it works great. The problem is the PVC only comes in a few sizes. What I really needed was a hose clamp that was the right height and was smooth on top and inside. That way you could adjust to any size circle. I have not found that clamp.I need to cut holes in a aluminum dash for some gauges (3.40" and 2.030") and the holes need to fit well. Any ideas out there?Last edited by PaulG; 03-09-2006 at 11:10 PM.
Reply:Cutout plywood templates. The wood won't burn, they are easy and cheap to make.
Reply:Try a ribbon of springy sheet metal with a gear clamp or tie wires.  Assemble like a piston ring compressor and adjust as required.
Reply:Isn't there a Circle Cutter for the Plasma; I think Miller or ThermoXXX  has one.NnF
Reply:how a bout a pantagraph - i think thats it,  makes transfers .have used one a long time ago
Reply:I use a fly cutter in a drill press to cut instrument panel holes in aluminum.
Reply:Hole saw
Reply:I paid $20 for a fancy bi-metal hole saw once.  All I needed it to do was cut 2 holes in a piece of 1/8th inch 316 stainless steel.  It was going real slowly through the 2nd hole and by the time I finally punched through, it had 1.5 teeth left on the entire saw.  That is a good reason not to use a hole saw, they're expensive when you're cutting harder materials.  Or how about those Hole Hawgs with the $300+ carbide tipped saws that chip teeth if you look at them wrong.  The worst one is when you are wrestling the magnetic drill press into some awkard postion and bump into something and bust a tooth off.