Shop made straight line cutter

admin

I would love to have a sheer that could handle 14g stainless but space and thousands of dollars stand in my way. Then I remembered that when I was in tech school we had a oxy/fuel torch that was on an automatic track that we could use for cutting steel plate and I was thinking of seeing if I could build one hat would mount to a bench and hook up to my plasma cutterHas anyone ever made somthing like this? I was thinking of useing an auto feed from a bridgeport mill to turn a acme thread but I can't figure out what to use as a track for it. Initially thought of useing some linear bearings but I don't think they would hold up to the abuse of the situation. Any ideas?
Reply:Yeah. I got a suggestion. My guy is picking mine up in about.NOW, at the bus stationBubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:If it were me I'd use a metal cutting circular saw and a guide. Here's a photo I posted for cutting aluminum with a worm-drive but it's the same idea. http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...31#post3305131I've seen a video on youtube with a guy flame cutting plate with a length of all-thread and a drill. I couldn't fine the video.
Reply:First off I don't think you're going to get anywhere near the speed needed to cut sheet metal with a acme screw especially not from a power feed for a milling machine.  I don't know what kind of plasma cutter you have but I can get really good cuts with my Hypertherm and a straight edge. Much faster than any track setup. It does take some practice and skill though.  I've got a track torch and it's great for heavy thick plate being cut with a torch. But it doesn't got anywhere near fast enough to plasma cut sheet metal. That's besides the fact that it takes to long to setup for such light cuts.As for the saws suggested. I've used them in the past as well. Before I had the plasma cutter it was my best method for cutting sheet metal. But after getting the plasma I almost never take the saw down.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:i would love to see a circular saw try on stainless!I wonder if you could make a smooth roller, like a piece of flatstock, maybe 1/2" and a drivewheel 3/8" tall on one side and an idler, locater wheel on the other side. hand, crank on dirvewheel to make it go? bigger wheel=faster cutbosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:You will do well with the Milwaukee saw posted plus a straight edge guide and C clamps. The guide can be anything that is about 1/8 -1/4 thick and has one edge that is straight. A couple of C clamps to hold the guide in place and you are in business. The cut edge from these saws is almost as good as from a milling machine. Using a straight edge avoids binding of the blade and subsequent tooth loss. These saws aren't a carpenter's saw and you can't treat them like you are cutting wood. We have cut steel plate up to 1" thick with our Milwaukee saw. The cutting is slow at 1" thick but the cut is accurate and beautiful. A plasma cutter may be faster on thin metal, but you will never get the quality of cut that you can with one of these saws.CharleyMiller MM252Miller Bobcat 225NTMiller DialArc HF / DIY Cooler2 Victor O/A TorchsetsMilwaukee 8" Metal SawMilwaukee Dry Cut "Chop" Saw 5 Ton Wallace Gantry Various Grinders, Benders, etc.
Reply:I've use a metal cutting circular saw since 2003 with great success. CharleyL knows. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Here's a youtube link to a simple track burner.     No need to get real fancy .....use either a friction drive (driven wheels that ride on inverted angle iron) or some other means to guide a plasma or oxy-fuel torch in a straight line. There are a dozen or so manufacturers of straight line track burners that mount an oxy-fuel or plasma torch....I often see them on the used equipment market at reasonable cost. The major suppliers would be Bugo and Koike of these machines.Jim Colt    Hypertherm
Reply:metal cutting circular saw will work just fine on 14ga stainless, no burr, no dross, a little loud and metal chips do fly but the cuts are straight and pretty smooth
Reply:Originally Posted by 92dlxmani would love to see a circular saw try on stainless!
Reply:Cool cut-a-line. I turned off the illuminati music  O2 or propane ?Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Definitely 02, could be propane, acetylene, nat gas, methane, or a few others as the fuel gas....Plasma would require a much courser pitch on the lead screw....like 6 times faster.Jim Colt Originally Posted by BurpeeCool cut-a-line. I turned off the illuminati music  O2 or propane ?