Author Topic: production machining question.....need help!!!!  (Read 5460 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Jonny Hotnuts

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1522
production machining question.....need help!!!!
« on: May 09, 2012, 01:02:23 AM »

I need to cut a 'v' notch (15ish degree) in the long side of 1.5X.75" (.083) steel rectangle.

This is so I can bend the tube and then weld the seam, essentially having the bar make a sharp bend without buckling. 

The problem is I need to do this a few thousand times.......

I have been doing limited production by using an angle grinder with very thin cut off wheel and guide bar and hand cutting the notches in a series of tubes lined up.
This is quite cumbersome....notches are inconsistent and its time consuming.

I dont want to buy a something like horizontal mill and end up spending thousands of $$$ on a solution.

Any suggestions?????


~JH
jonny_hotnuts@hotmail.com

"Sometimes it is impossible to deal with her, but most of the time she is very sweet, and if you caress her properly she will sing beautifully."
*Andres Segovia
(when Im not working on the car, I am ususally playing classical guitar)

Offline Tman

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3672
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #1 on: May 09, 2012, 01:09:35 AM »
Chop saw, end stop for the tube and go. Needs to not really be a true V notch, a good welder can get nice penetration regardless. You are overthinking this unless it goes on teh space shuttle............oh snap! The brains killed THAT program! DOH!

Offline RichFox

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2663
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #2 on: May 09, 2012, 09:33:27 AM »
Be a nice job for somebody with a shaper. You could put a cutoff wheel in a radial arm saw. Set a vise and stops to locate the tube and cut something that will be welded anyway.

Offline Dean Los Angeles

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2370
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #3 on: May 09, 2012, 10:16:21 AM »
Build a fixture and stop for a band saw. We did something similar at work and it went pretty quick, but only 40 pieces.

The 15 degree angle dictates a thin blade.

Any reason you can't cut completely through and weld it in a jig?
Well, it used to be Los Angeles . . . 50 miles north of Fresno now.
Just remember . . . It isn't life or death.
It's bigger than life or death! It's RACING.

Offline Vinsky

  • Full Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 249
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2012, 01:30:30 PM »
 Haas makes friction cutting circular blades that I used in my double bevel compound slide saw. It worked great. The only problem was, the hot steel chips ruined the plastic blade guard. Other than that, it makes very quick and accurate cuts.
A quicker but more expensive way would be to sub it out for robotic laser cutting.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2012, 01:33:02 PM by Vinsky »
John

McRat

  • Guest
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2012, 03:59:18 PM »
If I understand?

Fastest, strongest:

Cut on horz bandsaw, fine tooth blade (thickness unimportant), use coolant, low RPM.  Harbor Freight has cheap models ($200), so do many of your buddies.  You can set the 7.5° (per side) at the saw vice which is built-in.  

Blow off, clean on wire wheel.  Weld 100% around, using a jig (c-clamps to blocks OK).  Bending steel near a saw cut isn't optimal.  It's weaker, and can start cracks, and you aren't saving any time or money anyhow.
« Last Edit: May 09, 2012, 04:00:55 PM by McRat »

Offline Glen

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 7024
  • SCTA/BNI timer 1983 to 2004, Retired,. Crew on Tur
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2012, 05:21:24 PM »
Find a shop that can bend the tubing. A lot of fab and welding shops have benders for almost any shape.
Glen
Crew on Turbinator II

South West, Utah

Offline SteveM

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1483
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #7 on: May 11, 2012, 03:22:21 PM »
How long are the pieces?  For thousands of them, pay someone to make the cuts at a local steel service center.  They should be set up for that kind of work.

In our machine shop here at work, we have a horizontal band saw with auto feed, coolant, and a head that can cut any angle.  I would set up on a stack of 20' long tubes, set the saw for 7.5 degrees on one cut, square for the second cut, and whatever length needed,  then have someone put the cut pieces in a box as they came off the saw.  Maybe 30 seconds per cut on a stack of 5 or 6 tubes.

Steve.
1/2 of the Rampage Brothers

Offline Jonny Hotnuts

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1522
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2012, 05:52:08 PM »


Thanks for the suggestions.....

THis is what the bars look like.

I like the look of the weld on 3 sides....and have to weight the tradeoff of time welding 4 sides, vs. time to cut the notches by hand to gain consistency of angle.
jonny_hotnuts@hotmail.com

"Sometimes it is impossible to deal with her, but most of the time she is very sweet, and if you caress her properly she will sing beautifully."
*Andres Segovia
(when Im not working on the car, I am ususally playing classical guitar)

Offline johnneilson

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 502
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2012, 11:57:19 AM »
If I am following you on this, it could be done via cnc mill. It would require machining from 3 sides (1ea. side and final open end).
If you have thousands to do, it would probably be cost effective. I see a couple benefits, consistancy, radius in corner for bend and probably not require a fixture to weld two pieces.

Just another way to skin the proverbial cat.

John
As Carroll Smith wrote; All Failures are Human in Origin.

Offline Glen

  • Global Moderator
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 7024
  • SCTA/BNI timer 1983 to 2004, Retired,. Crew on Tur
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2012, 12:11:28 PM »
Hotnuts what are you trying to build?????
Glen
Crew on Turbinator II

South West, Utah

Offline Peter Jack

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3776
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2012, 12:34:26 PM »
Jonny, why not weld them all the way round and then give the back side a quick rub on a belt sander with a fairly coarse belt? That will give you both the ease of fabrication and the appearance you're looking for.

Pete

Offline Captthundarr

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1475
  • In line
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2012, 12:39:22 PM »
Hotnuts what are you trying to build?????

Yea, whats up wid dat?
Live,Laugh, Love /  Jack Scratch Racing /ECTA   
Amy Hartman-Driver, Frank Hartman-everthing else.
C/GALT 137.65 Ohio Mile check that 144.12 2013, AA/GALT 159.34 Ohio Mile 2014. B/GALT 180.577 RECORD 6/15

Offline Jonny Hotnuts

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1522
Re: production machining question.....need help!!!!
« Reply #13 on: May 14, 2012, 11:03:43 AM »
Quote
Hotnuts what are you trying to build

These are extension handles that have become a mandatory safety methods standard for a large shipping company (long haul division) that rhymes with 'UPS'.

I am going to try the full cut and weld method. The more I think about it, it will solve some probs.

~JH
jonny_hotnuts@hotmail.com

"Sometimes it is impossible to deal with her, but most of the time she is very sweet, and if you caress her properly she will sing beautifully."
*Andres Segovia
(when Im not working on the car, I am ususally playing classical guitar)