I have an opportunity to make some $$$ cutting out small designs with my plasma cutter on some 18 gauge material. Since I don't have CNC it will be a lot of repetitive cuts by hand. Their previous vendor raised their price for these items from $1.00 to $5.00 each, so I figure I can charge a reasonable price and make it worth my time, all I need to do is make some templates to fit my plasma torch head. Anybody have any suggestions of what type of material I could use that is heat resistant, durable and easy to work with?
Thanks in advance.
Results 1 to 10 of 13
Thread: Template Material
-
12-14-2009, 04:49 PM #1
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2008
- Location
- Arizona
- Posts
- 801
Template Material
Miller Syncrowave 200
Homemade Water Cooler
130XP MIG
Spectrum 375
60 year old Logan Lathe
Select Machine and Tool Mill
More stuff than I can keep track of..
-
12-14-2009, 05:59 PM #2
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
- Location
- Salem ,Ohio
- Posts
- 3,653
I made quite a few of them from 1/16" brass when it was cheap and easy to get. Alum would be ok too...Bob
Bob Wright, Grandson of Tee Nee Boat Trailer Founder
Metal Master Fab Salem, Oh 44460
Birthplace of the Silver & Deming Drill
1999 MM185 w/185 Spoolgun,1986 Thunderbolt AC/DC
-
12-14-2009, 06:21 PM #3
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Sep 2005
- Location
- northern NJ
- Posts
- 1,565
How many pieces do the templates have to hold up for? I've always seen/used aluminum for repetitive pcs.
MM250
Trailblazer 250g
22a feeder
Lincoln ac/dc 225
Victor O/A
MM200 black face
Whitney 30 ton hydraulic punch
Lown 1/8x 36" power roller
Arco roto-phase model M
Vectrax 7x12 band saw
Miller spectrum 875
30a spoolgun w/wc-24
Syncrowave 250
RCCS-14
-
12-14-2009, 07:31 PM #4
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Oct 2007
- Location
- Cave Creek Az
- Posts
- 796
How about steel.
-
12-14-2009, 08:09 PM #5
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2009
- Location
- South Alabama
- Posts
- 255
I've used Aluminum for them for years with no problem. Used as plasma cutter templates and patterns for mounting equipment were we drilled small holes an automatic center punch would fit through to transfer the marks letting the edge of the pattern set up against the edge like a square.
"The only source of knowledge is experience." Albert Einstein
-
12-14-2009, 10:18 PM #6
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Dec 2008
- Location
- Arizona
- Posts
- 801
Probably several hundred over a period of time. I considered aluminum, but was wondering if anybody had used any non-conductive material that I couldn't accidentally gouge with the torch.
Originally Posted by MMW
Miller Syncrowave 200
Homemade Water Cooler
130XP MIG
Spectrum 375
60 year old Logan Lathe
Select Machine and Tool Mill
More stuff than I can keep track of..
-
12-14-2009, 10:42 PM #7
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2009
- Location
- Corona, CA
- Posts
- 213
Have you thought about having something phenolic made? I guess making it not melt would be an issue though...
What about using Plywood? Its at least cheap enough that if you burn a piece of it, you wont care, and you can make another with a bandsaw very easily.Precision is only as important as the project...if you're building a rocket ship...1/64" would matter. If you're building a sledgehammer...an 1/8" probably wont.
-
12-15-2009, 06:56 AM #8
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2009
- Location
- Island Falls Maine
- Posts
- 562
whatever you have on the scrap pile will do fine.
-
12-15-2009, 08:47 AM #9
Senior Member
- Join Date
- Jul 2006
- Posts
- 1,508
I think I’d look into FRT plywood. A little time a jigsaw, and a Dremel, w/kit you should be able to make some fine templates.
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr62.pdfCaution!
These are "my" views based only on “my” experiences in “my” little bitty world.
-
12-15-2009, 09:13 AM #10
Junior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2006
- Location
- Wimberley, Texas
- Posts
- 6
I have had good results using 1/8" tempered masonite.
Reply With Quote
