High Volume Punch Presswork

[Stefan S]

Hi all,

I'm looking at a new hobby where it will be necessary for me to make multiple punches in aluminum sheetmetal. I am contemplating making custom, fully welded, dog kennels with integrated drawers.

The punch will be used to make hundreds of ventilation holes in aluminum sheetmetal. I'm looking for some type of powered press that isn't going to break the bank as this is just a hobby.

Does anyone know what I should be looking at? I think I need about 10 inches of throat for the work that I am looking to do.

Any advice is very appreciated!

 

[Provincial]

Tell us the thickness and alloy of aluminum in order to tell how much press will be required, please.

 

[EvilWelder]

Might be cheaper to farm it out as piece work to a shop that already has all the tooling.

 

[franzdom]

Yup, order flats from a sheet metal house, you really can't compete with most of them. On the plus side most of the job houses care nothing about marketing to end users so they make great business partners.

 

[bsaint]

You need a press, a really expensive die set, and you should laser cut all your holes and FASTtrim it with a Prima Rapido Evo 2 Fiber.

 

[Stefan S]

I don't think I would deal with anything thicker than .063 or .090...

I've been to a few shops in the area and the prices are pretty high once the programming is all factored in.

I really only want to build a few for myself and a few of my friends to see what people think of them. If there is a business there I will take a larger order to shop where some economies of scale can be taken into account.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Stefan S]

You need a press, a really expensive die set, and you should laser cut all your holes and FASTtrim it with a Prima Rapido Evo 2 Fiber.

that's not nearly enough machine

 

[bsaint]

lol. If you don't care about elongated holes, then maybe you should have it turret punched then formed after.

 

[rsanter]

how many holes of what size?
sounds to me like a lost cause as you will be punching forever and you have to have a machine that will have the throat to do what you want. sounds like big bucks to me

how about you make the sides from the sheets that already have the holes punched in them. its arcitectual steel sheeting.
and holy smokes, if you are going to make these out of 063 or 090 that will be really heavy

bob

 

[bsaint]

The other problem is aluminum punches different than steel. It galls up easy.

 

[Stefan S]

I agree the more I look at this that it is a lost cause... I appreciate the tip on Architectural Sheet metal... I was looking for something like that but didn't know what it was called.

 

[EVOLVO]

Don't give up yet. Look around here:

http://www.mcnichols.com/designer/perforated-metal

 

[Stefan S]

Don't give up yet. Look around here:

http://www.mcnichols.com/designer/perforated-metal

nice tip - they are 25 min from my house too

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Look for a local hot rod shop. Many have a loover punch that might work for you. When you get big you could farm out for a bigger run.

 

[Iron-Iceberg]

Or if you just need a hole punch. Henrick makes one that will punch up to a 1/2 hole in 1/8 material it has a 8" throat. http://www.heinrichco.com/metalwork.htm