Order sheetmetal precut with patterns via web? Anywhere good?

[silver2000]

I have a project I am trying to build. There is lots of work with the project but the body shell of it is very important to me anyway, and I would like to have it come out looking good. I plan to do the welding but for the body its all straight-edge cuts but the issue I have had is that I dont even know where to buy sheetmetal (probably 18-20ga) for this that isn't galvanized and I have a lot of tools but I really have nothing that will cut sheetmetal as straight as I would like and I really don't see me needing those tools later. So the one part of my project I would like to outsource is to take computer plans of the pattern have somone cut them out with precision cuts (nothing crazy just clean and straight and ready to use) and ship them to me.

The good news is that I need about 20 pieces but all of them are smaller 28" x 18 so they should be easy enough to ship in a flat pack.

Any ideas for the following:

What software to use to draw it that is hopefully very easy (mac would be best but I can do windows too)

Are there any places I can do this with that you have used and make it somewhat painless. I am fine to have this cost some money, I don't think it should be crazy but I really would prefer to get all the panels ready for me, then I can take it from there with the welding and interior work.

Thanks for any help!
Chris

 

[alxdgr8]

You could try emachineshop.com They have their own CAD software you download and it prices it out immediately.

 

[Mike.ASC]

Try a search for someone that has a water jet machine , I have a local company to me but the shipping might make it cost prohibitive to you .

 

[toomanytoyzz]

I'm sure someone semi-local in your area(looks like you are an hour from Boston and I know you can definitely find a place around there) sells sheet metal. I have at least three in about a ten minute ride, but I go to one that is about an hour away because they will do just about anything you need (bend, hole punch etc.) right on site while you wait. You could then rent a plasma cutter. They can be had around me for $50 a day. Even see if a member of the site local to you could help you out with the plasma cutter. They are an awesome tool to have in the arsenal.

What exactly is it you are trying to build?

 

[theknurl]

FastTrak 559-222-4459

[email protected]

you draw it up and send them the file, they send you the parts

they make my stainless ride height tools for MV Agusta motorcycles

they supply the metal too

tell Ferol, Noel sent you....she's a sweetheart

 

[b-body-bob]

You could try emachineshop.com They have their own CAD software you download and it prices it out immediately.

I've used their software without buying anything from them too, it's easy to use and fills the bill if you need to just draw something up quick and figure angles, lengths, etc.

 

[motobilt]

I am not close by but let me know if I can help out with laser cutting.

Dan

 

[kazlx]

Just go to someone that has a shear if you need straight cuts.

 

[bad_idea]

I bought a 4x8 sheet of 20 gauge (a-36, no coatings) from a local steel supplier for $60. Hack out a rough shape w/ a 4 1/2" grinder and then trim to the final shape w/ a pair of snips.

 

[Kevin54]

I have a project I am trying to build. There is lots of work with the project but the body shell of it is very important to me anyway, and I would like to have it come out looking good. I plan to do the welding but for the body its all straight-edge cuts but the issue I have had is that I dont even know where to buy sheetmetal (probably 18-20ga) for this that isn't galvanized and I have a lot of tools but I really have nothing that will cut sheetmetal as straight as I would like and I really don't see me needing those tools later. So the one part of my project I would like to outsource is to take computer plans of the pattern have somone cut them out with precision cuts (nothing crazy just clean and straight and ready to use) and ship them to me.

The good news is that I need about 20 pieces but all of them are smaller 28" x 18 so they should be easy enough to ship in a flat pack.

Any ideas for the following:

What software to use to draw it that is hopefully very easy (mac would be best but I can do windows too)

Are there any places I can do this with that you have used and make it somewhat painless. I am fine to have this cost some money, I don't think it should be crazy but I really would prefer to get all the panels ready for me, then I can take it from there with the welding and interior work.

Thanks for any help!
Chris

For a simple but great program, try DeltaCad. You can download a trial version for 30 days. I've used it for years now and love it. www.deltacad.com

BTW....if you need sheetmetal sheared, try one of your local heating and air conditioning shops that you may have around. They'd probably do it for less than you could ship it to someone to do, and you could stand and wait on it while they do it.

 

[DpSyChO]

X2 on Deltadad. I have a old version loaded on a Windows 98 computer in the basement. I'm sure the newer version is 5 or 6 revisions ahead of the one I have but it does what I need when I need it.

Check and see if there is a sheetmetal shop that local HVAC businesses use.
I used to do service work for a local HVAC place and if we had a really big job or got behind, there was a local sheetmetal shop the owner would sub the duct work out to.
The sheetmetal shop had a plasma table and could zip out transisitions or offsets in just a couple of seconds. Of course he also had the rest of the equipment needed to fab ductwork.
The supplier we used to buy the sheetmetal for the ductwork we made in house was able to supply sheet metal that was not galvanized. We had a guy that came in every few months and would get the owner to order him a sheet. He used it making patch panels on a couple of cars he was working on, said our price was a little cheaper than the local machine shop that most locals would buy metal from.

 

[Kevin54]

X2 on Deltadad. I have a old version loaded on a Windows 98 computer in the basement. I'm sure the newer version is 5 or 6 revisions ahead of the one I have but it does what I need when I need it.

Check and see if there is a sheetmetal shop that local HVAC businesses use.
I used to do service work for a local HVAC place and if we had a really big job or got behind, there was a local sheetmetal shop the owner would sub the duct work out to.
The sheetmetal shop had a plasma table and could zip out transisitions or offsets in just a couple of seconds. Of course he also had the rest of the equipment needed to fab ductwork.
The supplier we used to buy the sheetmetal for the ductwork we made in house was able to supply sheet metal that was not galvanized. We had a guy that came in every few months and would get the owner to order him a sheet. He used it making patch panels on a couple of cars he was working on, said our price was a little cheaper than the local machine shop that most locals would buy metal from.

You ought to step up to Version 8. It's great I think. Plus it has the ability to convert Imperial to Metric with a button click. I can't remember all of the new features it has. Quite a bit more though than V7.0

And for $40, it's a hell of a drawing package. Just for the heck of it, download their trial version and see how much better you like it.

 

[jimcolt]

My son has a small metal shop in NH.....he has cnc plasma cutting machines. If you send him any type of dimensioned drawings for your parts....even hand sketches he can turn them into cut files very quickly and then can cut and ship your parts. He can quote prices as soon as he sees the drawings. He is at [email protected]

Jim Colt