Thread: Table saw

Originally Posted by ericks2

Hi,
I am looking for advise regarding Table saws. Looking for a saw that can cut aluminium with very high precision. But i don't want to pay an arm and a leg

More info needed - what shape/size etc are you referring to.

Are you talking about cross cutting of long stock like rods and angles
OR
Cutting sheets?

If it's the former then a mitre saw is probably a better bet as moving long stock over a blade is easier than dropping or sliding a saw down/over long stock. OTOH cutting sheets can only be performed with a table saw or a track saw. If you want accuracy a sliding table saw should be more accurate.

Accuracy will depend on operator skill, and the fence and mitre slide, although cross cutting of short pieces on a table saw may be improved by the use of a sled.

FWIW I cut more Al on my 12" contractor TS than wood. The standard blade on my TS is a (Chinese made) Bosch, negatively raked 96 Tooth 12" blade - its around 15 years old and has never been sharpened. For short pieces it has no problems cutting accurately with an extremely fine finish provided the fence and mitre side are set right and the material is presented to it in a steady manner. I leave that blade on the saw and use it for short pieces of wood - it cuts very slowly but it produces a great finish.

That setup is used to cut Al bar up to 25 mm thick and tube and angle up to 100mm and have cut Al Sheet up to 12 mm thick. I buy the Al in lengths up to 6+ metres long and break it down outside the shed using 6 hand held circular. I only recently got a SCMS and a suitable blade and will be using that outside the shed.

The level of accuracy achieved is around the 0.1mm mark - I haven't pushed it further than this because if I want better I tend to use my MW lathe/mill.

cutting l produces large amounts of razor sharp swarf so suitable PPE is required. My BIL is an Al boat builder and he uses many WW power tools on Al. When using a SCMS he wears a snood and a full face shield. Getting those mini razor blades down the neck of a shirt can be quite painful.

Thanks Bob...it will include cutting down the length of long stock eg square and round rod

Originally Posted by ericks2

Thanks Bob...it will include cutting down the length of long stock eg square and round rod

I'd go for a drop or SCMS and a negative raked toothed blade for that.

Thanks for the advise Bob. For now i managed to do it on the cnc....will have to look at the saw option if i start doing higher volumes

Originally Posted by ericks2

Thanks Bob...it will include cutting down the length of long stock eg square and round rod

Assume that means cutting it in to shorter lengths, not cutting it along the length?

Cutting it along the length...

Originally Posted by ericks2

Cutting it along the length...

Still not clear - do you mean across the length or parallel to the length?

If its the latter the that is definitely not a task for a dropsaw or SCMS or trackaws.
You will need a TS and a good fence.

Bob...parallel to the length...