Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Cutting Aluminum Composite Panels, with an attitude  (Read 1649 times)

bill t.

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3011
    • http://www.unit16.net
Cutting Aluminum Composite Panels, with an attitude
« on: February 08, 2015, 12:20:10 am »

This just kinda spoke to me, so I thought I'd share.  It gets trickier when the removed piece is smaller than about 100mm, but this is the general concept for doing something a lot of folks think is much more difficult.

That's not me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcjjoOXHISs
Logged

Ernst Dinkla

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4005
Re: Cutting Aluminum Composite Panels, with an attitude
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2015, 04:30:45 am »

Yes, the way I cut the 4'x8' alu composite sheet after the adhesive is laminated to it. With less attitude though. To keep the pieces straight I clamp one side to the table and use a long bord on the piece that hinges. About twice before it breaks, the harder DiBond alu may go faster. I think the guy removed at least the protection foil at the underside otherwise that has to be cut like I have to do.

on this page the practice is better described:
http://www.signupdate.co.uk/Feature/Cutting-Aluminium-Composite

For outdoor signs you see the method more often mentioned. The edge is rougher though than what you get with other methods. As i cut the mounted print together with the alu composite clean afterwards with a board cutter it does not matter. I keep about 5-7 mm more alu composite all around and 5mm of the print, that small sandwich strip cuts nice on the board cutter. The backside is sharp though so I have to soften that edge. A good deburring tool as described I have to buy.

I prefer this workflow as the delivered 4x8 feet sheet has hardly sharp edges so does not cut in the laminator rolls and if it does then only at the edges of the roll. The adhesive roll width is about an inch wider than 4 feet so a slight misalignment still keeps the total sheet covered. The knife method keeps the pieces flat. Mounting on the cold vacuum press does not cut into the vacuum rolls either :-)  Leftover pieces are already adhesive and the square meter price to start from is the same as for large pieces.  Mounting can be done manual on small pieces.

Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots
Logged

bgphoto

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 63
Re: Cutting Aluminum Composite Panels, with an attitude
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2015, 08:01:17 am »

Just curious, what you are calling a board cutter, is that the same as a panel saw? If not what is a board cutter?

Ben Gasser
Logged

Ernst Dinkla

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 4005
Re: Cutting Aluminum Composite Panels, with an attitude
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2015, 10:58:42 am »

https://www.google.nl/search?q=board+cutter+machine&biw=2061&bih=1076&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=MYfXVK-ZJoXVasi7gbAF&ved=0CCsQ7Ak&dpr=0.9

Says Google and I agree. Mine does 5 feet wide, Krause at least 40 years old.


Met vriendelijke groet, Ernst

http://www.pigment-print.com/spectralplots/spectrumviz_1.htm
December 2014 update, 700+ inkjet media white spectral plots
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up