Hand cut aluminum part

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Hand cut aluminum part

Рет қаралды 93,195

4 жыл бұрын

In this video I show how I made the aluminum chassis for my quadruped robot (aka mechDOG) using simple tools and old school methods.
The aluminum part is cut by hand using sharp blade. Sandpaper for smooth finish.
Always use PPE. While sanding aluminum, use a respirator to prevent dust inhalation. Goggles to protect the eyes.
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Пікірлер: 122

@PiefacePete46 4 жыл бұрын

It's easy to forget, in this world of power everything, and CNC must-haves, what can be achieved just as quickly with a human brain, hands, and basic tools. Enjoyable video thanks... Liked & Subscribed.

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much, John!

@joshuavincent7884 7 ай бұрын

i don't know about "just as quickly"...while i appreciate the hand work, a CNC could cut this is in a few minutes or less. I know there is setup and programming needed too, so that would add to the time needed.

@PiefacePete46 7 ай бұрын

@@joshuavincent7884 : I agree with you, Joshua. I enjoyed this video, and I was looking for a comment that reflected that, and was also encouraging. There are other methods that would also be valid for people who live "in the middle", somewhere between knife and CNC. A bandsaw and belt-grinder would get the job done. If I was being mischievous, I could say "A knife might cost one hours pay, while a CNC will take you many weeks of work to earn enough to buy it"... the knife is much quicker! 😜

@dhupee 5 ай бұрын

@@joshuavincent7884 there are thousands road leads to Rome Also we gotta use what we have right? And not cry over something we don't have

@PiefacePete46 5 ай бұрын

@@dhupee : No point in crying over it... drool over it while you save your pennies. 🤤 😜

@COSMICAMISSION 4 күн бұрын

Amazing finish!

@ValleyRC 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! I bet this video will give a little encouraging shove to people thinking about trying this. The video is easy to follow and to the point.

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you! :)

@fromthebackofmymind Жыл бұрын

40 years ago, I drilled 100 holes in a dashboard to install a 3 inch oil pressure gauge. The escucheon hid the brutality.

@avinashmeshram6190 4 ай бұрын

The beauty of smart people is they find the simplest and easiest way, Thank you

@martinblenstrup366 5 ай бұрын

How thick was the aluminum?

@PiefacePete46 4 жыл бұрын

For the longer cuts especially, clamp the material between two pieces to further reduce the risk of bending.

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

That's a great tip! Thank you!

@davidfuller764 2 жыл бұрын

Very well done beautiful finished product. Cutting technique is new to me thank you

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much!

@ameliabuns4058 5 ай бұрын

How thicc is the aluminium sheet?

@nationwideofficial7201 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic job nice and clean peace

@r3_d2LKG 3 жыл бұрын

Amazing.. I just picked up a good method from you. I was thinking rotary tool for my project but you sure opened up ideas for me. Thanks! By the way, any suggestions where to get these type of of aluminum at? Local hardware stores only go up to .032 in thickness like ace hardware. Thanks again.

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I buy my sheets on a Brazilian website (does not ship to other countries). But I suggest you check out eBay.

@mrc8155 2 жыл бұрын

Man.... that right there is a game changer for me! Thanks!

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@lethic 4 жыл бұрын

Nice! I always thought this could only be done with CNCs

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Up to 1.5mm thick is quite feasible. 2mm I don’t think it would work anymore (at least not so easy).

@ValleyRC 3 жыл бұрын

@@MechDickel 3mm seems to work if you score enough, but the smaller the part, the harder it is to get enough leverage to bend it. Important to sandwich the part between other sheets too, helps reducing bending in the wrong places. I know some resellers score the 3 and 4mm stuff about 50% of the way through then snap, sometimes using mechanical means, but mostly for just making basic square sheets in various sizes, not for smaller intricate stuff.

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

@@ValleyRC Yes... nice! :)

@death-by-ego Жыл бұрын

This is a way to do it. But we arent talking about cnc machines here. Just get a jigsaw. Its a useful tool that a house can use and that will have multiple purposes.

@vgee 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks learned alot.

@larrygk1257 2 жыл бұрын

Will be doing a piece about the same gauge (.05") but about 5' by 2'. That's big. Tool?

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's really large. I have never worked with such large measures. But I think the method should work the same way. Clamp the aluminum sheet between two pieces of wood when bending to break, this will prevent deformation of the piece.

@moretacos1 4 жыл бұрын

It looks good, Dickel, but I'm thinking the $10k CNC plasma table would be worthwhile when you begin work on the T-101.

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Haha, that's right!

@AleSuggests Жыл бұрын

Very well done, man!

@ramazanozturk9726 4 жыл бұрын

Wow amazing

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@2fitzie Жыл бұрын

This is useful. But heres a tip. I would suggest an entry level jigsaw WITH basic variable speed and metal blades (specifically Bosch T118A) would cut slots quicker than the drill hole patterns. Ive cut 2mm alum sheet with these blades and can confirm they seem to last forever with very little dulling. Yet they are cheap. I suggest this because while the jigsaw is not as precise or focused for the main cuts you did - it will do the drilled slots in no time. Just use safety glasses for any chips. Infact I have cut 1.5mm 304 stainless steel with same blades. No sparks either!

@MechDickel Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for the tip. While I'm convinced that the method I use is best for straight cuts (especially long ones), I'll try your tip on inner cuts. :)

@CamperVanDreamBuild-ct5pl 5 ай бұрын

Subscribed just for the channel name.

@Alex-cq1zr 4 жыл бұрын

Cool. It's very inspiring. What have you used for other parts though? Thx

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! The custom black parts of mechDOG were made with HIPS (high impact polystyrene).

@ruyvieira104 2 жыл бұрын

How about making that part out of alucore pcb? Cutting aluminum (or any other metal) is annoying and dirty

@PranshuTople 4 жыл бұрын

Do let me know if you wish to have a ROS (Robot Operating System) framework running on this robot. The same thing which companies like Boston Dynamics uses in their robot dogs

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

I think Spot is not running ROS... but of course it is a tool with many possibilities and I was thinking of implementing it in mechDOG (in fact, a slightly larger version of it, with more room for more electronics), mainly to implement vision capability. But if I’m really going to implement vision in it, I’ll probably try MyRobotLab (myrobotlab.org) first.

@jamescole3152 2 жыл бұрын

Nice skill with the knife. Use wet sandpaper next time.

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! But I prefer dry sanding.

@fatimabiazio7441 4 жыл бұрын

Que grossura é essa chapa de alumínio, só se fais um risco com o estilete? Obrigado

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

1,5 mm. Faz vários "riscos" (vai passando várias vezes o estilete sobre o mesmo corte... umas 3 ou 4 vezes, sempre pressionando).

@TheMarksilva Жыл бұрын

That’s good stuff thank you now I have a plan

@vitu9586 Жыл бұрын

awesome work mate, i see that your sheet is 1.5mm, do you think that i can use the same method on a 3mm sheet?

@TheGuyWithHighVoice 6 ай бұрын

One way to find out i guess..

@alanhonlunli 3 жыл бұрын

This is inspiring!

@cryora 10 ай бұрын

Do you need a lot of muscle strength with the knife? Or can anyone with modest effort do it?

@dgb5820 11 ай бұрын

Very nice job

@kennyk4134 3 жыл бұрын

Very neat .

@ambybot 4 жыл бұрын

hummm amazing idea nice job

@ameyaw9507 3 ай бұрын

Whats the sheet thickness bro

@enantel 4 жыл бұрын

Now that's some patience and skills - I make everything on the CNC and if i can't i tend not to do it. LOL

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Living in Brazil, not having accessible services and equipment, I soon got used to doing everything manually.

@zobbyzockbrecht2469 3 жыл бұрын

How did you make the 3 long holes?

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

It was made with a few holes in line, like in this part 3:07, and sanding the burrs.

@tmoo8779 2 жыл бұрын

This is so useful

@emmcommentary1900 Жыл бұрын

how did you get the corners smooth? As going to use this idea on my next project

@MechDickel Жыл бұрын

Lots of sanding. :)

@garagemonkeysan 4 жыл бұрын

Amazing! : )

@frankylane Ай бұрын

What gauge aluminum is this, can I do this with Zinc plated sheet metal?

@frankylane Ай бұрын

I googled it, thanks for the video. :)

@user-pk1rw4ch4k 4 жыл бұрын

Nice work! What software do you use to make those blueprints?

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I used to do some animations with Flash... I became familiar with its drawing tools. It sounds strange... but has been working for almost 10 years. Any design software can work... I chose the easiest for me. You just have to take care of the scale.

@Kimgraphicstz 9 ай бұрын

how did you make the hole stratight cut

@westrokk21 4 ай бұрын

Mind blowing doing this tomorrow saving myself 300.00

@kvvnng 3 жыл бұрын

How do you cut the 3 long holes in the middle? The video skipped it.

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

Yes... sorry. It was made with a few holes in line, like in this part 3:07, and sanding the burrs. I'm planning a new video with tips and tricks for DIY aluminum parts.

@kvvnng 3 жыл бұрын

@@MechDickel Thanks

@BKMDano17 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks wonder what 1.5 is in thousands??

@chrislewis3322 2 жыл бұрын

How thick can you cut aluminum this way

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

The thickest I ever cut was 1.5mm. Never tried thicker.

@SirWilliamGoes 3 жыл бұрын

How thick was the aluminum

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

1.5mm

@winnetka48 2 жыл бұрын

What’s the thickest this method would work..

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Hard to predict... I've never worked with anything thicker than 1.5mm. But I wouldn't try anything thicker than 2.5mm.

@yuginsantos846 Жыл бұрын

how did you cut the 3 slot cut hole? the one looks rod hole. thank you

@JP.Alonso 3 жыл бұрын

Did you try with a jewelery hand saw?

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

No. The idea here was to make the work with the tools as simple as possible.

@NuclearSnailStudios Жыл бұрын

freakin awesome!

@samuelquartey4019 3 жыл бұрын

what is the thickness of the aluminum sheet

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

1.5mm

@keithlawrence8080 3 жыл бұрын

What software did you use to make the template?

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

Flash CS3 drawing tools. You can you use any drawing software.

@dragonhero7975 4 жыл бұрын

Good where is the template for it on pdf

@MechDickel 4 жыл бұрын

Not yet shared.

@dragonhero7975 4 жыл бұрын

@@MechDickel ok

@dragonhero7975 4 жыл бұрын

When is available please let me know but must be free of charge

@CherylCold 2 жыл бұрын

Justr what I was looking for. I'm wanting to make up some polished car badges for the garage. Now have to work out how to do curves and circles.

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Nice! I haven't done it yet, but I also have an idea of something similar to what you described. For a circle, for example, I would say to make multiple straight cuts on the perimeter, and bending/breaking. There will be some "points" that can be cut with pliers, and for a fine finish, sandpaper. For long straight cuts, place the aluminum piece between two pieces (of wood) before bending/breaking. This will prevent the entire aluminum piece from bending.

@runngunrc1991 2 жыл бұрын

How about 6mm aluminum plate?

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

My guess is that it's not possible to do this by hand for this thickness.

@mufidzzukhruf3497 3 жыл бұрын

will this work on 8mm aluminium ?

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

8mm is too thick to bend by hand.

@FASIGMAN Жыл бұрын

Get yourself a little coping saw.

@wanamiruldanial9208 3 жыл бұрын

What is the grade of aluminum used?

@MechDickel 3 жыл бұрын

1100H14 (this is the spec of the alloy).

@jacka55penguin 2 жыл бұрын

I've got some diamond plate. I don't think I'd be able to make good bends with that.

@MechDickel 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I don't think it will be good.

@TheRoadhammer379 Жыл бұрын

We use diamond plate on our semi trucks and trailers, and score the backside with a grinding wheel, and they bend and snap. We only make long straight breaks though