square hole punch

[ilovemygt35r]

hi
i need a square hole cut out of a plastic panel, just wondering if they exist? and where the best place to get one? the hole size is 10 by 12 but in a square punch
thank you

 

[cumbriasteve]

I am going to ask the obvious..why not drill it and hand shape it with a file?

 

[biffa]

If you own a punch I would check with the maker to see what they have in stock or see if they could make you one, if not you could get it laser cut or cut with a Cnc water jet

 

[ilovemygt35r]

I am going to ask the obvious..why not drill it and hand shape it with a file?

hi steve, got quite a few to do so be handy if i had a punch to do it,
cheers

 

[chunkolini]

Could you do it on a morticing machine as used by woodworkers to make square holes?

 

[gavuk]

There was another thread similar to this ,one suggestion was to use a router and make a jig

 

[julieanncharters]

how thick and what kind of plastic is it?
i use a router to machine plastics like delrin and hdpe which works really well.
a plunge router bit and simple jig would sort that profile out in no time.

 

[voipio]

Q-Max. Would this sort of thing do?

http://www.tooled-up.com/product/q.max-sheet-metal-hole-punch-square-19mm/7638/

Not sure you could get them in 10x12, though (or am I right in thinking 10x11would suit this application better. You didn't say what the plastic was or it's thickness. This could markedly influence the success using these punches. Brittle plastics, like polystyrene, would display a tendency to shatter, rather than cut cleanly.

 

[madkayaker]

Q-max will do it very easy. Looks like a switch hole?

 

[ilovemygt35r]

Q-max will do it very easy. Looks like a switch hole?

yes its a key switch hole plastic is about 2.5mm

 

[madkayaker]

Will go through that easy. RS do a big range in qmax

 

[Fazerruss]

It also is the same shape as a strain releif gromet hole for cables