Holes in stainless sheet

[nickk]

Morning all,I have 36 ,39/40 mm holes to cut in 1.5mm 316 sheet,the sheets are pre bent into an inverted V ,with a flat profile at the apex,holes will be bored on one angled side,I was intending using a wood former for the cutter to crash into,and also as a means of anti crush workholding,they are at consistent centres,so I thought I’d use a hole saw in my huge pillar drill ,at about 80rpm,I don’t have any other precise tools to cut these.They are to be powder coated after manufacturing.
Am I making this too laborious,is there anyone here that can cut them more effectively? Thanks.

 

[Shox Dr]

Q-Max cutter. Though they aren’t keen on 316

 

[Munkul]

Plasma cutter with a profile ring guide? Or will it give too rough a finish?

 

[nickk]

Ah,I do have some q max,never tried them on stainless steel,may be worth a try.
Think plasma will be a bit rough.

 

[Shox Dr]

Ah,I do have some q max,never tried them on stainless steel,may be worth a try.
Think plasma will be a bit rough.

They work, just need lube, and keep an eye on the cutting edge, it might need a tickle

 

[hotponyshoes]

Qmax will do it (as long as I am understanding you and the holes are going into a flat surface?)

If you want to get all the holes out of one cutter you may have to spend a bit more on an Eastwood or something or make up some sort of bath so the whole operation can be done submerged in cutting fluid.

 

[Munkul]

He says it's going into an angled surface... it's gonna be rough on a hole cutter unless it's a really rigid setup.

 

[hotponyshoes]

The qmax style cutters need to sit flat against both sides before you start cutting.
They wont work on anything other than a flat surface and you also need access to both sides for tooling.

If the op has a plasma cutter a template to drop in place and run the torch around might be an option?

 

[Seadog]

They wont work on anything other than a flat surface

I think that they'd cut a hole in a tube if you position them correctly. As long as the two cutting lips are along the axis of the tube. However, I've never tried it so just thinking about their operation and what might be possible. Obviously it would need to be of a reasonable diameter to allow rear access, and not too heavy a gauge.

 

[nickk]

Yes,a flat ,open access surface,the q max’s I have are only rated to 1.5 M/S,so would equate to 3mm M/S.
Really don’t want plasma,these sheets are 3.5m long and bent by a far away company,angle ring ,so a lot of expense ,along with a non standard sheet,if it goes wrong.
I’ll also see if my steelworker tooling can take that size P&D. Thanks.

 

[nickk]

Just contacted Telford Group,who I purchased the steelworker from ,they can supply a punch and die for £53+ vat,so it’ll be a breeze