Nibblers.

[chunkolini]

I used to have a drill powered nibbler and got rid of it because A the swarf was a pain and B it was very cumbersome.
Now I am after making long thin slots in metal and think a nibbler might be just the ticket.
Question, do they need a larger hole drilling in the metal than the size of the slot that they cut.
Would a rolodex cutter give me what I am after.
There will be lots of them and quite long so I dont fancy a hand powered thingy.
Here is an example of the kind of thing I am thinking of.

These are plasma cut but I think wider cuts could work really well.
Plasma cutting them double width is not an option I tried it, kind of works but it takes twice as long.
To get an idea of scale the strip is 30mm wide.

Chunko'.

 

[Hitch]

The air one i have would cut a slot about 5mm wide, but your thinking is correct, it would need a starting hole, about 16mm iirc, i can measure it in a mo if you need to know...

 

[chunkolini]

No need to measure it, they would look silly with a bloody great hole at the end.
Never mind, just an idea.
What about the other thingy, not a rolodex, that is a filing system. A kind of shear thingy that cuts out a thin strip of metal. Dont know what they are called.

Chunko'.

 

[Hitch]

Didn't see the pic earlier, your right, air nibbler aint no good for that!

Plasma, I wonder if a tip could be modified to create a wider kerf...

 

[hotrodder]

A kind of shear thingy that cuts out a thin strip of metal. Dont know what they are called.

3 blade shears like this http://www.stakesys.co.uk/UserFiles/File/Misc_0621.jpg or are you thinking of something else? The 3 bladed jobbies will be no good for this as the kerf they cut remains attached with incomplete cuts like slots. They need a starting hole too

I can't think of a faster freehand method than plasma

 

[Windy Miller]

I think you're thinking of a Monodex cutter Chunko. I have one like Hitch's, and the 5mm strip that comes off rolls itself up into a nice even springy coil type thing. It would be great for making a DNA type sculpture, but no good for your tree thing.

How did you 'engrave' the tree shapes? Was that with the plasma? Like a half depth cut?

Looking good however you did it!

 

[chunkolini]

Monodex, that was it.
The cuts on the tree thingy are right through the metal, if you stand back you can focus on the background which was not part of the plan but has made me think about see through steel.
so often I think of good ideas and find that the tools dont exist. Ho Hum.
Perhaps I need a freehand industrial laser cutter, that would be fun.
What no legs?

Here is a picture of the whole caboodle. I am looking to make a view of the Wye Valley as seen on my way to work.

Getting there, but something needs to go bottom left
The strip is all 5x30mm, even the frame, that is two pieces edge bent and one piece bent the other way welded up like angle iron for stiffness. I knew for a fact i could not make a full sized circle, so I oversized it thinking I could crop it to size if I was lucky. It came out at 2m diameter, and is out by about 5mm. Probably a fluke.

Chunko'.

 

[mike os]

'kin 'ell chunko, that is well tidy mate

I presume you are looking for something for 1 off's?

 

[Shox Dr]

Not all nibblers are created equal.

I have a Chicago Pneumatics Nibbler I bought 25yrs ago. The head is elongated so only requires a slot 5x10mm to start. Having said that, I would be looking at a Plasma cutter, nibblers create little crescents that get everywhere, causing damage. Besides you would get far more use out of a Plasma.

 

[kelsham]

I have a Monodex cutter, It is extremely hard work to operate. I only use it very occasionally. I think you would not find it suitable.

Regards Kels.