How to cut aluminum plates

[ZellaHyday]

Hi everybody:

I need to cut aluminum plates to adjust at size required, but are many plates, do you know what kind of equipment or tool can do this work ??

Thanks

[Keganhirl]

How to cut aluminum sheet? Many ways. Is there any best way to cut aluminum sheet? In fact, no matter aluminum block, plate, or sheet metal, it depends on what kinds of aluminum: aluminum or its alloy, the size and thickness, the cutting quality & cutting speed required, etc.
#1 Best Way to Cut Aluminum Sheet of Small Piece and Thin: Saw or Shear, Snip  How to cut aluminum of small piece and thick, there are some handle or electric tools for your reference: Tool Name Description Handle Electric Shears / Handle Metal Shears / Aviation Snips / Scissors for Metal Metal cutting at thin (1-2 mm), straight and curves; Band Saw The ideal tool working well for really thick plates; Circular Saw / Table Saw / Miter Saw It is great for straight line cuts. Not so much for curves; Recip Saw / Jig Saw A solution for cutting curves; Sharp Utility Knife + Straight Edge The solution for no other opstions for thin metal; 
 #2 Best Way to Cut Aluminum Sheet of Large Piece or Thick: CNC Cutting Machine  Here, we mainly talk about the best way to cut thick aluminum sheet, it is also helpful for other kind aluminum. This article, we will briefly talk about the shear machine, CNC laser cutting machine, CNC plasma cutter machine, CNC router machine, CNC milling machine, and waterjet machine;  
Hydraulic Shear or Trim Machines  There are professional hydraulic shear or trim machines for metal sheet, but this kind of cutting machine is mainly for a thick and straight-line cutting;  CNC Laser Cutting Machine for Aluminum Sheet Cutting:  A metal laser cutter always takes a fiber laser source, it can cut an aluminum sheet in different thicknesses. But there are some notations we should know before the end decision: Aluminum is sensitive to high temperature, it needs nitrogen protection against oxidation, keed the original color of the aluminum sheet; Laser cutting aluminum is fast, but fast cutting brings small burr. And slow cutting may bring deformation or crack, so it takes time to get the right cutting setting parameters; Fiber laser cutting aluminum is mainly for sheet less than 25mm: 2000W for laser aluminum cutting 6-8mm, 4000W for laser aluminum cutting 12mm, 6000W for laser aluminum cutting 16mm; 
 CNC Plasma Cutter Machine for Aluminum Sheet Cutting:  Plasma cutter is a considerable way to cut aluminum sheet, the plasma heat brings some a little physical or chemical change to the cutting edge, and the cutting makes dust pollution, we should take measures for dust control and collection. Plasma is able to cut aluminum at a thickness of 100mm. 
 CNC Router Machine for Aluminum Sheet Cutting:  Router cutting is a process of milling, it is a best way to engraving in aluminum, but not a best way to cut aluminum sheet. But the best point of the CNC router is that it can change its tool bits to be a saw. This may be a way for thin aluminum cutting. And for the CNC router, we can cool the workpiece by water moist.  CNC Milling Machine for Aluminum Sheet Cutting:  CNC milling cutting is similar to CNC router, in some places, they are the same concept. Generally speaking, the milling machine has higher power, mainly for metal milling. CNC milling machine is not for quick and a large amount of cutting production, it is for precious cutting or engraving, the best way to make a high quality cutting of aluminum block for spare part.  Waterjet for Aluminum Sheet Cutting:  Waterjet is a high press cutting, it is not a convenient way to cut aluminum sheet.  #3 Conclusion:  Usually, we recommend a saw or a shear for a small piece, and a CNC plasma cutting machine or a laser cutting machine for big size and thick aluminum sheet cutting. There are also other ways not mentioned above: such as wire cutting, stamping cutting, etc., they are mainly for cutting of special purpose.


The Best Way to Cut Aluminum Sheet depends on many factors, please choose a machine based on your fact and come to our sales manager for advice.