Mud-club

Chat & Social => The Bar - General Chat => Topic started by: Lee_D on January 08, 2006, 19:43:49

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: Lee_D on January 08, 2006, 19:43:49

Whats the best way to cut a tube such that it mates neatly against another tube ready to be welded up into a T shape for example.

I'm toying with fabricating a wheel carrier as I have all the kit.... just not all the knowledge.. last time I fabbed something in tube it was lots of time spent with the grinder. Not well versed (yet) with tube fabrications. :?

Lee

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: Stormin on January 08, 2006, 20:02:03

You've just about said it. :D  Depending in the size of tube, it's gas axe, grinder and/or file.

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: LOFTY on January 08, 2006, 20:16:25

A quick on site method we use is,
from centreline of tube, cut back towards length at about 30 degrees, both sides of centreline,
this will leave  the end pointed, which fits over your your other tube, making a tidy joint.
Or for £200,000 approx, Mazak machinery do a lovely CNC laser tube cutting machine called a Fabri-gear, makes joints in box, tube, rsj a piece of cake.
 :wink:

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: Manicminer on January 08, 2006, 20:23:13

A quick method if you only want to weld a 'T' shape is to put the open end in a vice and squeeze it until it's nearly shut. This will give you a nice straight edge to weld.
If you want to make a join where fluid travels through then you have to cut it.

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: Bush Tucker Man on January 08, 2006, 20:49:10

Are varieties of Hole-Saw available for steel, perhaps with an extended drill-bit for work at angles???

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: Reaper on January 08, 2006, 21:58:36

Ok well the best way to do it is to use one of these http://www.rollcentre.co.uk/rollcentre/html/rollcage_additions.html
but at 150 quid it a lot of cash.
Most of the time I use an end mill in my lathe as it gives a great cut when building chopper frames but the next best thing is to use a a tube mitre programe which allows you to put in the diameter of each peice of tube, the wall thickness and the angle you can then print out a template that you cut out and wrap roung the tube, then you can mark out the cut line and use a grinder to shape it.
here is a link to a very simple Tubemiter programe http://www.ihpva.org/tools/tubemiter.exe
download the programe then open it click file then settings to enter the dimensions then file and print to print out your template.

hope this helps :D

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: rollazuki on January 09, 2006, 12:57:23

search the net for WINMITRE
Its a downloadable bit of software that you set your tube diameters and angles into, and it prints out a life size mask for you to mark out your steel with.
Then just break out the grinder and cut up to the mask and itll butt together just right.

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: Lee_D on January 09, 2006, 18:54:05

Cheers chaps. Just given a new lease of life to my not so very much used plasma cutter (why it never occured to me before I'll never know!) and spawned a whole range of project ideas  :(shades):

Lee

Title: Cutting a circle in to a tube.
Post by: Reaper on January 09, 2006, 22:34:58

Ah where would I be without my Plasma Cutter :D
A truly great bit of kit!