Sheet metal ring 1

[spider80]

I need to make a sheet metal ring thickness ranging between .002" and .007" with OD of 11" and ID of 10.50". I cant seem to find any distributors who has shims with OD greater than 6 or 7".
I am in a time crunch that I cannot contact a precision stamping company. If I buy blank shim sheet and try to punch it out myself, my capabilities limit me to a warped/bent ring. I need it to be moderately flat for my application.
Anyone has any suggestions?
Thanks in advance....

 

[MikeHalloran]

Find a company that does laser cutting of sheet metal.

You will love the results.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[MechEng13]

I'm with Mike,

Laser cutting will get you the closest results to what your description says you need. There may be some slight warpage but with the thickness you need any compression will eliminate that.



Alan M. Etzkorn
Reliability Engineer
Wabash National Corp.

http://www.wabashnational.com

 

[spider80]

Thanks for your suggestions. I will try it out and get back to you ....

 

[griffengm]

Spidy,
Try TK & Associates at 219-324-6816 in Laporte,Indiana. They have been making washers in the thicknesses you desire for a while now. Ask for Chris or Conrad.
The problem lasers may encounter with these thicknesses is the weight of the material causing the workpiece to buckle. Their method gets around this.
Good luck.

Griffy

 

[bobc]

being that you only need 1 ring at .002 to .007 thickness, i would try a razor type gasket cutter rigged with a suction cup pivot. i have even cut shimstock at this thickness with ordinary machinist dividers honed to a sharp cutting edge, using multiple passes. if you need many pieces, then laser or water jet is the answer.
bobc

 

[spider80]

Hi griffengm
thanks for the tip. I will call them.
So far the people I have called cannot handle thicknesses less than a 22 or 24 gauges (ranging around .020-.032" thick) due to fixturing and other issues. I have been asked to try etching and water jet machining. So far it looks like an etching company can do it...
Thanks,

 

[TVP]

You might try this company:

http://www.photofabrication.com/

 

[Barry1961]

I have heard of people cutting laminated shim stock with EDM with good results.

Barry1961

 

[Philrock]

How about clamping the sheet between a couple of 1/4" plates and machining the whole sandwich?

 

[billy8581]

or u could try

http://www.loksplasma.co.uk/

 

[spider80]

Follow up:
I ended up modifying my design for the other reasons and the shim became a lot thicker at about .050", however the dia, are the same and there is an angle on it.
I couldnt get a lot of guys to quote for this, the only one who did was using philrocks suggestion, of machining it between two plates and subjecting it to periodic inspection.
Thanks for all your suggestions...

 

[NickE]

spider80- wish I'da seen this earlier....

Try Microphoto, or photo etching... They commonly produce things exactly like what you describe...

Heres where we go:

http://microphoto.net/

 

[spider80]

Thanks Nick. I just got in touch with these guys, most of their engg's are out, so I wld have to wait till Mon.
Will let you know if something good turns out...
Thanks again...