Tube Notching for dumb dumbs

[Lincoln]

Alright boys and girls, I'm going to start a real thread. Might not belong here so I'll let one of the 5 1/2 mods for these no post boards decide where it belongs.

Let's talk about notching tubing. Hinkley, you better come out of your cave and contribute. :)

I'm looking for some tips on improving my ablility on notches in the middle of bends. Coming together with one straight piece I'm getting better, but notching a curved piece gives me grief. Seems like I'll fawk it all up four times before I get it right and then usually the length is wrong and I'll have to go at it again.

I though about buying some of those fancy tube fitting tools but they wouldn't help much when fitting a bent piece. So far my skills consist of bend it, hack it, then weld the crap out of it. Me eyeballing with a marker is a very bad idea too.

[JeepFreak21]

Alright boys and girls, I'm going to start a real thread. Might not belong here so I'll let one of the 5 1/2 mods for these no post boards decide where it belongs.

Let's talk about notching tubing. Hinkley, you better come out of your cave and contribute. :)

I'm looking for some tips on improving my ablility on notches in the middle of bends. Coming together with one straight piece I'm getting better, but notching a curved piece gives me grief. Seems like I'll fawk it all up four times before I get it right and then usually the length is wrong and I'll have to go at it again.

I though about buying some of those fancy tube fitting tools but they wouldn't help much when fitting a bent piece. So far my skills consist of bend it, hack it, then weld the crap out of it. Me eyeballing with a marker is a very bad idea too.

What kinda knotcher are you using?
Billy

[BrettM]

It sounds to me like you're just cutting/grinding your notches without an actual tube notcher. If that is the case, have you seen the little programs that you punch in the tube sizes and angle of intersection and it gives you a stencil to print out and cut out, then trace that pattern on the tube and grind away?

here's a link: http://metalgeek.com/static/cope2.pcgi

and in case it goes dead, another: http://geek.casaforge.com/code/newform_m2.php

[Goatman]

Let's talk about notching tubing. Hinkley, you better come out of your cave and contribute. :)

I'm looking for some tips on improving my ablility on notches in the middle of bends. Coming together with one straight piece I'm getting better, but notching a curved piece gives me grief. Seems like I'll fawk it all up four times before I get it right and then usually the length is wrong and I'll have to go at it again.

I though about buying some of those fancy tube fitting tools but they wouldn't help much when fitting a bent piece. So far my skills consist of bend it, hack it, then weld the crap out of it. Me eyeballing with a marker is a very bad idea too.

Nothing another 100 IQ points wouldn't solve. Can't help you there......

:moon:




Mark carefully, and grind slowly.

[AJsArmor]

Most tube notchers don't work for notching in a bend so what I do is measure twice and then add 1/4" or so for error. A lot easier to grind away then wind up with a gap and start over. Or if the other end of the tube is a straight piece, then I deal with the bent end first and then the straight end last which makes it a lot easier. I did make a tube notcher guide for my plasma cutter but only for 90 and 45 degree notching. Works slick for those 1 out of 100 situations where a standard notcher won't work.

[Lincoln]

I do use a notcher but like AJ said mine won't work on a bent piece. Same with the traceable patterns.

Let's see that guide AJ.

Goaty, HF says IQ points are on back order.

[FarmerMatt]

Goaty, HF says IQ points are on back order.

Actually points for your model have been discountinued...

The trick for notching in the middle of bends is to not do it.:wave:


Seriously, it all comes down to visualization. Cutoff wheel, grinder, & some practice. You'll get better at it after you're done building your junk...

[Matt S.]

Actually points for your model have been discountinued...

The trick for notching in the middle of bends is to not do it.:wave:


Seriously, it all comes down to visualization. Cutoff wheel, grinder, & some practice. You'll get better at it after you're done building your junk...


Matt is toooo right on this. It just takes practice.

I started my cage/buggy before I helped build his CAT and am just now finishing mine. It is DISGUSTING what i did before compared to now. You just have to learn and do it.

[Lincoln]

But damnit I hate practice. I'm perfect in every other thing but this. I think maybe I've been slapped in the head to much and my eyeballs are crooked. :D

I think I should buy one of those belt grinder or mill style notchers. Chuck it up, set the angle, and feed away.

We'll see how mine goes. I got permission to buy steel under the company account and I'm hoping that leaves some room for more bling bling stuff.

Gots to get a few more trips in though.

[AJsArmor]

My camera is dead so I'll try and explain it till I borrow one. Took a piece of ABS pipe that was big enough to slip over the tube I use. Then cut a notch in it that took into consideration the plasma tip...basically come out the same as my tube notcher. Then I cut the ABS pipe down a bit so there was only like 1/4" of material left at the deepest part of the notch, drilled out and put in 3 sheetmetal screws to work as a set screw. Basically you just mark where you need the notch, slide the guide over in place, snug up the screws and cut. Worked pretty good since it would go around most curves and notches came out excellent.

But like what was already said, once you get in enough practice you get to the point where you just visualize it and cut it, done deal.

[Lincoln]

My camera is dead so I'll try and explain it till I borrow one. Took a piece of ABS pipe that was big enough to slip over the tube I use. Then cut a notch in it that took into consideration the plasma tip...basically come out the same as my tube notcher. Then I cut the ABS pipe down a bit so there was only like 1/4" of material left at the deepest part of the notch, drilled out and put in 3 sheetmetal screws to work as a set screw. Basically you just mark where you need the notch, slide the guide over in place, snug up the screws and cut. Worked pretty good since it would go around most curves and notches came out excellent.

But like what was already said, once you get in enough practice you get to the point where you just visualize it and cut it, done deal.

Don't worry about the pic. I understand what you did. :thumbup:

[Roxtar]

I just use a portable hand held band saw. Two angled cuts and you have a nice, already Veed for welding, fit.
Doesn't get much easier than that.

[XJJPR]

Cut it off straight and fill with weld!

:rolleyes:


hinkley

[Fullsizexj]

Cut it off straight and fill with weld!

:rolleyes:


hinkley
now I am scared,I was thinkin the same thing

[MaXJohnson]

It's ok, as long as your welds look like pizza, Chicago style :chef:

... and you never go turtle

[burntkat]

Cut it off straight and fill with weld!

:rolleyes:


hinkley

you say that like the "Heat and Beat" fabrication school of thought is a Bad Thing, Mark... ;)

[Lincoln]

Cut it off straight and fill with weld!

:rolleyes:


hinkley

Ahh, I got you to post. How exactly does one do that? :D

[XJJPR]

It's ok, as long as your welds look like pizza, Chicago style :chef:




Just take some welding lessons from THE OWL!

hinkley

[Lincoln]

Just take some welding lessons from THE OWL!

hinkley

I did. Could that be a problem?

[Captain Ron]

Just take some welding lessons from THE OWL!

hinkley

More like photoshop lessons.

I guess I'll be boiled in oil for suggesting that all coping on a radius is easiest on a Brigdeport.

Unless you have a Hitachi Seki :D

--ron

[Roxtar]

More like photoshop lessons.

I guess I'll be boiled in oil for suggesting that all coping on a radius is easiest on a Brigdeport.

Unless you have a Hitachi Seki :D

--ronGo Mazak or go home.

[geonicol]

A hole saw works in cases where the angle is not too radical.

[dirtclod]

Simple method for straight forward notches:

Notching with a Chopsaw (http://www.offroadfabnet.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=420)

[4ward]

Go Mazak or go home.

You've both got it wrong. Klausing Kondia's will rule the earth in the milling world. As long as we're only talking knee mills though.

[Captain Ron]

You've both got it wrong. Klausing Kondia's will rule the earth in the milling world. As long as we're only talking knee mills though.

In terms of sales, Haas has all of them them beat by 2.4 billion. Those guys shipped 920 machines last month. Guess where most of them went?

I had 640 1.25" dia , .074 wall, 304 cres tubes with compound bends angle notched.

Took 4 hours on a VF-4. Got fixture?

--ron

[Roxtar]

In terms of sales, Haas has all of them them beat by 2.4 billion. Those guys shipped 920 machines last month. Guess where most of them went?

I had 640 1.25" dia , .074 wall, 304 cres tubes with compound bends angle notched.

Took 4 hours on a VF-4. Got fixture?

--ronI'm not a big fan of Haas.
They are known to somewhat overstate their machine specs.
Even where the specs are correct they do it by using gearing, rather than stronger, better, and more expensive motors.
Don't get me wrong, they're very good for the money.
The best thing they did was create a lower priced market that the Mazaks and Okumas are now having to address.

[Captain Ron]

I'm not a big fan of Haas.
They are known to somewhat overstate their machine specs.
Even where the specs are correct they do it by using gearing, rather than stronger, better, and more expensive motors.
Don't get me wrong, they're very good for the money.
The best thing they did was create a lower priced market that the Mazaks and Okumas are now having to address.

All true.

We have Fadal to thank for all of that. If you want to hear a great story of biz payback, Haas is it, and don't ever piss Gene off if you intend to compete in a market with him.

Still, for production tube notching, It'll do.

--ron

[4ward]

Oh, so you want to step into machining centers now. We picked up a Hurco VM2 a few months back. I personally believe they have the best bang for the buck out of them all. It's belt drive though and I've stalled it out a few times where the Haas wouldn't have. Not a big deal as I shouldn't have been trying to push it that hard anyhow. Gotta find out your limits though :laugh3: