Corner rounder?

mkr5000 wrote in news:c554693d-4d5a-4d2c-83ba- snipped-for-privacy@m36g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

If you're asking an honest question:

Just what, specifically, are you referring to as a "corner rounder for metals" and what do you want to do with it?

Are you looking for the equivalent of a woodworking router with a carbide roundover bit to "ease" the edges of heavy Al plate? If so, that's your answer.

Are you looking for a simple way to dull sharp corners? That can be done in a variety of ways ranging from hand tools to power tools depending upon the job and the number of pieces to be processed.

OTOH, if you're just looking for a way to knock off the corners of a piece of thin sheet, most any abrasive wheel - from a Dremel sanding drum to an angle grinder & flap wheel to a disk or belt sander to a bench grinder - can do the job if you're unwilling to use a file.

_______________

If you're only trolling:

Be prepared to vanish forever.

If you mean rounding off a long edge, there are several ways to do it. Corner rounding (quarter circle or half circle) milling cutters (shanked or arbor mounted) used in a milling machine are one common way. There are some single-purpose machines with similar cutters and

90 degree beds, if you're doing a lot of pieces. As someone mentioned, a router with a woodcutting bit will work on aluminum.

If you mean rounding over a corner on a thin flat piece, those same methods may not work. Unless you gang a bunch of thin pieces together, or otherwise support them, they may not be stiff enough to resist a milling cutter. A file is often easier. There are ways to machine it, though.

John Martin

I believe that there is- Roper Whitney makes a tool, which I have wanted for years, called a Radius Master. It is a corner rounder for sheet metal.

has different radius dies, so the one machine can do everything from 1/8" to 1" radiused corners, with up to 3" dies available on special order. It is hideously expensive- which is one reason you probably have never seen one. I have never seen one used, and I doubt they sold very many new. I believe they are close to 5 grand new, now.

metal.http://www.braunerequipment.com/f_prod_detail.aspx?id=190> It has different radius dies, so the one machine can do everything

Starts at $6400 bucks. Great price if you're going to be using it every day!

Dave

The dude didn't ask for a CHEAP way to do it, just to do it.

:>

Mike

The sign industry uses these.

Probably around $700 but will do .080 aluminum.

Shawn

I have an old 24" DiAcro "Radius Brake" which has interchangeable bars for bending sheet metal in a smooth curve at a specific radius. It must not have been very popular as I see little reference to it and have found no literature on it.

Don Young

I wonder why these haven't been readily available? It wouldn't be a difficult tool to make -- heck they make them for paper and thin metal like the Lassco.

It could be constructed like a corner notcher but obviously to create a convex round.

A tool and die selection for several sizes.

Oh well -- thanks -- I needed to ask.

I would think that a modern CNC punching machine (eg. Amada) would typically be equipped with such dies.

Maybe that's what these "cruciform" dies are used for..

anyone know for sure? I've not had a chance yet to play with such a machine. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany