RE: Cutting KM73 polymer plates
Hi Susan, In my teenage youth I had a summer time job working in a sheet metal fabrication shop. Most of the equipment we used to cut large sheets of aluminum and steel were quite large but there were a couple of smaller hand powered machines that were occasionally used. You never know you might find one of those smaller machines. Don Bryant -----Original Message----- From: SusanV [mailto:susanvoss3@gmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 6:27 PM To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca Subject: Re: Cutting KM73 polymer plates Hi Don! This stuff is really very thin metal with a gummy polymer layer covered by an acetate protective sheet. I'm sure that even "aviation" tin snips would cut it, but any kind of scissor thing wouldn't make a nice enough edge. The edge of the plate shows on the final print (etching), so it has to be perfectly straight. The best thing to have would be a metalworker's guillotine type of shear. When i win the lottery I"ll get everyone one of those :o) susan On 2/7/07, Don Bryant <dsbryant@bellsouth.net> wrote: > Susan and Jon, > > I have no experience with this material but here is a thought I'll > cast out, about cutting the plates. > > Could the really huge sheet metal hand shears be used to cut this material? > I don't mean the small wimpy ones but the ones that are almost 1.5 > feet long. The kind that might be used to cut sheet steel roofing. > > Just a thought, interesting thread though, keep it going. > > Don Bryant > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jon Lybrook [mailto:jon@terabear.com] > Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2007 3:14 PM > To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca > Subject: Re: Cutting KM73 polymer plates > > Hey Susan, > > Out of desperation I've used the blade approach to cut plates (score > on the steel side with a ruler many times, then break). That works in a pinch. > > Paper cutter works better, though it's sometimes difficult to get a > straight cut. I cut them using a paper cutter (poly side up, leaving the mylar on). > If cutting big plates, I also take a flat board, and use it to hold > down the plate, close to the blade during cutting and try to keep the > plate flush against the ruler/guide on the top of the cutter. > This helps prevent the plate from bowing so much and helps to achieve > a straighter cut. > > No, it is not good for the paper cutter (though it still cuts paper), > and goo tends to build up on the blade which needs to be cleaned with > alcohol periodically. > > Cheers, > Jon > > SusanV wrote: > > HI guys... I'm testing away here today, and getting some encouraging > > results! My newest question is how do ya'll cut these plates? I've > > tried a draw knife with a carbon steel blade, and a similar tool > > used for cutting plexi. I've used both before when cutting zinc > > plates for printmaking (by making multiple scores), but these thin > > little polymer and steel (?) or (aluminum (?), things are killing me to cut through. > > > > I'm about ready to break out the circular saw or the table saw :o))) > > > > susan > > > > www.dalyvoss.com > > > > > > > > -- Susan Daly Voss www.dalyvoss.com
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