Aluminum profiles: tabs or blue tape?

Community Discussion 📄 General
1

I have a bunch of largish parts (6” x 3” is the smallest) to cut out of 1/4 inch aluminum. I did some testing with 2mm tabs and it was fine but it’s a bit of a pain to cut the tabs afterwards. For parts being cut out, am I better off:

  1. Blue tape
  2. Tabs/bridges, but thinner (was thinking 5mm x 1mm)
  3. Blue tape and fewer tabs (like 2 per part)

I plan to use a 1/8” O-flute, if that matters, at 30 in/min.

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@barthrh I’ve not done a lot of work in aluminum, but for the few that I have done, I used blue tape+CA glue for hold down. I also used side clamps to prevent any movement in X and Y. So far, so good. :grinning_face:

3

@barthrh If you go for the tape method, don’t use any lubricant that could dissolve the tape adhesive.

Another method, which is sometimes overlooked, is if your part has any holes in the middle. You could drill those out first and then use a screw to fasten your work piece to the spoilboard.

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